Chariton courier., 1922-04-21
The Runaway
Cruise
By DOROTHY wHITcoMB.

deien ferry lOOked up INTO tne Idct
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 bother?"
Roy Lawrence gave secret GASP
surprise, satisfaction, delight. He had
been glum all that day. He had
frightened up at noontide when Miss
Perry, a twinkle of rash mischief In
her eyes, had suggested that they steal
away from the big yacht in the little
motor boat.
II don't understand It," murmured
Roy to himself. "She does not wear
the rosette. She has not alluded to
the letter. She was jolly with the
Girtons all the morning"
They were two of a party who had
come down from Frisco for a vacation
cruise. Aboard the steam yacht Nep-
tune there had been Harold GirtOn,
his sister Meta, Mrs. Bryce, his aunt
and the chaperone of the party, Helen,
the crew and himself.
Both he and Girton were In love
with the beautiful Helen, who was a
close college friend of-Netta. He wrote
Helen a note. In 1t he avowed his
love in an impetuous but manly fash
ion. The next day was a national
holiday. They were to have quite a
patriotic fete, there along the lorely
South American coast. He enclosed
a pretty rosette. If she could find it
in her heart to smile on his suit,
would she wear 1t 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-"
he 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
silken flags in her hair, but no rosette
and only the same kindly gracious
smile on her lips.
Tban q yiotnus n,orning of firanro cl,
ers and feasting and music-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
badi"
"The gasoline is giving out" he
reported grewsomely.
"Then we cannot go much furtherY
inquired Helen.
LESS than mile, probably"
''There is an island with a 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 sho1ldered
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 mischlef" echoed Roy.
Twenty canoes filled with jdusky
savages surrounded the motor boat.
With angry cries the natives rowed
to a short distance. Then the canoes
were steadied. A shower of pebbles
directed from sllngs. arrows and darts
came ringing upon the two wayfarers
aloft.
'"This is serious" declared Roy so
licitously, and he led his fair COM
panion back into the shelter of a
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 q glance Ror 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. q
'They see It'll They know ltP' she
cried exultingly. and this was true.
One by one the helllgerents 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 a
thrilling clasp and pour out the story
of his love.
They knew later that Meta, in the
interest of her brother, had inter-
cepted the letter Roy had sent to
Helen.
II must tell you something" whis-