The Washington herald., 1921-05-01


was generally accepted by those who OBJ
served the actions OF Mr.. Smith. He
was obviously on his guard. He re-
sponded Immediately and with his en-
gaging grin to any conversational over
ture from the rnen~or the older women
He occasionally played golf with Brown.
went swimming with Miss Maddon's
married brother, Joined the bunch" of
poker players at night. and resolutely de-
clined to take part in any amusement
that included the girls. Mostly. as Miss,
Selden expressed it. he "hocked by him
self" going off alone for long tramps or
longer sails.
1t was inevitable. of course. that he
and the girls should bow when they met
and should exchange an occasional word
But these were few as the barest
courtesy permitted, and were always &C.
companied by embarrassing self-con-
sciousnkss on the part of Smith-espe-
ciaIly. they observed, when he talked to
Elsie Lester.
Its almost q disease with him. this
shyness," unused Mr.. Brown after Smith
had left the table morning. He
wants to talk" he added to Elsie. I've
seen him look at you when you were
talking to the rest of He listens to
all you say too. and enjoys it-though
he pretends not to hear. Really. you
girls ought to take him in hand. The
poor chaps rather pathetic
1t was not, however, the girls who
finally took him in hand. 1t was Fate
assisted by Miss Lester. Elsie. ordinarily
a sure footed young person. lost her bal
ance on the rocks one day, fell. and
badly sprained her ankle. She was alone.
and for. an hour after the accident. at
the remote point on the beach to which
she had augustly retired to sketch, she
sat helpless. waiting for assistance. Then,
out of the water. a long distance from
shore. she saw the head of a swimmer,
and imperiously signaled to him.
At first he did not respond Indeed It
was evident that even II he saw her he
did not realize that her signal was for
him To make this clear she tied her
handkerchief to the handle of her parasol
and waved II furiously. He swan nearer.
tentatively. and she continued TO signal
When he was within hearing distance he
stopped. and she called out her appeal,
without knowing who he was.
Please come in" she cried. I've had
an accident" 'r-
The last word seemed to electrify him.
He repeated, It with a shout, then started
for the shore with splendid overland
strokes, cutting through the water like
a. FISH. Notwithstanding her pain. Elsie
admired his swimming and waited with
some curiosity to discover who he was.
He had reached the beach and was run
ming toward her over the rocks before
she realized that the big, sun burned
young man in the blue bathing suit was
Herbert Alton Smith. There was intense
concern on his boyish face he ap-
preached, her and. for the hrst time, an
utter lack of self consciousness in his
manner
what's wrong?" he asked quickly.
I've broken or sprained my ankle. I
don't know which-but l can't even move
among these rocks. 1t hurts so that i'm
-afraid-i'm-going-t
She demonstrated the sound basis of
this fear by fainting, very promptly. then
and there. When she recovered con-
seriousness she had a sense of swift mo-
tion through space. She was being car
ried. very easily. and carefully. over the
rocks and later along the firm sand OF
the beach.
Thank you" she gasped, but can
walk now. 1 think. Please put me down"
pair of wet brown arms frightened
around her. Her dizzy head fell back
again against a wet brown shoulder.
Not bit TO it." said Mr. Smith with
unexpected masterfulness. I'm not GO
ing to let you put your weight on that
foot till we know what's wrong"
He was running now along the sand
and as lightly as II he bore no burden
though, Miss Lester weighed 13o pounds
She made no further protests. and almos,
before she knew what was happening
he had reached the hotel, had issued q
to send for doctor had carried her UP.
stairs and laid her, on the couch in hel
own room. t..-n 20
Cut of her shoe and stocking" be
told Mary Selden and Anne Madden. who
had led the way on the final laps of the
expedition. Then you'll have everything
ready for the doctor when he gets here
He swung out of the room as he spoke
as pne whose work was done, and wholly
unconscious Of his dripping bathing sui,