Evening star., 1921-01-23
A Story by Meredith Nicholson


we'll within the shadow of the cedar.
crowned hun. she impelled herself
round q Rmall peninsula below tne
Overton cottage. The searchlfght OF
a big steamer outward bound for Lake
Superior swept the harbor opening
whistle snArled angrily in rebuke OF
her ternerfty in venturing into the
lawful path of steamers; bell tin.
killed. in thesehgine room. and the boat
veered slightly and continued on its
course.
The shaft of light falling across her
tiny argosy reused Mr.. Glendenning
There was but one head like that
Beyond doubt the adventurous voy-
ager was Miss Wilmerding, and the
wash from the steamer. added to the
ugly chop of the lake. was clearly
started toward her, driving his blade
deep. A faint cry reached him. and
he redoubled his efforts. Suddenly
as he peered across the water, he saw
the canoe wabbling on its side and
the girl clinging to it.
Hold 'tigit!" he shouted.
In the uncertain starlight he passed
her. narrowly missing collision. anu
fearing to attempt to turn back
sprang overheard. A few strokes
brought him to her overturned ca
noe.
"How foolish you are" he painted
when he faced her across the careen-
ing canoe The waves were washing
over it, and it was clearly doomed to
a quick plunge to the bottom of the
lake
I'm going to swim round there be-
side you. Don't get excited. Just put
your hand on my shoulder and I'll
tow you to shore"
Thank you." she said. family: and
it seemed that she added-though
amid the angry dance Of the white
caps he was not quite sure-a belated
and impudent sir"
Don't grab me or do anything alb
surd." he commanded.
With her arm flung over the canoe
she was bobbing like an agitated
buoy.
"You were very foolish" he below
ed. ito come out on such a night"
'If you scold me I'll sink" she
screamed.
The canoe. caught in a furious heave
of water. leaped away. and her arms
flung out desperately, clasped Mr.
Glendenning's neck. He threw her
off and held her at arms length with
one hand.
You know better than that. One
hand on my shoulder, please."
She was reaSsured by his CHEEKY
authoritative voice. that revealed a
new and very different Mr.. Glenden-
ming. After he had taken a few
strokes she dropped her hand and
GOOD" he cried heartily. But
don't tire yourself. l can easily tow
you, but it's slower"
They were a quarter Of a mile from
Cedar Harbor peach. and when they
had covered half the distance her
IAN right. now. You are doing
splendidly. It's good thing I had on
sneakers-kicked 'em off when ]
jumped In. Hope you're not freez-
Her arms stretched out again and
was beyond speech, and made no re-
sponse when he called attention to
lanterns that glimmered suddenly on
the shore.
Some men were launching a boat: he
heard their excited cries. A motor
headlight began whipping the lake
At the same moment Glendenning's
feet struck bottom. and he splashed
through the breakers with the ex-
hausted girl in his arms.
"Oh. Josie" criew Mrs Overton
hysterical from fright.
I'm all right" the girl faItered.
Overton, Doane and the Oyertor
chauffeur were at hand with wraps
and restoratives. A lantern flashed in
the rescuer's face identified him te
their wondering gaze. Mr.. Glenden.
ing was the only composed one in the
group. He seized heavy coat, wrap.
ped it round Miss Wilmerdine and
while they expostulated, bore her ur
the long flight Of steps that led to the
Overton cottage
1t was midnight when Mr.. Glenden-
ming. having taken a rub down.
which. he said. was all that was nee
essary to set him up again, sat with
Overton and Doane by a roaring fire
Mrs. Overton came downstairs iubi.
liant. but with tears in her eyes.
Josle's come out of it splendidly
she went to sleep like a tired baby
And then, crossing to Glendennine
"Oh, how can we ever thank Won
How can josie"
MIR. Glendenning dismissed the mat.
ter with laugh. He was quite an.
other Mr. G1endenning from the ont
they knew. He stood up Straight. with
light in his eyes. a color in his face
that were utterly new. Miss viii.
harding. they explained. had Joking.
~ taken a dare from Doane to paddle
from the Overtons' to the village
dock. Mrs. Overton demonstrated
Josie had apparently yielded. bu,
slipped from the house and disap.
Z.
ITO think" said Mrs. Overton 70,
the hundredth time. that but for you
Mr.. Glendenning, she would be"
IF I hadn't got in her way she
might have succeeded" he lied chival.
rously. l"It was just my clumsiness
A little more of the Scotch and Til ge
home" +:
He insisted on leaving, and afte,
he had gone the trio stood staring al
each other, unable to frame the
questions that crowded for utterance
THAT fellow" blurted Overton. etc
think that he had the pep, the physi.
cal fiber. to do it! I tell you that's
some swim from beyond the buoy te
our Shore,
Doane, shaken with contrition ovel
his responsibility for the girls rash.
ness, struck his hand into his fist.
Hes a man, real mani take of
my hat to him.
AS the dawn broke they went to bee
still praising Mr.. Glendenning's hero.
ism.
cit was queer" said Mrs. Overton as
she was letting down her hair, "tha,
Just before Josie went to sleep she
whispered something funny. and
didn't know she was saying it-she
said. Made in Mazooma""
II can't bear the responsibility any
longer" remarked Mrs. Overton to
her husband a month later, land I've
wired Josie's brother, Jimmie-he's
a lawyer, a sensible fellow, and un.
derstands Josie better than the rest
of her family-to come out. II she's
in love with Mr.. Glendenning-"
"Jf she's in love with him! o Lord
Everybody en- the great lakes knows
that they are crazy about each other
Your scheme for marrying her to
RilIy Doane is a busted proposition.
should say. I advise you to let match
making alone after this. Has it oc'
Cured to you-has it dawned upor