The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-12
ON VACATION
BY MARION e. LEIGHTON

EGS151S1S9S252S151
GO. 1929, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicats.)
With an exclamation of disgust, Joe
wound up his line, pulled his dangling
legs up to solid planking and stood on
the wharf. With rather gloomy coun-
tenance he stood for moment, gazing
out over the harbor to the tumbling
surf breaking over The Lodges.
Gone, for the moment, was his ap-
probation OF the natural beauties Of
his surroundings. Old Fort with it's
waving flag Beaver and Johns islands
and distant Thumbcap in her setting
of blue salt water had temporarily lost
their power to charm.
Joe was lonely and-though he prob
ably wouldn't have admitted it-just
the least bit homesick.
Two weeks ago he had come to Penn
aquid for quiet vacation, and now he
was thinking that he was getting too
much. He reflected that he hadn't
made the acquaintance of half dozen
people, that they were too busy to en-
terrain him, that the scenery was good,
but not exactly lively company, and,
last but not least, that he was blamed
lonesome"
Vacation only half gone, too! He
was going out to try a little harbor
fishing. Too rough to go outSide-see
that surf pile in over The Lodges
Twenty minutes later he was rather
sleepily dangling line over the side
Of his dory (hired for the monthly and
wishing shark or something would
swallow his bait and make him fight
for possession Of the line, hook, sinker
or even the boat! He felt like fight
ingi
+. Well, what idiot was that? A boat,
dory no larger than his own, was
putting off from the beach wharf di-
rectly across the bay. In this heavy
sea, too! The fool would be swamped
unless he were a mighty good oarsman.
Joe craned his neck and watched the
little boat take the rougher water.
Then he said a single word-that
sounded like one Of those distractions
they build across streams to make mill
wheels turn, and reached for his field
glasses.
"Jumpin' CATFISH It is-it's wom-
an" he informed himself. "And she's
going to be in "a peck of trouble right
away or don't know summer visitors.
Get busy, Joel"
Thus commanded, Joe pulled up an
Choir and sent his brave rescue ship
toward the scene of the coming disas-
ter. About half way out shrill, fem
mime scream, borne on the wings Of
the fateful W ind, reached his eXpectant
ears.
Joe gritted his teeth and pulled hard
er.
81 knew it :" he muttered. "They all
need a guardian"
An extra twist of his neck showed
him the other boat being buffeted about
by the waves, while the single occupant
was splashing frantically with one oar.
Considering the odds, Joe covered the
intervening distance in incredibly short
time. With the skill of an old salt, he
worked his boat alongside and by the
bow of the other. AS he glided past,
both boats bobbing like corks, he
reached out and seized the painter of
the helpless craft. 1t was more diff
cult to make it satisfactorily fast to
his own boat, but he accomplished it
without mishap and pulled back to
calmer waters. Neither occupant had
spoken a word.
Inside the harbor he eased up bit
and sighed with relief.
I'll lost an oar" came timidly from
the other boat.
"Oh, did you? I thought probably
you had only one to start WITH" was
the reply.
Under this biting sarcasm she SUBJ
sided and spoke no more until his boat
rubbed the edge of the float.
He stepped out and turned to look
at her. He kept on looking, and decid-
ed she was very good to look at.
When she finally met his gaze there
was a suspicious moisture in her eyes
and her lip trembled.
I'll don't know how to thank you,"
she faltered. 'You-you probably |
saved my life and-I think lot of it |
even if you don't seem toto share the
feeling"
Forgive me. / was nasty mean,
wasn't L? Step out and get your nerve
back, and then I'll set you across to
your own wharf"
For one hour they sat on the wharf
md talked. Two lonely people can ex-
change lot Of condolences in one hour,
two of opposite sex.
He confided that he had been terri
by lonely, and she confessed that
oneliness was what had driven her to
attempt a row In rough water-only
,he hadn't supposed it quite so rough
Is 1t proved. He also learned that she
to the name Of Ruth Arm
strong. and admitted he had always
liked the ruth" part of 1t particularly.
The next two weeks gave neither Joe
Carey nor Ruth Armstrong opportunity
% be lonely. They rowed and fished,
hunted shells, went claiming land
hey talked.
The natives grinned and wisely
nodded their heads; couldn't fool them
when first-class romance was in port.
The cottagers merely grlnned.
Two weeks don't last forever, and
me bright September morning Ruth
md Joe stood on the wharf and
the launch that was to take
lin across the bay glide up to the
loaf. They were both downcast as she
ave him her hand.
you'll come-at Christmas time
von't your" she asked in a low voice.
You know I do want to meet your
Wife,
r.! come" he replied in the same