The Washington herald., 1917-11-26

figure and ducked it in, much as q
Newfoundland dog might duck a new
Ing kitten.
There now. swim around and get
warm"
With the wings we'll under her arms,
Helen managed to founder across.
mot so fast! Take It easy-and
keep your legs up" instructed War
rem.
"oh. you know can't SWIM" pant
ingly.
''Well. right here's the place to
learn. Now kick on! Keep your chin
down. your mouth shut-and your legs
up! Keep your arms under the wa
ter, and cup your hands-lIke this"
Again Helen houndered across the
shallow end-her mouth open. her chin
up and her legs dragging impotently.
"Jove, you go over like a rhinoce-
ros! Here. take on those wings.
You'll never learn with those things"
"Oh. couldn't do a thing without
them"
But Warren. ruthlessly jerking on
the inflated wings, flung them up on
the ledge. Then. taking a firm grip
on the back OF her bathing suit, he
dragged her away from the protect
hib AdlI u Tie ueepSF water,
Now strike out-I'u hold you. Not
SO fast! kep your mouth SHUT"
Sprawling with frantic, futile strokes
Helen unged across the pool, a pa
thetic, writhing figure, held up by
Warren's grip.
Now again." inexorably. when
spluttering she reached the side rail.
"Oh, I can't-I won'tI 1 hate it!r
But relentless, with a fresh grin. he
started her across again. Despite her
pleading resistance, he put her
through a torturous fifteen minutes.
not releasing her until she was re-
duced to tears.
Thought I could teach anybody
to sWim-but you're the limit" dis
gusted, as he left her clinging to the
rail Cant even keep your mouth
shutr"
oh, I'll never-never 60 in with
you again!" Helen was almost weep-
ing.
Don't worry. I'm not keen on II.
IL you could see yourself fioundering
around-spluttering like a hippopota-
mus" as he swept off with easy
strokes.
Mrs. Arnold had left the pool and
was now rolling over and over on
the white tiled foor-a favorite re-
ducing exercise.
You don't have to rolI," appraisIng
Helen's slim, dripping figure.
No, but I'm a perfect COW In the
water. 1t was brutal of Warren to
Keep dragging me aCross-Tn never
learn that way"
"oh, you'll be all right-you Just
need confidence. You could swim now
II you only thought you could. Sixty,
sixty-one. sixty-two," as she rolled on
to the prescribed one hundred.
Still smarting under Warren's' lash
ing comments, with ranking humilia-
tion, Helen watched him swimming
lazlly at the deeper end.
How easy 1t seemed! She tried too
hard-and took her strokes too fast.
Watching him now It looked nbsurdIy
simple. If only she could prove to
MIN that she could swim-if she could
get across once! you Just need con-
hdence! You could swim now il you
only thought you could" the words
spurred her to a sudden, reckless i'm
pulse.
Mrs. Arnold now absorbed in a
rhythmic bending exercise. and War
rem and Mr.. Arnold diving at the other
end. Helen climbed down unobserved,
There was nothing to fear, she told
herself, stealing her courage. OF
course she could swim. She would
strike right out. She would 20 slowly
and NOT be afraid. All she needed
was confidence-and now she had that,
Her heart in her throat, she threw
herself on the water. Slow! SlowI
But as she felt the water closing over
her, her first slow stroke was follow
ed by panicky speed. She foundered
wildly-but could not touch the bot
tom. A horrible buzzing as the water
filled her ears and swept over her
head.
Then a blurred oblivion!
The rest was like a dream. She
was only half conscious of the reviv-
ing air, and Warren's strong arms as
he lifted her out and climbed with
her up to the ledge.
She was lying on the tiled floor.
They were all bending over her. "An
right now?" Warren's face was cu-
riously tense.
With a strangling cough she sat up.
Her ears roared and her throat SEEM
ed IN a choking band. Her cap OF,
her wet hair hung about her should
ers.
what in blazes were you trying to
DOR his voice betraying his anxiety
as he helped her to her feet.
III was trying to SWIM" with a
nysterical laugh, the humor Of the
situation forcing itself upon her.
mrs. Arnold said only needed con-
well. you confidence didn't take
you very fRrn Warreu Was rvran anninr