The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-07-24
When Father
Decides
n
By r. RAY BAKER

It was no use, the motor just
wouldn't start. Not a sputter could
Anne Davis get out of it. She tugged
and tugged at the flywheel, but there
was not even a buzz to reward her eff
forts.
She looked down the river, vexed and
despairing. The boat was floating at a
fair rate of speed, and unless she
could get 1t moving in the other direc
ton before long she would have little
prospect of arriving at the Rest-While
cottage before dark.
Already it was dusk, but she man.
aged to make out something coming
upstream. Soon she heard the creak-
Ing of OarlOcks and presently a
Shadowy shape doomed into view. 1t
was rowboat with man bending
vigorously at the oars.
One of the inhabitants" Anne de-
cided, but there was little disdain in
her voice. Meeting one of them in the
village she would not have favored him
with passing notice, but now any kind
of man would be welcome. She hailed
the stranger.
stop minute, will you, pleaseT
He rested with his oars partly out Of
the water.
Did you call me?" he shouted after
brief hesitation.
yes, l can't get this old engine
started. I wish you would help"
With some skill but much more diff
Guilty he managed to get the rowboat
alongside the motor craft. They were
of about the same size, for the gnsO-
line-propelled vehicle was far from be-
ing pretentious. 1t was, in truth, sim
ply a rowboat in which a one-cylinder
engine had been installed, and it was
rented along with the cottage that the
CulbertsonS, with whom Anne was
staying at the resort, had leased for the
season.
Anne had insisted on coming after
some provisions that were needed al
the cottage and she had started out
early in the afternoon for Alanson,
feeling not little cOncelted over being
the pilot and sole crew of the miser-
able little craft. The Culbertsons had
expressed miSgiyings over the venture
but Anne generally had her own way,
and was possessed of a reputation for
being a self-reliant sort of girl, so she
was allowed TO make the trip alone.
Everything went smoothly until she
hod Oh no 80 h1 l.,
journey on the way back, when the
engine went dead without warning. Not
another boat of any description was In
sight, for 1t was at that time of day
when most folks are partaking of their
evening meal. She must have driftcd
two miles when the rowboat came into
sight.
Anne breathed sigh of relief when
the newcomer grasped the gunwhale Of
the motorboat and peered over at her.
He had brought lantern, and by its
light she could see that he was rather
good-looking young man of perhaps
twenty-siX. lie had on a green shirt
and blue overalls, and on his head was
a wiGe-brimmed straw hat
She caught a glimpse of tin can
and Il tishpole In the bottom Of the
boat, and in order TO be congenial she
inquired whether he had had any luck
Imagine Anne Davis discussing the
subject of angling with country rus
tic! Imagine Anne Davis the break
er of mems hearts back in the big
city, talking familiarly with a denlzeu
Of this country town!
Fair, fair" he replied, and his voice
seemed to be singularly musical for an
uncultured person. 81 got half dozen
or seven, l forget just which it is.
Hold the boats together, and don't
move, will you, while | crawl over and
see if | can start your engine"
She did as instructed, hoping he I'M
derstood the business of getting from
one boat to another He caused con
siderable rocking, but nothing serious
happened, and presently he was tinker
ing ut the engine, while she held tena-
ciously TO the gunwales of the two
boats where they met
WI H. lit AhlNh d4ltl al lew III
utes' investigation, which was ham
pered somewhat by the dullness of the
glow from the smoky lantern. Loose
battery connection, that's all" She
heard an energetic buzz from the en-
CINE.
wait a minute; l better tie up" he
reminded himself aloud, and left the
motor to attach the painter of his boat
to the gasoline craft Returning to the
motor, he gave the wheel spin and
the boat started down stream with a
chug-chug that, under ordinary circum-
stances, was far from musical, but it
sounded almost like chimes to Anne in
this particular instance.
Turn it around" she called. "rm
going up the river. 1t got turned the
other way while we We're floating and
| was trying to start the engine"
He soon had the boat breasting the
current, and again she sighed with re-
lief.
"Gucss | better lake you home" he
suggested. It's pretty dark now. and
besides, you look tired, and besides--l
need the ride myself"
NoturoIIr, che a sseoptnI Acton hD hal