The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-11

leaking boat. A reporter had seized
upon the Herbert Joyce registered at
the hotel as the hero Of the occasion.
All over the country the news was
flashed and the rescue credited to
Joyce Of the university, Joyce of May
vile.
The feather-brained Joyce of our
story accepted the honor without
bubble. Thus was it that he was
greeted at his home town by honestly
admiring neighbors. Even Ruth was
in way proud of him because he was
the brother of her dearest girl friend
you see, there is something good
in my boy, after all" said Mrs. Joyce.
And you must encourage him."
dear Ruth" advised Myra.
Ruth was less embarrassed than
bored when she accepted an invita-
ton from young Joyce to take an au.
tomobile spin the next day. She had
no fear in her mind that he would
fall in love with her or become bur.
dsns0ns In his attsntions-he was
too full Of himself to waste emotion
nd sentiment.
Like all cyclists, he had almost
cone - believe that he was actually
the great hero the news journals had
landed. When he was not describing
inpsssible swimming feats he was
beastiag of his athletic prominence
Sn The college campus.
Ruth WAS very faithful to her prom
iss to Myra. She was 1T the Joyce
home most Of the time. She congrat-
ulated herself that she was helping
to do some good in the world. In her
letters to her fiance, Willis Talcott,
however, she never so much as allud-
cd to Herbert Joyce.
The gloss of hero worship after
few days began to wear off with Her.
bert. He was growing FESTIVE and
talked of pressing notes received
from his chums urging him to join
them. Ruth exceeded herself in gra-
ciousness and interest in his affairs.
She was sorry for it, as during a
whole day, however, she noticed a
new speculative expression on the
face of her companion.
Several times he had passed
warm compliment, he had even re-
marked that it would be time soon
for him to make up his mind as to
whom of the many misses he knew
he would honor with his regular at
tentions
They had started out in light
skilf on the little lake one afternoon
Ruth's little sister Nellie, and the
children Of neighbor had come down
to the beach with them. They left
them playing on the sand while they
drifted idly along,
Il declare, Miss Ruth" spoke Her
bert, arising in the skiif and evidently
intending to move nearer to her." you
look a fascinating but lonely pic
ture sitting there in the stern.
81 am very comfortable, | assure
you" retorted Ruth, and then she
sprang suddenly to her feet with a
wild cry of terror.
Little Nellie had ventured upon
light raft near the shore. 1t had
floated away with her, its movement
had swung the child overheard and
she was struggling in the water.
MY sister-my little sister," shrek
ed Ruth. "She will drown. Oh, hur-
ry, hurry, save her!"
In her urgency Ruth clutched at the
arm Of her companion. The skin was
rocking dangerously. Herbert lost his
footing and went overheard.
Ruth supposed he had jumped in
to swim to her imperiled sister. To
her establishment, nay, more to her
horror, she saw Herbert puff, floun.
der, cry out like a frightened child
and cling to the boat, nearly tipping 1t
over.
Help! Help! Pull me in. I'll
drown!" he blubbered In craven
tones. turning ashy pale.
my sister-oh, swim to her, save
her!" cried Ruth
IT can't swim!" shivered the i'm.
poster.
mot swim! You, the hero who say.
ed four people"
1T wasn't me. It was another fel-
low Of my name," faltered the cow
ard. Let me in-rm cold! I'm wet!"
Ruth herself would have leaped