Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-07

| NSopyllSnt, 1917, by the Associated
Literary Press.)
! Ames rowed with angry vigor
reaching the island in record time.
The little flag, fluttering gaily where
her finger had tied it, irritated him,
and he put out hasty hand.
You need not dishonor old Glory
because you are angry with mel"
! The words were like water on hot
iron, whetting his anger p
Il did not expect to find YOU
here" :
| Il came for the same reason--and
| came first. / have been here more
than two hours
| Prior possession and an invitation
to vacate present surroundings were
voiced by the trite phrases. Ames
glanced at her quickly, and anger
fiamed more potentiy. She was SO
alluringly beautiful. here in the glare
Iof autumn sunshine and turbulent
sea, bringing home the knowledge
that it was genuine loneliness, nor
an effect of shaded lights and at
tractive gowning
You do not own this island" he
protested. stubbornly. 81
SHOW your deed" she retorted
coldly. This island was flung up by
the sea, and I have never heard of
any one disputing the claim of the
waters. Perhaps mine was an appeal
to chivalrous courtesy that does not
| exist-in you at least"
Crimson touched the healthy bronze
! of his cheeks. Look here, Trix,
didn't come here to continue our
quarrel"
(Which implies that ! did. l didn't
dream you were coming here, of all
places. However. it is large enough
But l am going back. The tide will
be coming in soon, and that shrinks
the area"
The slender white figure vanished
out of the line of present vision, and
| Ames did not turn to look after her
A recently returned betrothal ring
forbade active interest.
| After an adequate interval of wait
ing he strolled toward the other
beach. When he raised moody eyes
from the pebble he was kicking lazily
| they encountered a white figure sill
houetted against the blue. Far out
on he water a canoe rocked provok-
ingly.
| "Not fastened properly" he OBJ
served, Girls are apt to be care
! less about such details. You must
| let me take you back to the hotel
Miss West" 4@
Her smile was icily sweet. when
you do go, you might tell Mr.. Ham
mand | am here and want him to
come for me-"
Under the goad of Hammond's
name Git had decorated Miss Vests
dancing program many times last
mighty he became vehement
you are going back with mel
81 am going back with whom 7
please or stay here indefinitely"
was the decided answer.
| She looked so small and dainty, to
be cared for tenderly instead of hurl-
ling defiance, Ames smiled sadly. But
the returned ring also forbade pro-
longed contention. He bowed gravely
and left her.
The tide was coming in. Mild
wlitecaps on the bay attested this.
But it seemed marvellous that any
trick of the tide could have brought
canoe to the right about in such 4
short time. Then came acute reali-
ZdJlOI1. ~ was LIS CdlOc.
A quick solution of this problem
was necessary. The shore was beyond
swimming distance. Only he and Trix
West frequented this tiny strip of sun
swept land, cast up by an ocean vol
cano in idle sport. 1t would be cold
when the September sun had van
ished. Her gown was summer white,
the waist filmy. Ruefully he reflected
that thin serge coat afforded little
protection against chilling breezes.
| Consultation being imperative, he
went grimly back to the other shore.
"My canoe has gone, too,' he ven
tured.
mot fastened properly" was the
I Sphinx-like reply.
| "But, Miss West, this is serious.
There is no time for quibbling. We
are marooned on this little island"
ct expected to be-" came the calm
answer But she shivered slightly,
and he knew that she was troubled.
"You must take my coat he said,
gently placing it about her shoulders.
1t was shaken off impatiently.
"I have not asked your assistance,
"You must have it. Trix. You are
getting chilled. And you must talk
over the situation. Look at the tide.
l have never seen it SO aggressive"
Another fact intruded suddenly. It
was not only the tide. Usually high
and dry places on the small margin of
shore were being submerged. The
island was sinking!
Out of the shining white caps
bobbed her canoe, the influx of water
bringing it gradually nearer. 1t was
their only hope. He kicked off his
light shoes and went gamely out to
capture it.
dob! Oh Bob! Come back! You
will be drowned"
| Every muscle tense, the girl raced
to the edge Of the encroaching waves.
Then the reason Of this apparent
madness came like a binding flash
The waters were coming to claim
their own!
Its all my fault - NINE" she
whispered, with dry sob. III
y . & Is . ! y.