Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-20
THE DAILY. STORY
That Ends We'll

There was a golden glow on the river.
Behind the hills 70 the west the sun
had gone down. touching the cloud edges
with crimson and ocher.
Peter Bryant threw down a lever and
the Polyphemus III answered by tearing
like a streak through the water. They
swung around the bend and Peter half
rose to hts feet to peer anxiously ahead.
Yes, there she was-the girl he was
looking for Every afternoon for the last
two weeks he had seen her there In the
shelter at the very end of the little pier
running out into the river She was n
wonderfully pretty girl Peter had lost
his impressionable heart to her that very
first day he had seen her there. But he
could find no mutual acquaintance 10
introduce him, and he was due to go
back to the city day after tomorrow.
He liked her copper-colored hair, and
the smooth roundness OF her cheeks and
the pretty sparkle OF her eyes.
lie was going TO meet that girl some
how: he was going TO meet her before he
went back. and he was going TO hear
her voice. He knew intuitively 1t would
be a nice voice.
She was sitting in a hammock, sway
ing gently to and fro in the little shelter
as she kept her eyes on the page before
neTs refer let out Ine DObI even
the exhaust roared its strident chug-
chug. chug-chug, but the girl did not
look up. She was quite unaware of
Peters presence Motorboats were as
common en- the river as were water
spiders. The roar of an exhaust meant
nothing in particular 1t was no reason
why one should lift ones eyes from
fascinating page,
Perhaps Peter Bryant may be forgiven
for entertaining very desperate thoughts
those few brief minutes. Perhaps he did
not stop to count the chances Of what he
was doing. At any rate, with a sudden
quick shift of the wheel he sent the
Polyphemus IL straight at that pier.
Also ne slammed down a lever. As he
stopped the boats nose was headed
straight for the little shelter on the end
Of the pier in which the girl lolled In
the hammock.
Now, Peter knew well enough that the
boat was going at good clip. What he
did not estimate correctly was the dis
tance to the pier. AS he looked up after
pushing down that lever he was genuine
ly Mortified TO find the pier not a boats
length away. Nor had the speed lessened
to any appreciable extent. Plainly there
was going to be a crash. and a good one.
Peter gave warning yell. At the same
time he strove to put the wheel down.
The girl looked up and jumped to her
feet. "Oh" she cried. "Oh."
1t is probable she would have said more,
but there was no time for it. The motor
boat hit the fiimsy pier with a terrific
impact. There was a mighty swapping,
a rending of timbers. The pier shook,
the shelter swayed precariously.
Peter, thrown violently against the
engine by the crash, saw the whole thing
tremble and CULVER and then upset be-
fore his Mortified eyes There was
splash, a gurgle, a little choked cry,
flash OF white. The girl was in the river.
The motorboat, being hopelessly tangled
in the wreckage. Peter tore off his coat,
kicked off his shoes and went overheard.
few swift strokes and he had the girls
arm in his grip. He did not notice that
she was swimming-coolly, strongly.
He was sputtering and blowing water
from his mouth in his excitement. PUT
your hands on my shoulders" he in
structed
The girl eyed him grimly. He thought
once she was laughing at him. mo need"
she said very calmly. II can swim well.
It's only few strokes to shore.
Suiting her action to the words. she