Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-04-22
I'M I'LL MI
MARY MIDTHORNE
GEORGE BARR
Author of "Graustark." "Truxton King" etc.
Copyright 1911. BY Dodd. Mead & Co.
I'LL iii I'LL
V.-(Continued.

AT the rate tney were gong, ETC
calculated that two hours would bring
passed to the north. the light keeper
would see them. Joan's dress was
white. If they went to the south, OF
between the two, there was small
chance of their being seen, unless the
keeper was watching the sea closely
, with his glass. Their brightest hope
lay in the possibility that they might be
driven into the shallow waters covering
the unseen approach to the reefs. Eric
knew the waters well. He had gone
there dozens of times with the fishing
boats.
The sky was now clear, and a hot sun
beat down upon them; the storm was
rollicking far ahead Of them. A steady
wind from the shore was blowing, and
soon the tide would come out. Waves
still ran high, but they We're not SO
angry as they had been.
Eric could see hat the girl was
growing weak from the strain and ex-
! posture. He was no longer able to
cheer her with his heartiest cries, She
looked wan and ready to give up the
struggle to keep her head from falling
forward, limp with fatigue.
TO his despair. the current caught
them up and drew them toward the
passage between the islands. He be-
/; gan to pray. His whole soul cried out
W 1Ou, lHlploTlnS Tim 10 SeHu lleln
onto the shoals where he could have a
chance to save the girl whose life was
more to him now than anything else IN
all the world. His own strength and
| vitality We're fast departing; his limbs
| We're chilled n numb, his senses
dulled n sluggish with the drug of
| WearineSS.
He could see that they would drift
| past the upper enc of Little Eddy, per-
haps 100 yards from the visible rocks.
The broad. heaving ocean lay directly
beyond. 1t was clear to him that they
had not been observed by the light
keeper. ust as he was in the deepest
despair, the impulse to cut loose from
the boat and try for the rocks came
distance alone. but was his strength
sufficient to do it with the almost dead
weight of the girl as q burden?
Eric was always quick to act. He
was cool, but he was daring. The
thought was father to the act. He
drew up his stiffened legs and began
to unlace his shoes. first rolling his
trousers up to the knees, Kicking off
the heavy shoes, he clambered over the
boat n set to work releasing loan.
She was faint, but conscious of his
action.
I'm going to swim in with you, Joan.
Don't be afraid. Do just as I tell you.
anu NNo IL Goo1l OS SdIc. w Z IL bc dDlc W
wade after we get within 20 yards of
the rock
She followed his Instructions to the
best of her ability, and soon he was
struggling frantically toward the ugly,
f~orbidding wall of rock, swimming with
all the power that was left in his racAed
young body. Many 6. stronger swim
tempt. out a strange, unnatural vigor
came to his aid, born OF pride and des-
peration.
Just as he realized thai he could no
swim a stroke farther, and the goal still
many yards away, his numb feet struck
against hard substance. He %involun-
tarily, even recklessly, allowed them to
sink In the hope of touching bottom.
He was on the shelving rock!
Still there We're many yards to ira
| verse, M he would have to carry her
all the way, battling against the small
but stubborn breakers. How he COW
| cred the distance. stumbling, falling
scrambling, he never could have told
but after what seemed an hour, he
crept out Of the breakers and fell ex-
hausted on the rock. dragging Joan aft
er him. Scarcely able to move his
tired limbs, he pulled and tugged until
they were well out of the baffled waters
n then he rolled over or his back and
gasped for breath.
1t was the girl who first showed signs
| of recuperation. She raised herself tc
a sitting posture. supporting her body
with her hands, n studied the limp
figure at her side through bewildered
half understanding eyes. Her MIND
worked slowly, so slowly that a full
minute passed before she realised that
he vas as motionless as death itself
Then her hand went out, ti%morously
dumbly. to touch the pallid face. The
fear that vas growing in her family
beating heart was dispelled almost in
stantly. quite before 1t was fully
formed; he opened his eyes at hel
into each others eyes. and then a WY
smile broke on his lips.
Gee" he said, in very shaky tones
II guess you've got a right to think
I'm an awful duffer."
Il though you were-Oh, Eric. you
are not dead! l am 80 glad-so glad!'
she sobbed, clasping her hands to her
| breast.
I'll didn't dare to look at you
Joan" he hoarsely, q spaslr
of pain convulsing his face. Il was
afraid you hadn't come through al
right. oh, II you had not touched M
when you did should have died.
believe l held my breath for an hour
Thank God. thank God!"
He sat UP beside her, touched hel
hands, her face with his fingers. a
smile of relief. of actual glee, spread
over his face like an illumination. HI
| drew a deep breath. as h smiled wan
ly in return, and then staggered to his
feet to shout and dance like one beref'
of his senses.
CHAPTER VI.