The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
Edited by MARY MARSHALL
An Unwilling Hero
BY PAUL BLAKE.

the appearance of little Alison. the
devoted admirer of the masterful
Bridger
Bridger, in a low voice.
Alison looked up in wonder.
why not?" continued his mentor
Take your ishing-rod. and Wen go
down to the cove: we can get behind
the rocks. and not soul will see u.s.
In a few minutes the boys were on
the way to the cove. a secluded spot
secure from inspection.
They were quickly undressed. their
clothes thrown hastily on to the ledge
of rocks at the back of the cove. The
water was warm. and the waves Just
rise over them.
Suddenly Alison gave a yell.
| Hi Bridger, look"
| He pointed to the rocks. The waves
were splashing up the slopes. in utter
disregard of the high-water mark, and
as Alison shouted he saw his shirt
gently lifted by the water.
Bridger swan inland as fast as he
could. Alison putting in his wake But
they were too late. large wave gath
cred their clothes in its embrace, and
as they neared the shore the boys
on the point of being foated out to
sea.
1t was disconsolate couple of shiv-
erinS youngsters that stood on the
ledge. well above the tide this time.
and made a hurried inventory of their
belongings.
I've got everything all right" said
Bridger. Have you?''
Yes. but they're all sopping wet"
so are mine except my boots and
socks Lucky We put those higher up"
Yes. mine are all right. too. Won't
we get into a mess thought
Never mind about that yet" said
Bridger: let's get home first"
Dressing in soaking garments was
miserable job. but they managed to
get covered at last. They made the
best of their way out Of the cove and
, n
IT was, running in clinging garments
oh. what a row we shall get into"
groaned Alison,
Yes. suppose We shall" acquiesced
Bridger wait a bit. though" he ex-
claimed I've got it,
Now listen TO me. and remember
to say exactly what I do We went
fishing. and you tumbled into the wa
ter. and I went in after you-do you
s.e?"
oh" was AIison's startled COM
ment.
Twas a spring tide. and a high
wave came, and you slipped trying to
jump out of the way" continued
Bridger.
But why did you jump in?" asked
his chum Everybody knows I can
swim"
| You shouted help. and I jumped in
without thinking"
By this time they had reached the
school Bridger marched up to the
front coor and rang the bell.
why don't We go in at the schoo,
door," exclaimed Alison. alarmed
For all the fellows to see US and
poster Us with questions? No, my son:
let old Holman see us once for all as
we go in. He can't keep us waiting
to ask questions whilst were dripping
wet"
AS it happened. Mr.. Holman. the
| hnnSA had
up the path and met them in the hall.
What's the meaning of this?" he de-
manded.
| please. sir. We We're fishing in the
cove. and Alison fell in. and 1 went
in to help him out"
At this point he sneezed violently.
and the master dismissed them TO
change their clothes as soon as pos
sible.
| The boys were in high feather at the
/ success of their clever stratagem, as
| they thought it, They were even
! burning to tell the other fellows how
they had fooled Mr.. Holman, but pru
dence kept them silent. How easy Mr.:
Holman was!
But Mr.. Holman was a far sharper
man than they imagined. He watched
the boys keenly as they crossed the
hall: then suddenly he noticed that
, their footsteps left no trace of damp
on the hall floor.
He resolved to investigate before
questioning them. The supper bell
rang soon after, and all the boys had
to change into shoes before supper
and evening study. During supper
Mr.. Holman traced the boots of the
two boys. They were quite dry; in
side and out
His suspicious now thoroughly
aroused. the master sent for Bridser
to hear details Of his story Bridger
was equal to the occasion. anc show |
ed no Hesitation in telling what had
happened.
But how was 1t. then" inquired Mr.
Holman at the end, that your boots
were not vet?
But Eridger was not SO casily
caught: Il took them of sir, so as |
to be able to swim more easily"
"Ah. of course But wasn't 1t yistev
TO wait to unlace your boots:
ALLISON got on all right 1t FIRST. but
n was rather rough. So I thought IA |
better help him when he called out"