Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-01-29

felt her way into Hog Island inlet, on
the shores Of old Virginia, and drop
ped her anchor in the deep waters Of
the channel back Of the sand spit.
AS Stuart stepped on deck a cloud
Of black ducks circled gracefully over.
head and slowly spread out on their
feeding grounds. His heart gave a
throb Of primitive Joy. He was a boy
again and the world was young.
"Confound them!' he cried. I'll
show these ducks trick or two be-
fore this trip is over" IS
He was glad he came. Bivens had
put him In command Of the little
schooner, and he gave orders at once
to lower a tender and tow her to an
old anchorage he knew In a little cove
behind Gull marsh. And then his
trouble began with Bivens.
"Let 'em fly If they want to; I'm not
going to bulge. Go yourself, jim
"Go myself! What do you suppose
gave up my work and came down
here a month for? l came to try to
teach you how to liva you fool, and
I'm not going without you. Get into
your toys! The guides are here and
ready. The tide waits for no man.
not even millionaire; it's ebbing
now"
"Well, let it ebb. don't want to
stop it!' the sick man snarled.
Nan came in. pressed Stuart's hand
rs she passed. nodded good morning
pnd Joined her voice to Stuart's.
"Come; you must go. Cal. It's a
glorious day"
The doctor slipped in word too.
"By all means. Mr.. Bivens, get your
hand in the first day.
Bivens lifted himself to a half sit
| ting posture. glared at his physician
and yelled with fury:
"Get out-al1 Of you-and let me
alonev'
The doctor and Nan left on tip toe.
but Stuart folded his arms and look I'd
ut Bivens.
| "Oh, come now, this is too ridicu
lous, a quarrel the first day of ou1
shooting. But you'll have to get one
thing fixed in your head once for all
you don't run the entire world. The
telephone, telegraph and mail service
have been suspended. The Buccaneel
has put to sea for New York. You're
on a little eighty-foot schooner
anchored in Il bay ten miles wide and
hundred miles long and Pm in com
mand. l won't stand any nonsense
from you. Come down off your
perch, qufck!'
| Bivens started to swear, caught the
expression Of Stuart's face and sud
denly extended his hand.
Pm sorry, Jim; you must not mine
my foolishness. It was awfully nice Of
you to come. I'll stay in today, bu1
you 60 and get some ducks for din
ner, like a good boy, and say-take
Nan along and teach her to shoot
It's getting to be the rage among the
high flyers for the women to shoot"
"Please do, Jimv' Nan cried from
the door. She had listened outside II
the duel in the stateroom.
"All right he answered.
For five days Bivens stuck to hi:
bed with logged determination, anG
each day Stuart went out with Nan
Never had she been more resistlessly
charming. Each day their associa
ton grew in tender intimacy an(
every fear that had stirred his hear
at first was lulled at last to sleep.
On the sixth day Bivens rose earl!
and declared that he would try, thu
ducks. The barometer was falling, ant
dark, snowy looking clouds were pilint
up on the western horizon. A breeZ'
came stealing out of the cloud bank:
with the chill Of snow in it's breath.
Bivens insisted on going out at once
against the advice and the protest O
the guide. He not only insisted on go
ing after the ducks, but, what wa!
worse, swore that he was going to ge
his mail and kilograms from the shore
Stuart protested vigorously.
"I've told you that the guide is tn
only man who can run that tender owe
the crooked course to the mainland
and if he goes away We'll have no on
to take us OUT
"What do you need guide for? IT.
mot q half mile to those blinds. Nv
seen you every day go back and fortl
in plain view Of the yacht. Nan coult
row out there and back by herself
Send him ashore. Don't you know how
to put out your own decoys?"
IF a" strong blow comes we'll nee'
two strong men to handle the boat"
"Rot!'. Bivens cried. "We've got tw'
tenders. Send your guide ashore witt
one Of the sailors to run his engine
The other man can tow us out AM
back"
ITO be continued)