The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-31
DEALS FISHER BOY
BY KEITH KENYON.

Raymond Deal sat on the deck of
his houseboat and idly skinned the
pages of a current magazine. The
Sea Urchin was anchored on Beach
mead, and from its decks one could
command q 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 lbreakwater
stretcheda rocky arr to protect
Beach bay from the more turbulent
sound, he knew the water was crash
ing against the black barrier with .
swishing, musical cadence; It was .
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 tho
.rocks: he had often done 1t before.
He turned his head at the cracking
sound Of oars working In rowlocks.
A boat was moving along perilously
close to the Sea Urchin. All that was
visible to Raymond were big flap
ping straw hat and pair Of slim,
muscular, brown arms handling the
oare with the skill of born sailor.
Hi, there, young man, be careful
you don't scrape 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 it's 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 vagabond did shoot
from those eyes! Well, | may as well
indulge myself in this vacation
period; so here goes"
/ He spoke to his man, a weh-trained
Japanese, and presently had entered
his motor boat and was chugging on,
toward the black line of rocks. He
was bareheaded and his shirt sleeves
were rolled above his sun-tannet
arms A blackened pipe was grippet
between his teeth. His blue eyes
sparkled with pleasure.
Ogi had put aboard a small baske
containing sandwiches and a thermo
bottle. He needn't return until night
Raymond had almost overtaken thu
rowboat when 1t left the channel ant
disappeared around the end of thu
breakwater. He did not follow it. H
dropped anchor on the inner side
where the water was Comparatively
calm, and, taking his basket, he clam
bred up the rocks until he reached
a nook above hightide mark. O
, course in heavy gales the water CON
pletely covered the rocks. but nov
the waves beat pleasantly In foam
crispness, sending up refreshin
showers Of salt spray.
Raymond could not see the youn
fisherman; indeed he forgot all abou
. him. Propped comfortably on
cushion Of seaweed, his hands benin
his head, he sat and dreamed {
, nothing in particular as an hou
, passed and the tide rose higher. Ate
, while he slept lulled by wind an
!, sun.
" Suddenly he sat up. wide awak
. The wet splash Of water upon h
, hand told him that he had dreame
too long. Contrary to his reasonin
/. the wind had freshened to half
gale and the waves were dashing q
most over the breakwater His fir
thought was for his boat. 1t was
hundred feet away. The tide swee
!. ing through the channel had draggt
n the motor craft away from n
Z anchorage.
|. THE dickens!" sputtered Raymon
r rising to his feet and surveying Il
o situation. Il wonder where tn
d young Italian is. He might save n
/ swim. BY Jove! There he is nc
9 and bawling like little Niagara!
J. Sure enough, the slim, blue Overa
:. ed form was crouched on the roc
3 behind him and the face was buri'
in the brown hands while the sho'
It ders heaved and the big hat bobb
r SUCCESSFULLY.
It "Humph!" commented Raymol
e. contemptuously, picking his way
y ward the weeping one. Just as
n Al hA q
a. saw that the ancient rowboat W
!, lying bottom upward on the roc
a. and that the fat bottom was brok
D. and gaping.
o Don't cry over spilled milk, q
D. sport" laughed Raymond, tweaki
D. at the arm of the disconsolate one
e "Oh. go away" protested t
20 mourner.
Z We'll, I've a great mind to a
leave you marooned here. What
u you say to that, young man-eh
ls He leaned over and pulled the han
e away from the tear-stained face.
A pair Of golden-brown ey
drowned in tears looked up at b
defiantly.
What do you say Of that-w
DR. why" Raymond backed away
til he stumbled and SGT down heav
e On a convenient rock.
"WSy--y'hy--w.y wh2to" r1:micR
a his companion brokenly.
II "Why are you wearing those ov
III alls?" demanded Raymond heated
" You've got no business going arou
dressed as a boy!"
Haven't II" she returned, sudd