The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-07-18
CaxtOn.
Life Guard
BY June Cahan

Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press.)
why don't you call her II you
want herr" Wally asked, digging
fresh tunnel In the wet sand where
the life guards heel had smashed
through. Don't call Miss Ashton.
Call her first name"
Caxton smiled modify down at the
little chubby figure lying fat on the
sand.
Il don't know her first name.
Waly."
First names Dorothy. That's what
mother calls her. Kenneth does. too.
when she isn't around"
who's Kenneth"
my big brother Maybe she's gone
with him some place. This was an
afterthought. Wally sat up to con-
slider 1t, and swept the curving shore
line with his calm glance. Back of
the pine fringe above the beach the
great hotel nestled between tall
bluffs. Stretching from it like arms
were shore front cottages a mile in
each direction. 1t was late afternoon.
The air seemed heavy and tense The
sea lay with hardly ripple. dull
gray. with long saffron high lights
from the low storm clouds.
You had better run up to the cot
tage. kiddie," Caxton advised.
There's thunder storm on its way"
Il don't want to yet" coaxed Wally,
I've got to finish this roller coaster.
If there's storm will you have to
swim after any people?"
IF there are any foolish enough to
stay out" Caxton returned.
Wally stared up at the tall, tanned
figure in the red and gray swimming
suit. There was no one else at the
beach that summer he admired so in
tensely as the life guard. Miss Ash
ton liked him, too. They had talked
1t over between them often, and
agreed that he was real hero, and
every morning Wally would watch
for him to come along the long
stretch Of beautiful firm silvery sand
on his coast patrol duty.
One morning he had waded in too
far after stray shells and strands Of
sea weed. Caxton came on a run and
gripped the drenched little figure
securely and bore it back to its gov
erness. A white faced, girlish gov
erness she was, too. Clad in white
from toe to throat, she had run down
into the water after her charge, and
Wally had sobbed so, there had been
no chance then to talk But he had
remembered her, and watched every
| morning for the two.
She was Miss Ashton, governess to
Walter Devereux's boy. That much
he found out easily. The Devereux
cottage was most imposing. Wally
was the youngest hope. and tall Ken
meth, fresh home from his last col
lege year: was the eldest. And the
cottage was to be closed In two days,
Waily had told them, when rhe fam
| lily left for Canadian trip. That
| meant she would go out of his life
forever.
He had tried to get q chance to
speak to her alone for the past three
days, but young Devereux was her
shadow. And now, suddenly. while
he was giving up his last hope, she
came hurrying down the path from
the bluff.
I'VE forgot the camera, and left it
| way up on the hill. l had to go back
after it," she told him.
I'VE thought you had run away
with Kenneth" Wally informed her
gravely.
Kenneth is out on the bay, dear.
in his knockabout"
He'd better come in then" Cax-
ton checked himself. If the cub was
idiotic enough to venture out under
such a gale what was it to him? He
| bent over her and spoke half rough
ly. Cant you send the boy in and
give me half a chance?"
For what?"
ITO tell you what I want to- It's
| my last chance. Here, Wally, listen,
If you'll run up to the cottage, and
stay there on the veranda until Miss
Ashton comes, I'll make you a life
boat"
with life savers all sitting in it,
rowing?"
Run along, dear, won't be long,"
Dorothy whispered. She watched the
| little figure stalk slowly up the broad.
| walk to the cottage, and turned her
| fact up to Caxton. Nov, what is
it,"
Cations eyes were half closed He
saw the knockabout half way down
the little bay, its two sails sagging
in the hot calm. The squall might
come beating up any minute. He
turned to the girl.
Nothing much after ALL" he said
| bitterly. Il thought l had a great
| deal to tell you, but / hardly think
1t is worth while Not IL Devereux's
after you"
Her clear, gray eyes met his, then
fairly, defiantly.
You have splendid opinion Of
my judgment, haven't your"
He shrugged his broad shoulders.
'Life's life. I'm the volunteer
coast guard here this year. Deve-