Lower coast gazette., 1913-03-29


cried the woman nervously.
Sometimes" said Bedight, looking
sqiarely at her, "a man Is not al
dangerous after dark as a vino
storm by day"
"Nonsense!!" exclaimed Miss McCon
hell. where's your sporting blood
Let's make a try for It."
The mayor turned and walked dowI
to the boat. The girl followed and got
aboard. He rolled up the sleeves OF
his light shirt and took the oars. AS
he did so, a drop of rain fell into the
boat.
Really, Miss Mcconnell" he pro
tested, this Is unwise. You will moi
only get a good wetting but there Is
grave danger Of"
Il am neither sugar nor q coward
she said CURLY. Go ahead"
Bedight fell to his oars but his in.
spection OF the sky over the girls
head as she faced him was far from
teassuring. The clouds had taken
more definite form and In their center,
occupying the front of the great stage
OF the sky, chung o b~a!loon-like mass
Of twisting matter. Bedight looked
at the girl apprehensively, as she sat
in the stern Of the boat. taking the
splashing drops OF rain like q Spar
tan.
Miss Mcconnell. we are going to
have a bad storm presently. Don't you
think 1t would be better to go back.
Look at the sky behind you"
She turned her head. An exclama.
ton Of surprise broke from her lips.
If you think best. Mr.. Bedight. I
am afraid have been foolhardy--but
I'm still satisfied to 60 on II you are"
proudly.
A terrific clap of thunder directly
overhead, coupled with a oar In the
west, caused Bedight to hesitate. In
stead of turning the boat, he headed
for the shore. Behind them the storm
was rushing with ten league wings
and the waves leaped into al action
that set the boat tossing like a speck
upon a boiling pot. The day became
as dark as night, save for the light
ming flashes.
In a moment the storm broke. Amid
the crash of rending trees. the de-
%floniacal shriekings of the wkad, the
terror Of the lightning, the boat sped
onward along the shore, one oar gone,
the other useless in such a sea-.
In the ma!h channel no craft could
have lived, but along the shore down
which the two raced before the wind,
the shell few on the wings of the
tempest.
White but brave. frightened but IN
full c5..trol Of her nerves, the girl
chung to the boat. Straight toward
narrow neck OF Goose lake, the
craft bore like a wi%nd-whipped ice.
boat under a gale.
The mayor gritted his teeth. Once ;
outside the smaller lake the course {.
the c:...tt w;;'.'d be directly across tt, !.
Ia Sti Guu, vi water.
lie studied the girl opposite. Dbl
she raaiiah ting laEsef9
MI. Redight," she spoke regretruiiy,
with an effort at bravery. "I-if We
80 three Into Sylvan la..s I-I'n,
sorry ! didn't take your advice. 1t
won't help much now to know that
!!'ygss rsncnted q ny decision-but T.
Ths mayor Interrupted, shouting
against tho wind:
II think Well avoid II. end surely
must pass quickly"
Her answer was lost in the musketry
and deluge that followed. The boat,
bali filed with water. lurched perilous.
~. Tolled like a cedar log and turned
Bedight felt himself carried forward
with terrible speed and deposited
upon the shore. He shook the water
from his eyes. Reside him on the sand
lay the girl, and a rod down the shore
the toat hung upon the shingle.
She opened her eyes to the sound
nf his voice and the pressure of his
band upon her heart. Coughing. she
lat up on the beach and rubbed the
sand from her face and hands. Her
hung closely upon her. show.
pg the outlines of her body. The
AIN still fell In torrents and ran down
heir necks In tiny rivulets.
"Oh!" she gasped. when her senses
themselves from the be.
silderment. 1--WE lost my sketch!"
The mayor laughed.
TT you had been a trifle less fortn.
late, you might net be worrying about {