Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-27

IL was desoiate and lonely compared with
the Hotel d'Europe and the lively quay;
so when a funny little stern wheeler
started up the river on its weekly trip
to Piranhas, Gerry went with II.
Piranhas was town Of mud plastered
against a barren cliff II made no pre-
tense to being alive Here a dead man
could live in peace with his surround
ings From is miles up the river came
the rumble Of the mighty paulo NHonso
Falls, singing a perpetual requiem Gerry
established himself in a hovel of an inn
that even In this far retreat did not dare
call itself hotel
The only industry in Piranhas was the
washing of clothes and the women did
that Fish were caught in great. guam
titles but fishing was not an industry.
Here. too man nshcd only when he
was hungry.
Gerry chartered a pondorous canoe.
At first he had man to paddle him up
and down and sometimes across the wide
half-mile of water But before long he
learned to handle the thing himself. The
heavy work soon trimmed his splendid
muscles into shape. He supplied the
hostelry with a variety of fish.
one morning he woke earlier than
usual The wave OF life was runnins
high in his veins lie sprang w and,
still in his puiamns, hurried out for his
morning swim Thcu break of day was
gloriously chilly. cool breeze, hurrNing
up from the sea. was steadily banking
up the mist that hung over the river;
Gerry spranC into his canoe and pushed
off. He drove its heavy length up
stream not i'm tho teeth of the current,
for no man could do that hut skrting
the shore, scizng on the help OF every
eddy and Keeping an eye out for the
green swirling mound that meant
pinnacle of rock lust short of the sur
face. lie went further up tho river than
ever before. His muscles were Keyed to
the struggle He passed the last jutting
bend that the best hontmcn ON the river
could master and found himself In bay
protected by n spit of sand rock-tippcd
and foam-tOsscd where ii reached the
rivers channel From this point the
river was chaos Of jagged rocks that
fought the mighty tide hurled from the
falls still miles above.
Gerry ran the canoe upon the shore
and stripped. lie stepped ON to the spit
of sand In that moment just to live was
enough. lie stretched his arms out and,
looking down. watched the fine texture
of his body turn GuOsC-ilush. Then the
sun broke out ana helped the wind clear
the last bank Of mist from the river
Gcrrys body took on a rosy glow. lie
had never seen IL like that before and
as he looked Il sharp cry broke on his
astunishcd ears.
Almost at the end Of the tongue of
sand stood girl. \ white cotton robe
was at her feet. Her hair was blowing
around her slim shoulders. oyer one Of
them she gnHod. startled, at Gerry. He
drew back horribly confused and mum
bling apologies that she could not have
understood even II she couli have heard
them Then she plunged with "a clean long
dive into the river. But before she
plunged she laughed. Gerry heard the
laugh. with an answering cry he hurled
himself into the water ana swan as
he had never swum before.
The girl had further to 80 across tn"
little bay, but She could beat Gerry
swimming ana she did. only she failed
to use her head and. when she found
bottom, started Ia wade WaduE is slow
work iu water waist high. Gerry stuck
to his long powerful stroke As the
girl reached the bank the strong fingers
Of his right hand closed on her bare
ankle.