The Yale expositor., 1922-01-19
The Runaway
Cruise
BY DOROTHY wHITCoMB.
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"Miss Perry, / fear we have lost our
reckoning"
Very pleasantly, most confidlngly
Helen Perry looked up into the face
Of Roy Lawrence
"In fact have no idea Of the where
abouts of the yacht" went on the
young man.
"And / don't see how am going to
locate the Neptune"
81 trusted myself to you" said
Helen evenly, the radiant contentment
Of her lovely face not abating one
whit. You will do the best you can.
Why bOtherT
Roy Lawrence gave a secret gasp
surprise. satisfaction, delight. He had
been glum all that day. He had
frightened up at nOOntide when Miss
Perry, twinkle of rash mischief in
her eyes, had suggested that they steal
away from the big yacht in the little
motor boat.
81 don't understand it," murmured
Roy To himself. "She does not wear
the rOsette. she has not alluded 10
the letter. She was jolly with the
Girtons all the morning."
They were two Of a party who had
come down from Frisco for vacation
cruise, Aboard the steam yacht Nep-
tune there had been Harold Girton,
his sister Neuu, Mrs. Bryce, his aunt
and the chaperone of the party, Helen,
the crew and himself.
Both he and tHrton were in love
with ,lc beautiful Helen, who was a
close college friend of Meta. He wrote
Helen note. In it he avowed his
love in an impetuous but manly fash
ion. The next day was national
holiday. They were 10 have quite a
patriotic fee, there along the lonely
South American coast. He enclosed
Il pretty rosette. If she could find it
in her heart 10 smile on his suit,
would she wear it next morning?
He had slipped the envelope under
The door of the room which Helen
and Meta jointly occupied.
IF Helen does not encourage me"
ne tragically decided, 81 shall leave
the Neptune at the next port. could
NOT remain and see her won by a
rival"
And the day had dawned and Helen
had appeared. In honor Of the day
she wore an underskirt formed of
stars and stripes and two dainty
siIken flags in her hair, but no rosette
and only the same kindly gracious
smile on her lips.
Then riotous morning Of firecrack-
ers and feasting and muslc-but not
for Roy. His heart was heavy until
Helen had suggested the runaway
cruise.
A flash of supreme happiness en-
wrapt Roy. He drove the boat
around cluster of little islands and
gained free space, but neither up
nor down shore was the yacht visible.
You see, Miss Perry" he said help
lessly, mo sign of the Neptune. Too
badw
The gasoline is giving out" he
reported grewsomely.
Then we cannot go much furtherT'
inquired Helen.
less than mile, probably"
"There is an island with high
ridge of rocks at one end" suggested
she, indicating the point of view.
Yes, | see It,"
Just barely the engine lasted out
till the island was reached Helen
carried the telescope Roy shouldered
a repeating rifle. They left the boat
and began the climb of a narrow ledge
Of rock that arose like some monu-
ment
"Why, look suddenly exclaimed
Helen.
"The mischief" echoed Roy.
Twenty canoes filed with dusky
savages surrounded the motor boat.
With angry cries the natives rowed
to a short distance. Then the canoes
were steaded. 4 shower of pebbles
directed from sings, arrows and darts
came ringing upon the two wayfarers
| aloft.
This is serious ~ declared Roy so
| licitOusly. and he led his falr com
panion back into the shelter of d
cave. She emerged thence as he fell
struck by a rock from below. She
soothed his wounded head with her
handkerchief. Then she ran back into
the cave--to reappear, however, star
tlingly!
At a glance Roy saw what she had
| done. Helen had removed her under
skirt of stars and stripes. She ran to
the edge of the rock waving the red
white and blue, true banner, to the
angry mob below.
"They see it, They know itp' she
cried exultingly, and this was true
| One by one the belligerents padded
away. Somewhere they had learned
the power and glory Of that protecting
flag.
And then she attended to the wound
on the side of Roy's face, so gentle
so womanly, that he could not resist
the impulse to catch her hands in 8
thrilling clasp and pear out the story
Of his love.
They knew later that Meta, in the