The Springfield herald., 1916-01-07
MISS sINDBAD
sy cLARlssA MAckiE.

!: 8y clAh19SA MACklE. =
Vale Benson was fishing OF Bass
Rocks when tho brisk little motor boat
whisked under his very nose and dart
ed away around the point.
There goes Miss Sindbad, the
Sailor" he chuckled at the nickname
given to the saucy owner of the
launch. And. by Jove. she's running
OF with my line!"
The reel was spinning merrily and
the line sang = tune as 1t ran faulty
after the vanishing boat. Vale's hook
and sinker were caught in the pro-
peller of the little craft.
Hi, there!" he shouted.
Miss Sindbad did not turn around.
Hi, there! Miss Sindbad!" he
yelled in desperation.
The brown head turned, the boat
swung q wide circle and came about.
A pair Of big, brown eyes looked up
Into his.
You called me7" she asked sternly.
"Why-why. yes-you are running
OF with my line" he explained. point
ing downwards.
~. Can you come down and get 1t
onf" she asked crisply.
It took him half an hour to olsen
tangle the line from the propeller.
At last 1t was OF and Miss Sindbad
was FREQ to pursue her way. During
the half hour Vale had learned that
she lived In tho rsd-gabled house at
the extreme point.
Red Cables" he muttered, staring
after her. why. that il where Freda
Frake, tho writer. lives. By Jove, it's
Miss Frake herself!"
All that evening he dreamed OF Miss
sindbad's brown eyes and flushed
cheeks. of the dimple in her chin and
the soft curve of her face. How low
able she was! And to think that she
should turn out to be Freda Frake,
that mysterious writer Of fascinating
romances whose stories he had eagerly
bought for his magazine. but whose
personal identity was mystery to him
and his sta6.
"Tomorrow." he told himself, Il
viii call upon her. Who says there 10
NO romance in this workaday world r.
When the morrow came . walk out
to the end Of the point brought the
young publisher all too soon at the end
Of his journey.
Seated At . table under the vines
was an enormously stout woman writ
ing rapidly in . leather covered book.
"Mr. Benson! have always hoped
to meet you some day" she cried with
outstretched hand.
Miss Frakef" he faltered.
Yes, Of course-but how could You
know met" she laughed. "sit down
here. James. serve tea at once"
An hour later Vale took farewell Of
the popular authoress and without one
glimpse Of Miss sindbad wended his
way down to = group OF cozy little cot
tages on the sandy slope.
He glanced casually at the last one
and stopped abruptly. On the gate was
the neat sign. Red Cables" and com.
ing down the steep steps was Miss
Sindbad herself, q white duck hat on
her brown head, her dark eyes dane
ing with pleasure.
so this is Red Gables!" exclaimed
Vale. and then at her amused glance
he went on recklessly. I've been call
ing on Miss Frake-I thought you
lived therei"
Such a pity-and such q difference,
she sighed. We're not a bit literary
at our Red Gables-just plain, every.
day folks"
II like everyday folks" interrupted
Vale enthusiastically. They're easy
to get on with"
That's nice Of you," she smiled as
they went down to the shore. "Fa.
Tiers q painter-he's down there
painting my boat. That's mother in
the white sunbonnet-she's holding
the pot-she's always around where
father is"
Vale saw q tall, bearded man in
paint-splashed overalls plying a brush
/ vigorously, and near him stood a slen
der little woman holding . big pail
Of naint
"Oh, JEAN" called the woman, As the
girl approached.
Benson thrilled At the name. 1t waa
B his favorite of names for women.
Coming, mother! And I'm bringing
Q sort of celebrity know it's forbid
den. but he somehow walled into nv
| nre ana 1 had 70 bring him along.
She laughed gayly and introduced
Vale, and ~ her father swung around
the two men leapsd toward each other
with outstretched hands-
"HaAmoodi" exclaimed Vale heart
fly. "Ddch Ha1wouAi"