Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
Evening Star
Daily Story
THAT ENDS WELL
RY sInNEY HonaEs COLE.

paper Syndicate.
There was a golden glow ON the
river. Behind the hills to the west
the sun had gone down, touching the
cloud edges with crimson and ocner.
Peter Bryant threw down lever
and the Polyphemus II. answered by
tearing like a streak though the
water. They swung around the oend,
and Peter half rose to his feet to peer
snxiously ahead.
Yes, there she was-the girl ne was
looking for Every afternoon for the
mast two weeks he had seen her there
in the shelter at the very end OF the
little pier running out into the river,
She was a wonderfully pretty girl
Peter had lost his impressionable
heart to her that very first day he
had seen her there. But he could ma
no mutual acquaintance to lntroouce
him, and he was due 10 go pacK 10
the city day after tomorrow
He liked her unprecedented halr,
and the smooth roundness or ner
cheeks and the pretty sparkle OF her
eyes. =,
He was going to meet that girl
somehow; he was going to meet her
before he went back, and he was
going to hear her voice. He knew, in
tuitively it would be a nice voice.
She was sitting in a hammock,
swaying gently to and fro in the little
shelter as she kept her eyes on the
page before her. Peter let out tho
boat even more; the exhaust roareo
its strident chug-chug, chug-chug,
but the girl did not look up. She was
unite unaware of Peters presence.
Motor boats were as common on the
{ river as were water spiders. The roar
Of an exhaust meant nothing in par
ticular. 1t was no reason why one
should lift ones eyes from fascinat-
ing page.
Perhaps Peter Bryant may be for
given for entertaining very desperate
thoughts those few brief minutes.
Perhaps he did not stop to count the
chances of what he was doing. AT
any rate, with a sudden quick SHIFT OF
the wheel he sent the Polyphemus IL
straight at that pier. Also, he
slammed down lever. AS he stopped
the boats nose was headed straight
for the little shelter on the end OF the
pier in which the girl lolled in the
hammock.
Now, Peter knew we'll enough that
the boat was going at good clip.
What he did not estimate correctl~
was the distance to the pier. AS he
lsrked up after pushing down that
lever he was genuinely Mortified to
find the pier not boats length away.
Nor had the speed lessened to any ap-
preciable extent. Plainly there was
going to be a crash, and good one
Peter gave q warning yell. AT the
same time he strove to put the wheel
! down. The girl looked up and jumped
to her feet. "Oh!" she cried. Obi
1t is probable she would have said
more, but there was no time for It,
The motorboat hit the flimsy pier
with terrific impact. There was a
mighty swapping, a rending of tim
bers. The pier shook, the shelter
sWayed preca riously.
Peter, thrown violently against the
engine by the crash, saw the whole
thing tremble and culver and then
upset before his Mortified eyes. There
was a splash, a gurgle, little choked
cry flash of white. The girl was
in the river.
The motorhoatss being hopelessly
tangled inssfhe Mreckage. Peter tore
off his coat, kicked off his shoes and
went overheard. A few swift strokes
and he had the girls arm in his grip.
He did not notice that she was SWIM
ing-coolly, strongly.
He was sputtering and blowing
water from his mouth in his excite
ment. PUT your hands on my Shout
ders," he instructed.
The girl eyed him grimly. He
thought once she was laughing at
him. mo need" she said very calmly
II can swim well. It's only a few
strokes to shore"
Suiting her action to the words,
she proceeded toward the bank. Peter
wallowed along in her wake, blowing
like a grampus and trying to think
of something to say. He did manage
to assist her onto the bank. Then
he scrambled out himself. "Oh,
say he began contritely. and then
could think of nothing else to say
The girl looked at him steadily.
She seemed quite at her ease. There
was still that hint of merriment In
her eyes, although her mouth was
firm, the lips even little compressed.
well, you We done it, haven't your"
said she, waving an arm toward the
wrecked pier.
'Thunderi'' said Peter contritely
as he looked thither, 81 should say
had. But I don't care about that.
It's splitting you into the river I'm
thinking Of
"Oh, that's of no very great con-
sequence" said she. But that pier
certainly is a mess"
II shall have 1t fixed, OF course,
said Peter, all but tongue-tied now
he realized he was actually talking
to her.
How did you happen to run into
it?" said she.
"Rudder wire parted on me-" Peter
explained glibly.
She looked at him keenly. Then
without word, she led the way back
( to the wreck.
Peters heart sank as he saw her
! walk out precariously on what was
a left of the pier and drop into the
& motorboat. She bent down, examin-
ing something closely. Then she
Strengthened up and motioned to
81 Peter. He ran out on the twisted
shoreward end of the pier and
dropped into the boat beside her. Her
? face was accusing.
How did you say 1t happened?"
she asked again.
"Rudder- wire,' Peter began.
Both of them are quite whole"
said she.
Peter coughed. He seemed in great
3 distress.
Honestly, now, why did you do
it?"
There was a pointed emphasis on
that why
Say, I've made sweet mess Of
things" he confessed. For two
weeks I've seen you sitting there
every afternoon in that shelter, and
1--we wanted to meet you-formally,
proper Introduction and all that sort
OF thing; but l couldn't find anyone
who knew you-that is, no one that
knew, too"
Yes she said coldly
This afternoon-well. this after
meet you--to talk to you--to--well,
it occurred to me to have a little ac-
cident and run into your wharf there,
IL. -