The Bolivar County Democrat., 1920-08-28

StDlDdcH. one cldpptu htT iidiiuS W
the spot, and there in her hands was
lovely white and blue bird tapping
his wings.
ITS a pigeon" said Brother "Yes,
and | think it's carrier pigeon. See
if there's anything fastened TO its
leg"
Sister quieted the fluttering little
fellow. so that he lay quite still in
her hands. Then she found that on
the little pink ankle of the bird there
was tiny metal box. not so big
around as pencil. The box was
about an inch long, little less than
that. perhaps. She gently unfastened
the box. and gave it to Brother. He
took the cap off the box. and pulled
out a piece Of tissue paper. On this
was written note, which reads as
follows:
Dear Brother-I am out here about ten
miles. near the reef. Gasoline all gone
Water nearly gone. Get Baily launch and
come out for me. Kate.
p. s.-My none is blistered. Please
bring some talcLm."
The children looked at each other
and grinned.
We've got what she wants." said
Brother. Yes, we've got the gaso-
line
Yes, and the water"
"Yes, and the powder. The very
best violet talcum powder we could
buy. twenty cents box"
Yes. and my name is Brother. SO
the message seems to be for me-"
Yes. but it isn't. yon know. l guess
We had no right to open it,
NO, suppose we had no right. Bur
the mischief is done now. Are we to
save Miss Kate, whoever she is, or
not?'
Lets save her anyhow" said Sis
ter. SO Brother said to the carpet;
Carpet. carpet, there's lady in
distress out near tho reef She's in
little launch that runs by gasoline.
And she's all out of gasoline. So
please take us out there at once
The carpet gave ii gentle twist to
one side and began to move south by
east.
In few minutes they could see the
white water about the reef. A reef
is place where rocks come up out
of deep water nearly to the surface.
If ship runs on t..ese rocks it is uSu
ally wrecked and pounded all to
pieces by the waves. When the tide is
Z hf ,,.l
make white spray.
The children soon saw a little
launch not far away. From that height
it looked exactly like the little tin
launch that the Cowboy Relative sent
Brother for a birthday present.
Carpet, carpet said Brother,
please let us down gently and whisk
us into that boat under the canopy"
suppose you know that the canopy
is cloth stretched over the boat to
keep the sun off. This canopy was
strined blue and white.
The carpet let them down and down
very gently. and whisked in under the
canopy and rested on the floor of the
launch.
pretty lady sat holding the tiller
to steer the boat. though the engine
was not running. 1t was Miss Kate.
Sister saw at once that her poor nose
wa bistered Why it was bistered
was because she had started out with
out the canopy. she thought the can
opy was not in the boat. Later she
found the canopy under the seat. But
1t weS too late TO save her pretty nose.
When the children came into the
launch. just like a big leaf drifting
into hammock. Miss Kate stared at
them and stared at them and never
said a word.
Then she put her hand to her head.
II guess it must be the sun. l guess
I've lost my wits"
This distressed Sister very much
and she got up wi h the pigeon in her
hand and went to her and said very
sweetly, please Miss Kate, here is
your do~e again. And please don't
he angry with us for opening the mes
sage. We know it was wrong, but we
have got the things you want. We
have the gasoline and the water and
the tacnE powder. II is the hest
kind Of powder, and hope you like
the violet smell It's the kind that
annt.e uses. and she is very particu
lar DO vou Ike violet smell?'
Then Miss Kate threw her arms
around Sister and r'ssed Ter, and the
pigeon got loose and sat on Miss
Kate's shoulder.
don't think Miss Kate would have
believed anybody who told her thai
those children could have come flying
in on carpet like that. But there
they were. They were facts, and facts
you know. are stubborn things.
1t was now getting dark. Miss Kate
filled the gasoline tank of the launch
and started the engine to going. But
when this was done and she had
rubbed her nose with taicum powder
md had drink Of water 1t was really
dark.
She looked up and down the coast
at the different lights. and her head
ached. and she was quite mixed in
her mind as to where to steer for AT
last 81 e said, my dears. am afraid
we shall have to stay here all night
for | am so tired and confused that
don't feel safe TO steer home. don't
think anybody win miss me, for am