Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-11
CHAPTER XIV.
l went out
The Voyage of tho Merry Widow.

The Voyage of tho Merry Widow.
n II had stopped raining entirely now.
and the south wind had become Il
I'll warm and welcome reality. l
went down to the cove. AS | had
rather expected, | found Bill johnson
there with his motor scow, the Merry
Widow. with her nose driven up OH the
beach.
Bits father was Danish. l believe.
and his mother was French Cana
dian. His speech Is II combination OF
patos that lie heard ut home.
quite SEA out there" indicated
the lake.
"Shc shall run pretty high" replied
Bill, "but not SO high like she do
awhile ago"
"Just come out for the ridc?" |
qucricd.
"No. The Merry Widow she bring
over young man. Il newspaper Teller.
lie say he xiv" mo three dollar or !
wouldn't. by yimminy Christmas. do
1t. No, sa,r, not .or two-ifty even
shan't do It," Thea he added. with a
slight wink. The sea she amt so high
now rs | make him th.nk"
DO YOU know where lIuntinwhon's
island iS!' | inquired. Il vague plan OF
action formulating itself In my brain.
Sure | know him. She set over yon
bout three mile, maybe four or two
Nnd II half"
"Well, the young man YOU brought
over here has decided to stay for an
hour or so. While you are waiting l
want YOU to take me over to Hunting
don's and get Mrs. Green"
"Mrs. Green! What she do by Hunt
ingdon's?"
IN tell You later after l think up
some interesting explanation. At pres
ct shouldn't be able to do the sub
'~-sL. .~sloc, IEovApbUut TT WIN YOU
take Inc over theTe2"
He hesitated.
Heres a dollar" said "The
storm Is Quieting down good deal,
and, anyhow, YOU know the Merry
Widow is the best sen boat OH the
lake."
The flattcry won him. What owner,
even Of the vcrlcst motor monstrosity,
Is not susceptible to praise bestowed
upon his darling.
Il guess she shall run all right. One
waive she shan't work yust so good rs
she ought. but got some wire | fix
him up"
helped him shove off, and Bill tin
kercd with the one cylinder machine
gun which propelled the barge until he
induced 1t to bark at Irregular inter
walls.
Have forgotten to mention that the
Merry Widow is an open boat with no
SllpcrStructurc or canopy OF any sort?
lf | have, let me state here that her
lines are very decollcte. and large
wave meets with little obstruction save
the passengers when it starts to travel
from the bow to the stern.
she shall be, by yimminy Christ
mas, sure choppy," Bill commented.
'"The wind she shall haul to the south
and make cross waves"
lie was absolutely correct. AS soon
as we left the mouth of the cove wr
went through some cvolutions which
l would have said ii was absolutely
impossible for man OF my build TO
perform. | was fnvorably considering
the idea OF being seaSick when u
larger wave than usual washed over
and struck the engine 1t expired
peacefully on the spot.
what has happcned?' asked, with
a landsmans justified terror.
"Thc engine has stopped" Bilrs
calm statement OF the Obvious exas.
perated me.
"Of course 1t has stopped. Can we
ever start 1t again."
"S,re. She shall run some more.
The wave, she short circuit tho
spark. Sec" Bill pointed, "she nj,
wet His enthusiasm rs lecturer
on the gasoline engine made him for,
get the lake outside.
1t was brought to his attention by
a large wave which tipped us Oh our
beam ends and dropped Bill and N.Y.
self In an nffcctionatc group into the
stern Of the boat, where we were join
cd presently by collection of oil
cans, wrenchcS, grease cans and other
marine impedimcnta.
Bill removed his elbow from the Dit
OF my long since hopeless stomach and
scrambled to the engine.
she hain't hurted Bit" he an
nounced. LEND me your handker.
chief"
l silently passed him the article he
desired. He carefully wiped off a
large part OF the engine with it be.
fore be offered it back to me. I dc.
clined and told him to consider it my
contribution to the equipment of the
boat.
Nov, sare," he directed, "you must
hold tho coat over the spark so she
shall not get, by yee Viz, again wet"
He showed me how to protect tn,
engine from the elements by interpos.
ing my cont and NV shiyerinu body