New Britain herald., 1920-12-15
OLDING A HUSBAND
 Adele Garrison's New Phase of ReDeLafinns Of q Wfe


 said musingly. and I realized that his words, though apparently addressed to us, were really a soliloquy. "Thats the first time I ever knew him not to have a sassy answer on the tip of his tongue when anybody called him. He ! must be sick or have something on his mind.''
 Danger Threatens. A fallen tree. whose branches pro- tected far out into the water. seemed to my nervous eyes to be reaching Tor our boat. I shrank perceptibly as we came near 1t, and Jim Pierce smiled
 reassuringly as he deftly skirted it and sent the canoe swiftly along the more placid waters of midstream. Don't you worry, Miss.'' he said | heartily. You ain't goin' to taste any Iumbee river water as long as Jim Pierce is guidin' the boat-that is, if you sit stll. It might be different story if you had that Tim in the next boat. He's a hellion, if ever there
 was one. always tryin' tricks and showIn' off his fancy paddlin'. Now I say there's times for exhibition work. but they ain't when you've got passengers with you. A guides job is to land hts passengers safe at their des-ti- nation, an keep 'em from get tin nervous. Don't you agree with me?"
 Absolutely" I said, smiling invol- untarily at his whimsical way of put ting things But my eyes were fur lively watching the man named Tim. fully agreed with Jim Pierce's charac- teriZation of his as "hellion, though justice compelled me to admit that tho only thing I knew against the man was the fact that Grace Draper had employed him as mes senger to bring me her plea for par don. But I could not get rid of the feeling that anyone even remotely as- sociated with Grace Draper must be evil.
 An Explanation.
 One thing concerning his presence in the boats puzzled me. however. When first caught sight of him I had wondered if he had been keeping track of my movements. and had como upon this day simply because I was to be of the party. But Jim Pierce's reference to him seemed to imply that his employment upon the river was a re- ular thing. I sum- moned my courage to speak casually in answer 10 his observations.
 'I wonder that the company allow so reckless guide.'' I satd. looking toward the canoe which the man named Tim was guiding skillfully enough. I had to admit.
 They wouldn't have him only that guides are ~ scarce" Jim Pierce re- turned. as we shot around a curve in tho river and were completely shut off from view of both the canies ahead and behind us. And he only works when they have a big crowd on hand. He's what they call an extra hand. Most times he runs a taxicab over at Cedar Croft. But this is good money, and he'll quit his taxi any day they send for him over here. I ain't sayin' he don't know the river. for he does. every turn and trick in it-he was brought up on 1t from a baby-but he's too smart, that's the only matter with him. And with river like this. with as many turns and kinks in it as there is in pigs tail. there ain't no use in taking chances"
 I mentally assented most heartily to his words. But made him no verbal reply, for he was glancing keenly from side to side of the river. and I saw that it was no time for conversation. And for the next few minutes, as Jim Pierce, with steady hand and clear eyes. guided the canoe through twists and turns and doublings which made me lose all sense of the direction in which we were travelling, I thanked my stars that Fate had put me in this canoe instead of in that guided by the