The Meeker herald., 1913-06-07

lack helped ME into deserted row
boat which lay on the ninds and seat.
ed himself before me-
This is good. to he alone With you.
Man, he was beginning when ina
who had passed w rctrared his steps.
Jack Meads.' he cried. Ignoring my
presence. What luck! The buys from
the office are out here tetlay. and We
are trying to make up u baseb Ill nine.
All we lack Ia a good pitcher. aud We
know your fame In that line. Its 60
ing to he short game. Come on over
and join W."
Jack looked 6oidward. and his eyes
shone "You wouldn't mind. would
you. NAM" he asked eagerly.
Certainly: I do not mind" ! au
swered ciYusiveiy. but prefer not IL
walk over 10 the held."
He hurried away without one back
ward glance. II WIS another hnu'iliat.
ing motnent. Following mn Idle I'M
pulse. l lifted the solitary oar whi"h
Iny In the boat and polcd myself oi.'
into the water. Perhaps when A!iisoa
came bnck he might see Iue. He use
strongly to object u I ven;ured 10 70
alone. must have drlfted out p.ett,,
far, for the automobile looked like
speck in the road. while the basebn
field was just a green blur. With
splash my one oar slipped from my
grasp and quickly noated Just beyond
reach. IL would have been useless TO
call for assista nee. for no one appeared
upon the beach. l was really becom-
Ing frightened when canoe came
gliding toward me. its occupant stood
up and waved his arms wildly.
Aunt Man, he cried. Aunt Man,
1t was Robbie. l could scarcely believe
my eyes.
save me. Aunt Man." he entrcated
~ never thought when climbed into
the canoe that 1t would float away"
There WIS a soft thud as the boats
came alongside. had confused vi
sion Of my nephew's white face and
outreach hing arms. and then we were
both struggling In the water. BlindIy
| caught at the upturned boat as Bob
bic chung to me 10 desperation. And
surely 1t was hours afterward that
some one snatched him roughly from
my grasp: then two strong arms also
lifted me to safety. don't know just
what ! had been expecting. but II was
rather disa ppointing to wee weather
beaten face looking anxiOusly into my
own. while gruff voice muttered some
thing about "iunatics sailin' about In
boats without no oars" And when our
rescuer's boat reached the shore there
stood lin and Mollie. who regar ded
my wet and shrinking self with stern.
accusing gaze. Jim carried bis whim
pering son back to the shelter of the
trees. while Moliie fingered only long
enough to say:
"lf you did not care about risking
your own life. Nan. you might at least
have left Robbie safe on land"
| stood still In bewilderment. Then
a prolonged wall in Dots shrill treble
attracted my attention. and hastened
IN its direction.
''Oh. Aunt Man, she gurgled. ''you
do look so funny: Your hair II all
sleek, like the seals at the roo"
The thought of my own ridiculous
appearance had not occurred to me.
Now l looked fearfully down the road
to where the stalled auto could still be
seen.
DOT" I faltercd. where's MIR. Arm.
strongw
My young niece OWNED by anxiety.
Don't you worry" she said. He il
hammering away under his car"
And Allison. Dot-wbere Is he?"
He won't see you" she answered
comfOrtingly. He is back in the.
woods getting flowers for Aunt Nell"
Then Dottie turned to her own griev-
ances 'Daddie kindied Ere to make
some coffee" she cOnfded. land when
they went away I put some corn 10 to
cook and burned my hand. But it's
better now. because tore the trout
out Of my dress and bandaged 1t up.
This nice thin cloth tears easy." she
added. with satisfaction.
Like Dot. returned to my own trou-,
bIes. What shall ! dor delibcrated
aloud.
Go and sit In the sand and get dry"
my niece wisely suggested, and fol-
kVWCu net duNNC. AAtktV
streams were trickiIng from every part
of my new frock. and the woman VIII"
sold 1t had assured me that the color
would not run. She might have traced
me now by the violet dvps along the
sand. sank down miserably. How
could go home In this plight?
Nell's ringing laugh aroused me.
.Oh. Man. she cried. what In the
world have you been doing? You look
like purple poster girl"
One horrined glance showed ME Al
lison's tall figure. This WINS truly the
last straw. | buried my face In my
wet purple arms and wept. Then Al
Iison turned to Nell
dot In alone" he saId. Had you
not better see that she doesn't get into