Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-26

had been running. Now as their
glances met, hers keenly inquiring of
Whitakers still bewiIdered eyes, she
pulled up abruptly and stood astare.
He saw, or fancied, something closely
akin to fright and CONSERVATION in her
look. The flush In her cheeks gave
way to a swift palIor. The hands
trembled that drew her beach cloak
close about her. She seemed to make
an Intellectual effort to speak.
On his part Whitaker tried to get
up. A keen twinge in his ankle, how
ever, wrung an involuntary grunt from
him, and with wry grimace he sank
back.
"Oh!" cried the woman, impulsively.
you're hurtw She advanced a pace,
solicitous and sympathetic.
ooh, not much" Whitaker replied
in a tone more Of hope than of assur-
ance. He felt tenderly of the injured
member. "Only my ankle-tWisted it
a few days ago, and now again. It'll
be all right in a moment or two"
edge of the bluff.
Il didn't See-I mean, I heard some
thing, and turned and saw you trying
to sit up and the other man rising"
Sorry we startled YOU" Whitaker
mumbled, wondering how the deuce he
was going to get home. His examina-
ton of the ankle hadn't proved greatly
encouraging.
"But I-ah-how did it happen?"
ga mere misunderstanding" he said
lightly. 81 mistook the gentleman for
someone [ knew. He resented it. so
we started to scrap like a couple of
schoolbOys. Then wish to
heaven it had been his leg instead of
mine!"
"But still / hardly understand 9 :"
"Wel1, you see, T-ah-Im visiting
Ember-the cottage next to yours, I
believe. That is, If I'm not mistaken,
you have the Fiske placer"
She nodded.
"And so, this morning, it struck me
as fine young idea to swim over here
and have a look at tbs beach And
then. found that chap watching YOU"
mat startled her. Chow do you
mean-watching me?"
'Why-ah-that's what he seemed
to be doing"
She shook her head. "You must be
mistaken"
"Daresay. l generally am when l
jump at conclusions Anyway, he didn't
like it much when I called him out of
his name. gathered, in fact that he
was considerably put out. Silly, wasn't
st?"
''Rather!" she agreed gravely.
For a moment or two they eyed one
another in silence, Whitaker wonder
ing just how much of a fool she was
thinking him and obviously consider
ing various expedients to ingratiate
himself
81 don't seem to think of anything
useful to say" he ventured. "Can you
help me out? Unless you'd be inter-
ested to know my names Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker-p
She acknowledged the information
merely by a brief nod. 1T seems to
me-" she said seriously, that the
pressing question is, what are you go
ing to do about that ankle? Shall
you be able to walk?"
Hard to say" he grumbled, a trffe
dashed. With infinite pains and the
aid of both hands and his sound foot,
he lifted himself and cOntrived to
stand erect for an instant, then bore a
little weight on the hurt ankle-and
blanched, paling visibly beneath his in
eradicabie tan.
Il don't suppose" he said with eff
fort-"they grow-crutches- this
neck of Iand?"
And he was about to collapse again
upon the sands when, without warning,
he found the woman had moved to his
side and caught his hand, almost
brusquely passing his arm across her
shoulders, so that she received no little
of his weight.
"0h, / say" he protested feebly.
"Don't say anything" she replied
I shortly. I'm very strong-quite able
to help you to the boat. Please don't
consider me at all; just see if we can't
manage this way
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