Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-17
THE BLOW THAT RECOILED.

There was small margin of difference between the two men, so far as eyes l could see, as they threw off their coats and sprang each to his own canoe. Their paddles flashed into and out of
 the water. sending the frail crafts over the smooth surface of the lake at re- markable speed. Neither, one gained appreciably on the other, though they were racing with intense rivalry. As they had sat in front of their tent awaiting the arriV al of the merry launching party from across the lake, they had witnessed an accident which, even without the added incentive of rivarIy, made each man strain his every nerve to reach the goal The launch had struck on a rock beside
 the narrow channel and, careening suddenly on her side, had filled and gone down.
 Harry Morton and Jim Carruthers were not men who could see women drown without drowning with them. But as they padded, each mans heart grew chill with the awful thought that the woman he loved was one of the struggling group. And they loved the same woman.
 It was born as such things some times are. in the idle time of a sum mer holiday. They had gone to the lake for rest. each man fancy free. Sworn comrades, trey had even laughed at love and planned to live as they were. fond of the same things and looked(for no deeper interest than they found in each other and in mutual pleasures.
 But before the first week in camp was over Morton had developed a hitherto undiscovered fondness for walking. and for hours at time he was absent from camp. Carruthers had, about the same time, found him. self to be devoted to canoeing, but neither of the men said much to the other about this newly discovered pastime In truth Morton sought a dryad whom he had seen in the woods as he padded along the shore one morning: Carruthers pursued a vision of Ioveiness that had flashed past him in a canoe while he lay on the bank smoking his pipe.
 Their quest continued for days each man thinking to achieve an encounter by seeking his enchantress where he had seen her once. But they did not find her until together, they met her at an informal hop at the big hotel on the hill
 From that moment they were rivals and each one knew il instinctively, though not a word was spoken. The old comradeship was as if it never had been; a woman had come between them, and neither man realized now bitter his iealOusly was till they had Ieaped into their canoes to paddle 10 the rescue of that woman.
 Mrs Starleigh did not care which one should win Irene Campbell when she had undertaken to chaperOn that young woman for the summer. She had vowed secretly, however, being a born matchmaker, to see her fair ,l,, +,,i,, f2I 6iCnnEnd Q fore the season should end Either one of the young men seemed desirable to her eyes and she was willing to en- courage both in the hope that one would succeed,
 The day had proven to be a perfect one. and the party started in the high est spirits They were already way ing salutes to their hosts when the crash came
 As the two men approached the spot Morton said: We have our work cut out for us. Jim. The skipper seems to be able to take care of himself though he's too frightened te help much. There are six women. You take the three to the right; I'll take the others. Better help them to the canoe and swim ashore with them separately [ isIn't much of swim if we can get to them in time That point of land reaches out on the left within 200 years" He Indicated the narrow neck not far off.
 Carruthers nodded with a satisfied look in his eyes. He had noted that Miss Campbell was among those on the right Morton had seen it, too, but as his own canoe was on Carruthers' left he would not risk the few moments it would have taken to make differ ent arrangement.
 Make a jest of it." was all he said after outlining the plan. If we laugh about it we only keep them from too great a panic" And again Carruthers nodded.
 The two athletes plunged into the