New Britain herald., 1920-12-14

and seized him by the sleeve to attract hts attention, which was centred frOwningly on his trunk. Your moth- CT is going to the railroad station rignt away"
 Ho looked down at mo with twink ling eyes.
 Haven't a bit of faith in the old mans ingenuity. have you?" he asked. And yet. I distinctly saw you watch ing mo when Teaka it out of here this morning! Don't worry, old dear! Those chaps down there arc my pals. She'll set an earfull about the reservations being piled up. That's no kid, either. was the Iuckicst devil to get ours in- Today there isn't one ahead for a week. It's the rumor of the railroad strike that has done it."
 "But you could have secured them for" began.
 "Granted-but I-didn't. What are you going to do about it?" he de- mandcd, impudently.
 This" With n sudden impulse. l went over to him and kissed him. I'm awfuIiy glad you managed things so we could have this little excursion. I'll get through the packing. some way, and I did want to take this canoe trip before I went back"
 \ New Menace.
 Its something you'n remember all your lifc.' Dicky prophesied. and you'il be glad your husband had sense enough to overru/e you
 "I remembered his words and ech- oed them asscntingly the next morn ing when Dicky escorted me 10 the boat landing upon the Lumbee river about a mile away, where the start with the canoes wns to he made.
 The stream was far different in ap- pearance from those of the North with which was acquainted. The water was dark and sluggish. almost gloomy. closely shadowed as it was. by a dense primeval growth of oek and holly and overhanging cypress. But as We reached it--we had started before sum- rise-the first rays of the sunlight touched it. gilded it. transformed it until I caught my breath at its weird beauty. squeezed Dicky's arm ccstaticalIy. He smiled down at mo undcrstandiugly.
 'T thought it would get you" he said lhShtly, but there was that in his which told me that his beauty-loGng soul was as deeply moved as mine.
 We advanced slowly toward the low ruafic pier where the canoes were drsIwn up ready for embarknE. Tn each canoe stood a man in woods mems habiiiments, evidently guides. and my fears for the safety of tho ex- petition suddenly lied as noted the air of absolute efficiency which radiat- cd rom each. and saw the lines of the small craft they were to guide.
 They're more like hatboats than canoes" Dicky said in my ear. "al- though. of course. they're propelled by paddles. But there's absolutely no 1 danger. Do you sec that tall Iank man, typical Yankee, with the shrewd | kindly face. in tho third boat7 That's | Jim Pierce. our guide, about the best | on the river, too. No. you're not look ing at the right man. Why, what's the matterf"
 For I had unconsciousiy swayed | against him, clutching nervously the | arm against which was leaning. But [ pulled myself together. answering 
 Nothing. now. I was a bit dizzy Tor a second. but 1t is gone. What q nice face that Mir. Pierce has!"
 He's a fine old boy" Dicky assent ed enthusiastically. and I drew a | breath of relief.
 He evidently had no suspicion of the | real cause of my little panic. and stu kept my eyes averted from the man, the sight of whom had caused it. | But in my consciousness was ever the | thought that the guide in the boat next | to ours was the man named Tim, who | had brought me the message from | Grace Draper.