The Washington times., 1912-07-11
ROBERT AMES BENNETT
Copyright, 1912, Frank A. Munsey Co.

You see, miss" he went on em-
phatically. II know the correct thing
quite as much as you swells: 1 knew
a survey for your dear papa when he
was manipulating the @. T. railroad,
and he did me out Of my pay" =.
"ohi but Mr.. Blake, I am sure y
must be mistake. l am sure that IL
II is explained to papa"
Yes, we'll cable him tonight. Mean
time, we've something else to do. sup
pose you two get hustle on yourselves
going out to see what's left of that
blamed old tub
Surely. you'll not venture to swim
o1s ;So 30 fSr protected sin sst
Looks like mast sticking up out
there. May be some OF the rigging
loose"
with them. You must not risk your
life."
"'Cause why? II do, the babes in
the woods will be left without even the
cheer up. Maybe the mud hens will do
1t with lovely water lilies.'
Please, Mr.. Blake, do not be so
cruel si,n sobbed Miss S Leslie her tears I
head ache dreadfully, and I have no
| thirsty!'
And you think you've only to wait
L
running with parasols and Ice water.
Neither you nor Winthrope seem to've
got your eyes open. Just suppose you
get busy and do something. Winthorpe,
gether a mess of fish that are not too
dead. Must be dozens after the blow.
AS for you. Miss Jenny. l guess you
gear out of this handkerchief. Wait q
moment. Put on my coat, II you don't
want to be broiled alive through the
holes of that peekaboo,"
But I say. Blake" began Win
| thrope.
Don't say. Dol" rejoined Blake, and
| he started Off down the muddy shore.
Though the tide was at flood, there
was now no cyclone to drive the sea
above the beach, ard Blake walked a
| quarter OF a mile before he reached the
| waters edge.
paused to peer out across the low swells
\ before he commenced to strip.
| Wfnthrope and Miss Leslie had been
watching his movements with an anx-
ious gaze; but now the girl rose in
little furry Of haste and set to gather
ing. reeds. Winthrope would have
spoken, but seeing her embarrassment,
smiled to himself and began strolling
about in search OF fish.
1t was by no means a difficult search.
The marshy ground was strewn with
dead sea creatures, many of which were
already shrtveling and drying in the hot
|
Some of the fish had a familiar look.
and Winthrope turned them over with
the tip of his shoe. He even went so
tar as to stoop to pick up a large null
let, but shrank back, repulsed by its
STIFFNESS and the unnatural shape into
which the sun was warping Il.
| He now found himself near the beach,
and stood for half an hour or more
watching intently the black dot far out
in the waterfall that was to be seen
of Blake.
The American. after wading off shore
another quarter of q mile. had reached
swimming depth ana was heading out
among the reefs with steady, vigorous
strokes. Half a mile or so beyond him
| Winthrope could now make out the goal
for which he was headIng--the remain
topmast Of the steamer.
by Jove, these waters are full Of
sharks! murmured Winthrope, and he
stared at the steadily receding dot un-
I'll II disappeared behind the wall OF
SURF which spumed up over one Of the
A call from Miss Leslie interrupted
his watch, and he hastened to rejoin
After several failures sh. had con-
trived to knot the handkerchief to
three or four reeds in the form of a
little sunshade. Her shoulders were
protected by Blake's coat. 1t made a
tering sun, which. as Blake had fore
seen. had quickly begun to burn the
girrs delicate skin through her open
work waist.
Thus protected. she was fairly safe
from the sun. But the sun was by no
means the worst feature of the situa-
ton: While Winthrope was yet many
yaTds distant the girl began to COM
I'm so thirsty. Mr. winthrope.
Where Is there any water? Please get
me drink at once, Mr.. Winthrope!
But my dear Miss Leslie, there is
no water These pools are all sea
water. must say. I'm deuced dry my
self. cant see why that cad should
need bim most.
Indeed, 1t is a shame! oh! I'm so
thirsty tn sly DO DO you think 1t would help II
could we cook anything? All these
reeds s are green. or at least water
But Mr.. Blake said to gather some
fish. Had you not best"
He can pick up all he wants. 1
shall not touch the beastly things"
Then l suppose there is nothing to
Yes, If the sharks do not get him. e"
Miss Leslie uttered a little moan. and
Winthrope, seeing that she was on the
verge OF tears, .hastened to reassure
her
Don't worry about him, Miss Gene
We've. He'll soon return, with nothing
worse than blistered back. Fellows OF
| Ihdt DOIU 10 ndnR, you know.
But II he should be-if anything hap
pen to him.
Winthrope shrugged his shoulders and
drew out his silver clgarette-case. 1t
was more than half full, and he was
highly gratified to find that neither the
cigarettes nor the "vestas'' in the COW
er had been reached by the wet.
by jove, here's luck" he exclaimed.
Pardon me, but If you have no objec-
tons"
The girl nodded. as a matter of form,
and Winthrope hastened to light the
cigarette that was ready in his fingers.
The smoke by no means tended to
lessen the dryness of his mouth; yet II
put him in a reflective mod, and in
thinking over Whist he had read of ship
wrecked parties he remembered that a
pebble held in the mouth is supposed
to ease ones thirst
To be sure, there was not a sign of a
pebble, but after some reflection, 1t on-
CURED to him that one of his steel keys
might do as we'll
At first Miss Leslie was reluctant ia
, try the experiment, and only the in.
, creasing dryness OF her mouth forced
her to seek the promised relief, Though
1t failed 20 quench her thirst. she was
, agreeably prprised to find that the
little fiat bar of steel eased her crav.
| NRa- %