The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-12-14

scene In scOws, sklffs, launches, tugs
and other vessels. The fact that the
water In that vicinity was crested with
currency had not escaped the notice
OF these navigators and they had gone
to IL as one man. First in the race
came the tug Reuben S. Watson, the
skipper OF which, following a famous
precedent, had taken his little daugh-
ter 10 bear him company. 1t was 10
this fact that Marlowe really owed his
rescue. Women have often q vein OF
sentiment In them where men can only
see the hard business side Of a sltua-
ton and II was the shippers daugh-
ter who insisted that the family boat
hook, then in use as a harpoon for
spearing dollar bills, should be de-
voted TO the less profitable but hui
maner end Of extricatlng the young
man from a watery grave.
The skipper had grumbled a bit at
first, but had given wayne always
spoiled the girl-with the result that
Sam found himself sitting on the deck
Of the tug engaged in the complicated
process Gf restoring his faculties to
the norm"l. In a sort Of dream he
perceived Mr.. SwenSOn rise TO the sur
face some feet away. adjust his derby
hat, and, after one long look of dislike
in his direction, swim off rapidly to
intercept a five which was floating
under the stern Of Il nearby Skiff.
Sam sat on the deck and painted.
He played on the boards like a public
fountain. At the back Of his mind
there was n Pickering thought that
he wanted to do something, 4 vague
feeling that he had some sort of an
appointment which he must keep; but
he was unable TO think what il was.
Meanwhile, he conducted tentative ex-
periments with his breath. 1t was so
long since he had last breathed that
he had lost the knack Of II.
well, aincher wet?" said a voice.
The shippers daughter was standing
beside him, looking down cOmmiserat-
ingly. OF the rest of the family all he
could see was the broad blue seats of
their trousers as they leaned hopefully
over the side in the quest for wealth.
"Yessir! You sure are wet. Gee
| never seen anyone so wet! | seen
wet guys, but | never seen anyone so
wet as you. Yessir, you're certainly
wet -
II am wet" admitted Sam.
"Yessir, you're wet! Vets the word
all right. Good and wet, that's what
YOU are!"
Its the water" said SaE. His
brain was still clouded; he wished he
could remember what that appoint
ment was. That's what has made me
wet"
It's sure made you wet all right"
agreed the girl. She looked al him
interestedly. "Wotcha do 1t for?" she
asked.
DO il for!"
Yes, wotcha do it for? How come!
Wotcha do a Brodie for off'n that ship7
| didn't see it myself, but pa says you
come walloping down off'n the deck
like a sack of potatoes"
Sam uttered "A sharp cry. He had
remembered.
Where is she?"
where's who?"
THE liner"
She's off down the river, l guess.
She was swinging round, the last l
seen of her"
She's not gomez"
Sure she's gone. Wotcha expect
her to do? She's gotta get Over to
the other side, amt she? Cert'nly
she's gone" She looked at him inter
ested. do you want TO be on board
herr"
"Of course | do"
Then for the love of Pete, wotchn
dom wallopin' off'n the deck like 4
sack of ~potatoes?"
II slipped. | vas pushed or some
thing" Sam sprang to his feet and
looked wildly about him. 81 must get
back. Isn't there any way of getting
back?"
"Well you could catch up with her
at u|uuIdHlIHe Out III tHc Ddy. Suel III
stop to let the pilot Off"
Can you take me to quarantineT"
The girl glanced dOubtfully at the
seat of the nearest pair of trousers.
well, we could" she said. But
pas kind Of set In his ways, and right
now he's fishing for dollar bills with
the boathook. He's apt to get sorta
mad If he's interrupted" =.
"Tll give him fifty dollars If he'll
put me IN board"
Got 1t on your inquired the nymph
cOyly. She had her share Of senti.
ment, but she was her fathers daugh-
ter and inherited from him the bust
ness sense.
Here 1t Is" He pulled out his
pocketboOk. The book was dripping.
but the contents were only fairly
moist.
PA" said the girl.
The trOuSer-seat remained where Ii
was-deaf to its child's cry.
PA! Commere! W%antcha"