Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-03-02
Owner of the
Blue Bird
BIZ DOROTHY WHITcoMB


NepneW Oonato, III you keep on TINS
way r.
"Uncle Gregory retorted the recall
citrant and discredited Donald Baird,
with a whimsical twinkle in his merry
eyes, II found out long.ago that | was
an odd fish, not much good except to
knock around the world. work hard
and keep cheerful. Here you insist
on my remaining land lubber. l
don't fit in. Let me go back to the
blue and bounding billow again, and
throw me off your mind, and make me
happy"
Old Gregory Baird shook his head
dolefully and groaned.
Here is a comfortable home and
enough to last out several lifetimes,"
he had observed. 'I'll leave it to you
and Rupert if you obey me and be-
have yourselves. If you don't, I'll cut
the rebel off with penny. It's all
right, your studying navigation and
trigonometry, and all those. sailor-like
gimcracks," now spoke Uncle Gregory,
but all you need to do is to find some
good woman for wife, settle down
here, run the estate and enjoy life"
1--WE yet to see the lady I'd take for
a mate" laughed Donald.
Donald was general favOrite In
the village He was going home one.
lowering, clustering afternoon after
making some wonderful kites for
some poor school children, when he
noticed people running towards the
public square.
whats up?" he inquired of a. pass
ing pedestrian.
Don't know, but big crowd down
yonder. l see an automobile. May
be it's smashup."
AS Donald neared the square he
noticed the machine in question. 1t
contained the driver, the most beauti-
full young girl he had ever seen, and
her maid. The latter held an empty
bird cage, and like her young mis-
tress, her eyes were directed up into
the air.
The town hall was the tallest build
ing in town. Running up from its
roof there was flag pole fully sew
enty-five feet in height. The strong
breeze was whipping the loose ropes
about this, and at the apex knob,
where they were fastened, bright
blue object was fluttering frantically.
1t was blue bird, product Of Bor-
neo, famous for its brilliant color and
a song note Of sweetly expressive ca
dence.
"It got out of the cage, few away,
and its foot is caught in the tangled
ropes up yonder," some one remarked.
That it was the cherished pet Of
the beautiful young lady, Donald at
once discerned.
Il will get her pet for her." he said
simply, and disappeared within the
building.
With accurate nicely Of equipoise,
he reached the Top, released the blue
bird, aud holding 1t in one hand slid
easily to the roof.
A tremendous cheer rent the air
as he appeared below. The eager
maid was advancing with the cage.
He slipped the truant within it and
modestly stepped away.
THE young lady asked about you,
she wrote down your name; she said
she must see you to thank you,"
neighbor told Donald that evening.
"Do you know who she isl"
"No.'
"The rich Miss Caruthers. They
have a magnificent summer home up
at Silver lake."
Then the next morning, rather
grudglngly it seemed, his Cousin Ru-
pert came to him.
Il saw Miss Caruthers last evening""
he announced 1T seems you cap
tured one of her lost pets. She in
sists that you must come up to the
lake this evening"
1t was just before dusk when he
reached the Caruthers home.
1t was well that Donald had come.
heavy storm had come up, darkness
and a dense fog were fast enveloping
the broad lake. He found the anxious
Caruthers family discussing the prob
able whereabouts of the daughter Of
the house and Rupert, who had gone
out in yacht.
Donald was too much of sailor not
to realize the peril of the yacht If it
had not landed somewhere. He found
a small steam launch at pier. Soon
he was afloat.
A tossing light finally directed him.
AS he drsve aside of the yacht it was
to find his cousin sick and helpless,
and useful Miss Caruthers bravely at
the helm; bat the yacht nearly a
wreck. He had arrived just in time
to save them.
Superb climber, expert sRilsr, fer
the first tiais in his life his tras man
" Asbleaess fully appreciated BY a
lsvely weAan, Denald began to tllxk
less Of the bounding naiA and more
of the joys that true leve brings.
For Donald had met his fate, and
the blue birds fair ewner superseded
the old longing for the blue. blue sea