The Lamar register., 1915-10-13

dressed as q boyi"
Haven't II" she returned. sudden
ly, cool and dehantly.
mo, you haven't and you know It,
You might find yourself in an IN
pleasant predicament"
81 have already" she interrupted
pointedly.
'I know ttl But You'll have to nut
up with my company until can get
you on. I'm afraid your boat isn't
much good"
She choked back the tears. It's
the best boat we've got and the only
one. Grandfather said 1t wasn't safe
to go out. but"
You liked the danger2" he finished
Mono she almost shrieked. 81
came out her to fish because l was
hungry. II you'd lived on bread and
tea and tea and bread for weeks-l
can't help It II I'm hungry all the
time. 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 II to his coy nook.
He recovered It Just In time and was
rejoiced to find that the sandwiches
were dry and unframed,
Now, see here he said authori-
tatively, I've been shipwrecked and
| know what It is to be hungry and
thirsty on a desert shore. Please
don't make any protests-let's lunch
iogether. fellow castaway."
She looked wistfully at the daintily
prepared food u ought not to-" she
was obJecting. when Raymond spread
a paper napkin In her lap, placed the
sandwiches before her and filled the
thermos cup with hot coffee.
Drink this!" he ordered. And
eat those sandwiches-every crumb.
Then you've got TO answer a few
questions. Meantime. I'm going to
swim out and get my boat"
He slipped off his shoes and dropped
into the water. Once he looked over
his shoulder and saw that the girl
was watching him. He lifted his arm
and she waved in response.
He swan easily with the tide and
had almost reached the boat when.
without the slightest warning, he was
overpowered by an attack of cramps.
He waved his arms desperately be-
fore he went down.
A long. shrill cry came back over
the water. When he rose to the sur
face he saw a round. dark, wet OBJ
ject bobbing through the water at
incredible speed.
1t was the girl He went down for
the second time. swooning from that
gripping agony. When he came up
again. she was very near-so close
that he could see her scared brown
eyes. He tried to smile as he felt
himself sinking. but she hurled her
self through the water and gripped
fingers.
Pantingly she dragged him toward
the motor boat. clinging to Its sides
for a long time before she could
help him into II. He sank in an un-
conscious heap on the bottom while
she found the emergency oar. lifted
the anchor and sculled the motor
boat slowly toward the sandy beach.
When he opened his eyes he was
on the warm sand before a shabby
cottage. A tall old man was chatting
his wrists and pumping his arms
while the girl sped fieetly down the
beach for assistance.
1t was hours afterward when he
awoke from a refreshing sleep in the
living room OF the cottage. Painfully
he recalled the events of the after
noon. remembering that the fisher
girl had saved his life. Her voice
reached him now. low pitched and
melodious: Come. grandfather. your
soup is ready. You better eat 1t
while it's hot"
Just as | thought" muttered Ray
mond. She's starving herself to feed
the old man! I'm glad owe my life
to her. 1t will serve as my excuse to
rescue them from this certain death
by starvation"
Then the grandfather came in. He
proved to be feeble old man OF
nearly eighty. Raymond's gratitude
and sympathy invited confidence and
presently the young man was listen
ing to a pathetic story of how a
once-famous artist had been over
taken by relentless poverty.
Little by little his money had
dwindled He knew that his grand
daughter was starving herself for
his sake. but she evaded all his at
fam pta to compaI M a1uaI diyIciOp