The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-15
The EDening Story
Raymond's Fisher Boy.
(By Keith Kenyon.)

4
1 pages of a current magazine. The
| Sea Urchin was anchored off Beach
mead, and from it's decks one could
command a view of the pretty cot
tages and catch a glimpse of the roof
of the large hotel farther down the
! beach.
Far out where the breakwater
/ stretched q rocky arm to protect
| Beach bay from the more turbulent
| sound, he knew the water was crash
| ing against the black barrier with i
| swishing musical cadence; it was a
sound that he loved above all others.
| Suddenly he tossed his magazine aside
and propping his elbows on the rail,
debated whether he should step into
the dory and go out to the break
water to spend the afternoon on the
rocks; he had often done it before.
He turned his head at the crea king
sound of oars working in rowlocks.
A boat was moving along perilously
close to the Sea Urchin. All that was
visible to Raymond were a big flap
ping straw hat and a pair of slim,
muscular, brown arms handling the
oars with the shilling of a born sailor.
Hi, there, young man, be careful
you don't Scape my paint!' called
Raymond testify.
The hat bobbed back and he caught
a brief glimpse of a dark brilliant
face. Then it vanished under the
head covering, and boat and occupant
shot away at full speed.
Raymond watched its foaming wake.
Scared that young chap out of a
weeks growth" he grinned. Must
have been one of that Italian colony
out at the point. What a glance that
handsome young vagabonG did shoot
from those eyes! Well, 1 may as well
indulge myself in this vacation pc
Rod; so here goes"
He spoke to his man, a well-trained
Japanese, and presently had entered
his motor boat and was chugging out
toward the black line of rocks. He
was bareheaded and his shirt sleeves
were rolled above his sun-tanned
arms. A blackened pipe was grippcd
between his teeth. His blue eyes
sparkied with pleasure.
Ogi had put aboard a small basket
containing sandwiches and a thermos
bottle. He needn't return until night.
Raymond had almost overtaken the
rowboat when it left the channel and
disappeared around the end of the
breakwater. He did not follow it. He
dropped anchor on the inner side,
where the water was comparatively
calm, and taking his basket, he
clambered up the rocks until he
reached a nook above high-tide wark.
OF course in heavy gales the water
completely covered the rocks, but now
the waves beat pleasantly in foamy
crispness, sending up refreshing
showers of salt spray.
Raymond could not see the young
fisherman; indeed he forgot all about
him. Propped comfortably on a cush-
ion of seaweed, his hands behind his
head he sat and dreamed of nothing
in particular as an hour passed and
the tide rose higher. After while
he slept, lulled by wind and sun.
Suddenly he sat up, wide awake.
The wet splash of water upon his hand
told him that he had dreamed too
long. Contrary to his reasoning, the
wind had freshened to half a gale and
the waves were dashing almost over
the breakwater- His first thought was
for his boat. 1t was a hundred feet
away. The tide sweeping through the
channel had dragged the motor craft
away from her anchorage.
1.-The dickens!" sputtered Raymond,
rising to his feet and surveying the
situation. 81 wonder where that
young Italian is. He might save me
a swim BY jove! There he is now
and bawling like a little Niagara
Sure enough, the slim, blue over
behind him and the face was buried
in the brown hands while the Shout
ders heaved and the big hat bobbed
SUCCESSFULLY.
contemptuously. picking his way to-
ward the weeping one. Just as he
reached the spot he looked down and
saw that the ancient rowboat was
lying bottom upward on the rocks
and that the flat bottom was broken
and gaping.
Don't cry over split milk, old
sport" laughed Raymond, tweaking
at the arm of the disconsolate one.
"Oh. go away!" protested the
well, I've a great mind to and
leave you marooned here. What do
you say to that young man-eh ?"
A pair of golden-brown eyes
drowned in tears looked up at him
defiantly.
What you you say to that-why--.
why" Raymond backed away until
he stumbled and sat down heavily on
a convenient rock.
'Why-why-wh what?" mimick-
ed his companion brokenly.
"Why are you wearing those over
alls?" demanded Raymond heatedly.
You've got no business going around
dressed as a boy!'
Haven't I?' she returned, sud
denly, cool and defiant.
mo, you haven't and you know it.
You might find yourself in an I'M
pleasant predicament."
Il have already" she interrupted
pointedly.
II know i'll But you'll have to put
up with my company until I can get
you off. I'm afraid your boat isn't
much good.
She choked back the tears. Its
the best boat we've got and the only
one. Grandfather said it wasn't safe
to go out, but
You liked the danger % he finished
''No-no," she almost shrieked. II
came out here to fish because 1 was
hungry. If you'd lived on bread and
tea and tea and bread for weeks-I
can't help it if I'm hungry all the
times There's something about the
air down here" She was talking
to the empty air, for Raymond had
remembered the luncheon basket and
had returned for it to his coy nook.
He recovered just in time and was
reJoiced to find that the sandwiches