The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-07-12

paper Syndlcate.1
1t was no use, the motor just
wouldn't start. Not a sputter couiu
Anne Davis get out Of it. She tuggeo
and tugged at the tlyWheel, but there
was not even a buzz to reward her ell
forts.
She looked down the river, vexed ana
despairing. The boat was floating at
fair rate of speed, and unless she
could get it moving in the other dlrec'
ton before long she would have httle
prospect of arriving at the Rest-Whlle
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
shadowy shape doomed into view. II
was a rowboat with man bendlng
vigorously at the oars.
Zone 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 MIN
with passing notice, but now any klnu
of man would be welcome. She hailed
the stranger.
"Stop a minute, will you, please|
He rested with his oars partly out OF
the water.
'Did you call me?" he shouted, after
brief hesitation.
eyes, can't get this old engine
started. wish you would help"
With some skill but much more dim
Guilty he managed to get the roWboa
alongside the motor craft. They Wer
of about the same size, for the gaso
line-propelled vehicle was far from be
ing pretentious. 1t was, in truth, SIN
DIV a rowboat in which a one-cylinde
engine had been installed, and 1t wa
rented along with the cottage that I'd
Culbertsons, with whom Anne wa
staying at the resort, had leased for tn
season.
= Anne had insisted on coming aft'
! some provisions that were needed
a the cottage, and she had started o.
= early in the afternoon for Alanso
4 feeling not little conceited over Dell
# the pilot and sole crew of the mise
able little craft. The Culbertsons nj
=. expressed misgivings over the ventul
% but Anne generally had her own wa
and was possessed of reputation I
"a being a self-reliant sort of girl, so s
N was allowed to make the trip alone
# Everything went smoothly until S
NJ had covered about half Of the TENN
tourney on the way back, when I
engine went dead without warning.
+ another boat of any description was
y sight, for 1t was at that time OF q
4. when most folks are partaking OF tn
evening meal. She must have drif'
two miles when the rowboat came Il
sight.
IN. Anne breathed sigh of relief wi
Ia. the newcomer grasped the gunWhalt
nd the motorboat and peered over at
cd He had brought a lantern, and by
nal light she could see that he was raj
al good-looking young man OF perm
No twenty-six. He had on a green 81
mo and blue overalls, and on his head
al. a wide.brimmed straw hat.
ne. She caught a glimpse of tin
raj and fishpole in the bottom OF
md boat, and in order to be cOngenial
ess inquired whether he had had any Il
,rt- Imagine Anne Davis discussing
oys subject of angling with country
Gus tic Imagine Anne Davis, the br
a err Of mems hearts back in the
it'll city, talking familiarly with den
ice of this country town!
cat "Fair, fair" he replied, and his
the seemed to be singularly musical TO
the uncultured person. Il got half d
UGH OR seven, / forget just which
ued Hold the boats together, and
move, will you, while crawl over
see if I can start your engine"
.aes She did as instructed, hoping hi
derstood the business of getting
one boat to another. He caused
: ! siderable rocking, but nothing Sc
( happened, and presently he was til
o ( ing at the engine, while she held
). { ciously to the gunwales OF the
o I boats where they met.
- ! Got it," he grunted after few
v utes' investigation, which was
h ! pered somewhat by the dullness @
glow from the smoky lantern. 81
O battery connection, that's all"
d ! heard an energetic buzz from tn
d I CINE.
ia "Wait minute; / better tie VI
n I reminded himself aloud, and lief
II motor to attach the painter of his
10 To the gasoline craft. Returning
Q. motor, he gave the wheel a spil
is the boat started down stream v
N chug-chug that, under ordinary ci
! stances, was far from musical,
r. I sounded almost like chimes to Al
Mt ! this particular instance.
M "Turn it around" she called.
er going up the river. 1t got turn'
other Nay while we were fioatin
~ was trying to start the engine.
He soon had the boat breastil