Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-11
THE RED CANOE
Pretty Romance Woven Around
a Motion Picture Film
Expedition.
By JOHN DARLING.

4ndldn Neck Ihe pIetllest bAA VIZ
resort had ever seen.
Carteret took a hasty glance at the
hotel registry as Beggsie, the official
toter of suitcases, led her away to her
room.
Vivian Loveioy," he read. oh
Vivian, you are like lone rosebud
in the famished desert, Vivian,
Vivian"
shut up. Don't be a cad" NUT
tered Don, stufing his big tanned
hands into his linen trousers pockets,
and staring moodily after the girl.
''Even if we do happen to be the
jumping off place in the summer re-
sort line, you don't have to act like a
grinning idiot. Wonder why she ever
landed here"
But the fact remained that she had
landed, and from her preparations, il
was seen she meant to stay She
took the best room left one over
looking the falls and the sweep OF
rapids clear around the bend Of the
headland that gave the place its
name. Every day she went to the
pine grove above the falls, and strolled
around alone, studying every point OF
land. After lunch she took the path
below the falls and walked up ard
down first on one side, then crossing
the little bridge to the other,
Carteret tried to join her to explain
the beauties Of the place and the old
legend Of the falls. They were not so
very high, hardly over ninety feet
but even in the summer they were
turbulent, fed by the lake above.
you see," Carteret would say, In
tdians used to be around here, and they
had custom of sending one girl
ever the falls every year in red
iCanoe for a sort Of sacrifice to the
spirit Of the falls"
have heard Of the custom before,
sid Vivian, AT Niagara they did it,
zoo. think. But these falls seem
Sco small for the leap to be fatal.
ITS the rocks under the water.
They're like jagged Seeth, and they
rip the bottom out OF any boat that
goes over. If she did get to the bot
-tcn Of the falls the rocks in the
rapids would catch her Nice little
plan, wasn't it?
It's wonderfully picturesque place.
think it is just what have been
looking for"
'Artist?"
She smiled and shook her head,
turning her parasol so he could not
watch her.
No. I'm just an ordinary summer
tramp Where is Mr.. Marden?"
Fishing" laconically.
He goes fishing every day. doesn't
he?s
Every day" assented Carteret hap
tpily Gust below the rapids about
quarter Of a mile"
'Can he swlm?"
We all swim here" He looked
down at her with sudden suspicion.
Why was she asking all these ques-
tions about Don Marden, the one man
at the Neck who did not appeal to
women. He was tall and decidedly
homely. He had no chivalrous ways,
no little attentive tricks to WOO them
by. He was short spoken and roughly
dressed. Rainy days when the other
guests of the hotel kept to the shelter
of the verandas living room, he
staked forth with a placid grin on
his face and the rain dripping from
his old felt hat with fishing rod
balanced in one hand and a basket
in the other
Is he anybody special?" Vivian
asked once, watching his stalwart,
stopped figure stalk down to the glen
He acts as If he always did Just as
he pleases."
'He came here because the fishing
is good. He comes every year. No
body knows who he is. He comes for
July and August, then goes away
Carteret gave the information grudg-
ingly. Don't be interested in him.
He's dub, perfect dub" It was
the only term that seemed to fit Don
Marden Z would do anything in the
world for you"
She smiled at him, looking up from
the letter he had just brought to her.
it was the letter she had waited for
over two weeks. They were coming
the next day, Kitson. Bayly and the
rest. There was not another hour to
bose. She leaned forward to Carteret
with a look in her lovely dark eyes
he had never seen there. He noticed
how her hair curled around her tenn
lies and hid her ears She was dis
actingly pretty, not beautiful bu
gust pretty, pretty as a girl could be
lhe thought.
Can you get me red canoe?" sh'
asked. "And not tell anyone? | wan
1t tomorrow morning surely"
Carteret promised He would hav
promised the evening star if she ha
asked for 1t in that tone. All tina
cay in the rain he hunted a red canos
There was not such thing at India
Neck, be was told, but down the rive
1hree miles, he found canoe haule
up beside an old cabin, and its owne
sarted with it for a weekly renta
ased paint he found at the villag
& tore, and another bill changed hand