The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-12-14

but he swilns like king salmonr'
"Oh. Mr.. Ferguson.f.
Yes, Miss Chester
1--WE won't say anything about this.
please, and could You arrange to dry
my things in the engine room? I'll
leave them outside my door in five
minutes?'
Easiest thing in the world. miss:
glad to-
Benedict had reached the grating.
for the mate had not hurried the gig.
The burly Scotchman passed Mabel
over to Benedict, to whom she gave
her little cold hand She looked her
thanks. but she said:
Ferguson says you swim like n
king salmon, and l think so too."
That's worth more than cups and
medals!" And Benedict bowed gal
lantly.
Half up the gangWay Mabel turned
as he was poised for another dip and
whispcreI:
''Mum's the wOrd?"&
Benedict put finger to his lips, nod
dod three times and disappeared in the
blue water.
mabel, my dear" said Mrs Carol
ton as the girl looked into her aunt's
cabin later, arthur Benedict came
down last night from Sea Gate. and
want you to lie very nice to him. He
is splendid fellow. l. have known
him since he was IN knici1ers. He is q
nephew of your Uncle Henry's bust
ness partner and Yale man.
Young Benedict. in fannels. being
duly presented, was asked by his host
ess if he was ready for breakfast and
promptly admitted that he was as
hungry as shark.
Due to taking an early swim, per
| haps,' he added
Arthur, l have always thought you
| ton. (
ANY mermaids- dswfs here,-@AIiss
Chester?' inquired Benedict blandly.
"Why, did you see one?" asked Ma
bel. mistaken.
Thought did Nay have been some
big fish, though. He mad red head
| and silver scales"
"And a tail like king salmon?" in
quired Mabel, very much Interested.
'Nonsenser' declared Mrs. Carol
ton. Tell us about that meteoric mo-
torboat of yours, Arthur
| Benedict was at once all enthusiasm
and gave an up to date description of
all the different kinds of water bugs
that were, to take part in the race of
the afternoon. He explained that the
ideal toward which the designers
were striving was boat that at high
speed would practically skim along on
| the surface Of the water, not plow
through it.
"Why, my boat Zip will run on a
thin layer of fog / believe! Watch
! her She's entered in the big race this
afternoon"
The Priscilla, gay with bunting and
| flying the commodore's pennant, was
saluted by all the river craft as she
steamed up the bay and, passing out
through the East river, dropped her
anchor at the finishing line for the
motorboat contests off New Rochelle
The Zip was brought alongside, and
Benedict took her off for a warming
up before the race in which she was
to start in half an hour.
Mabel, in smart yachting suit and
wearing the colors of Benedict's club
had wished him good luck and then
went forward to consult Ferguson
| That canny old Scot was not at all ir
sympathy with the program for the
day, and, pointing to the swapping
cracking, roaring contestants on every
hand, streaking over the water. he
said as much to Mabel. --
"Why, miss, when nature has sup
piled Il good. spanking breeze like thi
the young fellows should be satisfied
to do their racing with honest canvas
to carry them along instead of shee
metal traps, full of machinery ant
gasoline It's just a craze to go fast
er than the wind and is of the sam,
piece with mile minute motorcars
airships and underwater boats. l sa,
it's flying in the face Of Providence!
"Why, Mr.. Ferguson" quizzed th
girl. laughing gayly at the dour oil
salt, you wouldn't want to go bacl
to three stickers and canal boats ant
stagecoaches, would your
"Whe knows but what | would?
And his weather beaten features re
laxed as he glanced at the bonni
lassie who had sought him so muc
since the morning.
Miss Mabel, there is enough weigh
and power in one of those racin
cookies to kick it all to pieces if any
thing goes wrong with the works. le
alone the chance of an explosion"
Ferguson scoWled again and pickle
up his marine glasses.
Here comes our boat. miss. Hay
! Il look at her." he said suddenly
Mabel gave a little gasp as sh
found the onryslling Zip siSimmin
toward them like a swallow In th
. midst of the flying spray stood a fis
. nre that locked to her altogether lik
Il viking.
Ferguson, who had lassies of hi
! Own. dill rot fail to note the girl
shining eyes and rising color rs st
watched ana shook his finger at tjl