Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-07-17
When Father
Decides
r.
By R. RAY BAKER

It was no use, the motor just
wouldn't start. Not a sputter could
Anne Davis get out Of 1t. She tugged
and tugged at the fiywheel, 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 it moving in the other direc-
ton before long she would have little
prospect of arriving at the Rest-Whiie
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 a rowboat with a man bending
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 him
with passing notice, but now any kind
of man would be welcome. She hailed
the stranger.
stop a minute, will you, p~lease!"
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. l 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 gaso.
line-propelled vehicle was far from be-
ing %pretentious. 1t was, in truth, sim
ply a rowboat in which q one-cylindei
engine had been installed, and it wa;
rented along with the cottage that the
Culbertsons, with whom Anne wa:
staying at the resort, had leased for tn,
season.
Anne had insisted on coming afte
some provisions that were needed a
the cottage, and she had started GU
early in the afternoon for Alanson
feeling not a little conceited over beini
the pilot and sole crew of the misel
able little craft. The Culbertsons ha'
expressed misgivings over the venture
but Anne generally had her own way
and was possessed of a reputation flo
being a self-reliant sort of girl, so sh
was allowed to make the trip alone.
Everything went smoothly until sh
had covered about half of the ten-mil
journey on the way back, when tn
engine went dead without warning. NJ
another boat of any description was
sight, for it was at that time of da
when most folks are partaking Of the
evening meal. She must have drifte
two miles when the rowboat came mi
sight.
Anne breathed a sigh of relief whe
the newcomer grasped the gunwhale
the motorboat and peered over at he
He had brought a lantern, and by i
light she could see that he was a rath'
good-looking young mar of perhal
twenty-six. He had on a green shi
and blue overalls, and on his head W;
a wide-brimmed straw hat.
She caught a glimpse of a tin c;
and a fishpole in the bottom of Il
boat, and in order to be congenial 81
inquired whether he had had any luc
Imagine Anne Davis discussing t
subject Of angling with a country RI
ticl Imagine Anne Davis, the brea
err of mems hearts back in the t
city, talking Familiarity with a deniz
of this country town!
"Fair, fair" he replied, and his vol
seemed to be singularly musical for
uncultured person. Il got half a doz
or seven, / forget just which it
Hold the boats together, and do,
move, will you, while / crawl over a
see if / can start your engine"
She did as instructed, hoping he I
derstood the business of getting FRI
- one boat to another. He caused c.
siderable rocking, but nothing serio
happened, and presently he was tink
u ing at the engine, while she held tel
us ciously to the gunwales of the t
" boats where they met.
Got it," he grunted after q few M
u utes' Investigation, which was ha
pered somewhat by the dizziness Of
glow from the smoky lantern. "Lo'
battery connection, that's all" !
heard an energetic buzz from the
I CINE.
"Wait a minute; / better tie up"
reminded himself aloud, and left
motor to attach the painter of his b
IN. to the gasoline craft. Returning to
TX. motor, he gave the wheel a spin
the boat started down stream witt
mi chug-chug that, under ordinary circl
rvs stances, was far from musical, but
&c. sounded almost like chimes to Anne
md this particular instance.
,ne Turn 1t around" she called. "
ew going up the river. 1t got turned
Is other way while we were floating
In l was trying to start the engine"
At He soon had the boat breasting
nd. current, and again she sighed with
An lief.
is "Guess l better take you home
lor, suggested. ITS pretty dark now,
ing besides, you look tired, and besides
ma need the ride myself"
mn w ~ 4 M AGkRa ~