The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-05-06
CAST ON THE
WATERS
BY MARIAN LEE

hut somebody wants 90 set across
the river"
"Then LET them SWIM"
"Shaii I COR
"You1l have TO n you're so anxious
about IT,
With the mnudlln. and ungracious
words Martin Dale turned over on the
couch on which he lay and the girl
Alice threw Waterproof care over
her shoulders ind went out into the
darkness and storm.
II was n relief 10 get away from the
liquor frelghted air ~ the room WHERE
she had sat porting over book IN the
feeble lamp light. Reading and roam.
ing amid nature comprised the only
grateful breaks for Allcc IN - exist.
ence almost uncomfortable. Their was
not n possible GIRL corpnnIon within
miles and the ickciy. half furnished
old ruin ~ n building where Martin
Dale had drank and dozed hnlf his
life away had not homelIke feature.
Left an orphan and pcnnlless. her fate
would have been the almshouse had
not Dale. her half.uncie. adopted her.
Alice had become an expert In
handling the ferryboat. II required
both strength and skin 10 operate the
great slotted wooden har which pulled
the boat along the thick rope cable.
hut she was able 20 exert both 10 n
point " crreful efficiency. She llt and
set the lantern on the boat. n wns
raining hnrl and blowing n gale. but
she was used TO all kinds 81 weather.
toll and discomfort.
Alice drove the scow ashore after
crossing the river To find. n man 10
about thirty pacing restleSsly 90 and
fro and who the moment the craft
came within reach jumped aboard. lie
carried n basket quite rcomy and GOV.
cred With piece 81 waterproof close
~ tucked In all about the edges. lie
placed this very carefully under the
half boarded space under the seat NJ
the stern. seemed very solicltous
about H. hut did not seat himself.
Hurry he spoke. nervously sirld-
ing over the wet boards, II shall pay
you well ~ You do"
Alice bent sturdily 90 her task. She
wondered who the handsome. we'll.
dressed stranger could bee. hut her
mind was practically absorbed by her
duties. for never In all her experience
had she faced more severe task
than the present one. The hrgcze had
arisen 90 n hurricane and the current
nj times swept the milky. clumsy craft
10 the extreme stralnlng point of part.
Ing the cable
"Snap!" II came as she had feared.
The ancient knotted. mended rope had
been unable Co withstand the present
fierce attack upon its rotted strands.
With n SILVER and then a series IL diz.
zying whirls the scow swung out % all
control.
Hold 10 soucthingr' she cried. her.
self cllngIng 10 an upright at the side
Of the craft. The lantern swung Loose
and wns engulfcd. and down stream
the boat swung with those on board
completely NJ the mercy Of wind and
water.
Then there was a crack. The craft
had struck a rock. parted. fioated on
"a shattered wreck and Alice. hurled
into the waters. saw the passenger
struggling In mldstream. she grasped
the basket as II fioaied near her and
reached the shore Ia safety. She set
IL on the ground aud ran along striv-
Ing % discern some further trace 81
the passenger. Then. excited and awed.
she hurried home. reused up Dale. aud
he. selzinS a lantern. FASTENED away.
his wrecked craft and the imperiled
passenger In his urnd.
lie never returned and HIS body was
later recovered az dam down the
river. And meantime Alice had made
n startling discovery. In the basket
she found babe less than n year old
apd under II a wallet containing a
large amount % bank notes. Con.
corning the child Alice told the entire
true story. The finding OF the money
she did not relate. she adopted the
little refugee with n new JOY In life.
'aa~ htN' - AAAf tARA'N AAN
needs. and operated n new small boat
NJ the ferry alone.
Somehow 10 Alice. inexperienced as
she was, the faith grew ia her mind
that some day Developments concern.
Ing tho missing passenger and her M.
tie protege would come 10 light. and
one day two months after that event.
ful night she returned from stroll
la the woods. the little one IN her
arps. 10 confront man seated walt. I
Ing for her outside the ferry house.
file was pale 81 face. attsnuated II /
form and suggested person just con
vaiescent from a severe spell az M .
ness. Al once Alice recognized him /
as the Inflated passenger Of the ferry. .
boat the night Of the storm.
Robert Llsle recited what Alice had .
marvellous rescue tour .
and weeks 81 sickness In
hospital Then he had started back
the trail 20 learn what had become of
the litlle child 81 his dead sister whom
he had removed from unfeellng rcla
lives.
Alice wcpt az the thought ~ LOSING
lha Ifffl. .Aa "A ham sn. laA a.fu. a.. {