Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-07
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BY ARTHUR B REEVE
eps2 NrA Service. Inc

1
marks on their bathing shirts. Glenn
was the only one with a college letter
for five minutes of play in IA game lost
to Princeton. Buckley was a rather
handsome lad in spite of his evident
satisfaction with himself, tall, slender,
with a general impression, I" love the
ladies and the ladies love me. -
In spite of competition he was mo-
nopolizing Vira Gerard. a jet shock of
bobbed hair set off big liquid dark eyes,
eyes that, if they were the windows of
the soul, had depth that was battling
even to the Photographic lens, eyes that
dominated her splendid features and
gave her that today priceless "camera
face.
"Suppose you know this is pri-
vate beachF" inquired. one of the
Enumerated youngsters as the two ap
preached.
! Guy smiled and nodded toward Vira
and Glenn. Between high water and
low water marks?'
Down the shore could be seen a canoe
coming from the houseboat with a girl,
alone. AS she beached it and stepped
out, it was Ruth in a smart swimming
suit of violet and white that set off
daringly her perfectly shaped slender
| limbs.
The encounter had reached danger
point much as if some hpper-classmcn
had discovered a freshman violating
some immemorial tradition of at least
two college generations.
All stopped, however, as Ruth drew
near. She made Il glorious picture. She
was one of thenl-but different.
AS she came down the beach humming
a scrap of 4 dance to herself, her body
swayed with the rhythm and her feet
scarcely seemed to touch the sand. Her
golden hair framed her sensitive feat
ures in an aura of sunlight. Garrick
saw with approval that Ruth had been
strong minded enough to hold to her
curls during the days of bobbed hair.
Could those laughing, frank eyes
know of crime, of anything coarsc!'
"You here, Diek!' she danced up to
him. "Were you afraid to come
alone?" TLeN, with a twinkling shaft
at Garrick, "'What do you think of us
Mr.. Sherlocko!'
Exclusively Nifty smiled Garrick,
then turned quickly as one Of the
youngsters muttered, "Snooping again.
What loes he want! You can just bet
he IS not here for Il swim Come
on, fellows. He's been here long enough.
move we put them off the beach. Hey,
all ready let's give them the
bum 8 rush!'
A general laugh followed. There
was an uncertain motion. Ruth flared. |
"At least we can show Guy and Dick
we re not so exclusive that we're rot
ters! l feel partly responsible for their
being here 1 raced them on the road
and dared them to follow-and here
they are-eh, Glenn? just this once,
boys They'll not bother us again. l III
sponsor them. Come on, Glenn, smile q
little and be NICE
Ruth capered over to Dick took him
by the arm and started up the beach.
Guy followed with Vira, while Glenn
sulked.
81 wish you had your bathing suit
on, Dick. I'd enjoy a swim across the
harbor with you this hot forenoon"
She nodded vivaciously back at Gar
rick. Even if she were doing a bit of
hasty figuring on the why of their pres
ence thought Guy. she was perfectly at
ease. 11ct graceful iiLlDS SHO"cu las
cinating lines through the folds of the
cape she had carelessiy thrown over
her. "No wonder Dicks frantic over
her, he thought. ''She IS dangerous
combination.
Still chatting Ruth and Vira stepped
into the canoe with Dick and Guy, while
the others plunged into the water and
swan. They soon slipped alongside the
houscboat with its gilt httcrs "Sea
Vamp.'
Garrick realized as they mounted the
ladder that the marine engine had ma
terially changed the old-time houscboat
from mere scow or barge with a low
flat house on il moorcd in bay or
river aud only with difficulty and cx-
pensc- towcd from one place to another
Now the houseboat like tho "Sea
Vamp" was really a fair-sizod yacht.
She was perhaps so feet long and a
most attractive craft with hull yachty
in appearance and of a type which could
safely make long runs along the coast,
a staunch, seaworthy boat-of course
without the speed of regularly de-
signed yacht but more than making mp
In romfnrt for fhaSe ON hoard what WAS