The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-09-19


or eight people on the veranda in a
group turned on bravery. OF course 1t
was mans bravery. No one expects a
woman to dash in front of a raging
lion to save a crippled child or a de-
crepit old man. Every one but Miss
Maude had had his say, and when she
was asked for her opinion she replied:
Il may never marry at all, but II
should. and my husband proved to be
coward, should hate him and leave
him!"
That was plump from the shoulder,
and Messrs. Davis and Lee sat up and
took notice.
Each longed for something to happen
that he might show his bravery. Would
tidal wave sweep in2 Would a cy-
clone take the roof off the hotel?
Would a mad dog appear on the beach
and present his throat that he might
be choked to death?
Queerly enough, the opportunity was
on the way and close at hand. A
lighted cigarette thrown down a hall
started blaze, and there was imme-
date confusion. A score of men
dashed in with pals of water, and aft
er lively fight they got the better Of
the flames and saved the hotel
Young Walter Davis was one of the
foremost, and had a budding mustache
singed beyond repair, but where was
young Hugh LeeH Miss Maude knew,
and happened to be the only one that
did. At the first alarm he had turned
as white as -four, and while the others
crowded forward he had skulked be-
hind. When the excitement was over
he had no experience to relate. He was
keeping very quiet when he caught a
look from the girl that told him he
was betrayed. 1t was cold, con-
temptuous look that chilled him to the
marrow. Thereafter she spoke to him
before people only when necessary,
and there were no more walks.
Whats wrong with Lee?" asked the
banker after a couple Of days.
Got soft corn, maybe" was the
laughing answer.
Don't be too hard on him. / think
him a rather nice boy"
so did l until-until the fire the
other day."
What of the fire?"
He ran away from It'll"
''Whew! l thought he was with u.s."
He was not. He skulked away at
the first shout and hid behind the
women! Father, he's a coward and
has lost my respectl"
"Um! Um! want to think this
over. You say he skulked away, and
yet he was in no danger. Rather
funny"
Miss Maude wanted to be alone and
still not be shut up in her room. There
fore she watched for chance to reach
the beach unobserved. Half mile off
the sands was big rock. At low tide
1t stood up like house; at high tide
the salty water swept it's crest. The
fishermen had been predicting a gale,
and there were signs that 1t was near
There was boat drawn up on the
beach, and what did the girl who want
ed to be alone do but launch 1t and
take the oars for a row? She couldn't
help notice the swell and that the
tide was coming in, but she was fair at
the oars and strong in the arms and
she headed for the rock and reached it.
She had been sitting there for a quar-
ter of an hour when she was noticed
from the hotel and an alarm given. 1t
was time and past time. The gale
broke with a loud moan as the tide
turned, and FIVE minutes later the
white caps were dancing and the spray
flying. All the boats except the one
she took were In the creek, a mile be-
low, but had they been at hand there
was no one to launch them.
There isn't man on the coast who
can row against the gale and tide"
said the father of the fishers; and the
others looked across at the girl and
shook their heads.
Neither a fathers money nor the
tears of a mother would drive them
to face the peril.
The gale took on new strength, and
the oncoming waves drove the half
crazed people back and when there
came break in the flying spray and
driving clouds all eyes went to the
rock and there were groans and mur-
murs. The rock might be swept clear