Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-10-14
THE STORY


father, Amos Dudley. at Lake City. He!
fathers friend, and her own devoted
admirer, John Levine, after discussing
affairs with Dudley. makes up his mind
to go into politics.
CONTINUED from last weekly
All during the golden August after
noon the game waxed joyfully. For a
long time, Margery sat aloof, playing
with the baby. But when the ex-
cavating Of the cave began, she sue
cumbed and began to grovel in the
sand with the other two. Constant
small avalanches of sand and soil
from the bank powdered the children's
hair and clothes with gray-black
dust.
"Gosh, this is too much like work"
groaned Kent, at last. "Ill tell you,
let's play the finding Of Fridays ia
ther."
ri don't want to be tied up in a
boat" protested Margery, at once.
''Mardy not in boat" chorused little
Patience, toddling to the waters edge
and throwing in handful Of sand.
isn't she Lowell" sighed Margery.
"Huh, you girls make me sick, "
ssnorted Kent. "We won't tie you In
the boat. Well bring the boat in and
get you, then We'll anchor it out where
1t is now, and-and-Tll go get
Smiths rowboat, and Friday and I'll
come out and rescue you"
Margery hesitated. saw, come on y
urged Kent. "Don't be such 'fraid
% "a 10
you, you're such silly, dressed-up
DOLL"
The bankers daughter flushed.
Though she loved the pretty clothes
and though the sense Of superiority
to other children, carefully cultivated
by her mother, was the very breath
of her nostrils, she had never been
quite so happy as this afternoon when
grubbing on an equality with these
three inferior children.
'T'm not afraid at all and I'm just
as dirty as Lydia u.s. Go ahead with
your boat"
They tethered Patience with Kent's
cord to one of the willow trees and
Margery was padded out several
boat lengths from the shore and the
great stone that served for anchor
was dropped over. Kent took clean
dive overheard, swan ashore and dis
appeared along the willow path. Lit
tie Patience set up wall.
"Baby tum too, Baby tum, too" she
.Yept.
''Tll go stay with her till Kent
comes" said Lydia, diving into the
water as casually as If she were ris-
ing from chair.
II won't stay In this awful boat
alone I" shrieked Margery.
Lydia swan steadily to the shore,
then turned. Margery was standing
up in the boat.
"Sit down! Sit down." cried Ly-
dia
Margery, beside herself with fear,
tossed her arms. 81 won't stay In this
old"
There was a great splash and a
choking cry as Margery's black braid
disappeared beneath the water.
"And she can't SWIM" gasped Lydia.
"Kent!'' she screamed, and made a
flying leap into the water. Her slen-
der, childish arms seemed suddenly
steel. Her thin little legs took a
racing stroke like tiny prOpellers.
Margery came up on the far side of
the boat and uttered another chOk-
ing cry before she went down again.
Lydia dived, caught the long black
braid and brought the frenzied little
face to the surface. Margery imme-
diately threw an arm around Lydia's
neck, and Lydia hit her In the face
with clenched small fist and all the
strength she could muster.
''Let 60, or I'll let you drown. Turn
over on your back. There isn't thing
to be afraid of"
Margery. with a sob, obeyed and
Lydia towed her the short distance
to the boat. There. catch hold" she
said.
Both the children chung to the gum
vale, Margery choking and sobbing.
81 can't lift you into the boat"
panted<Lydia. "But quit your crying
You're safe. There's Kent"
Kent had heard the call and some
note of need in 1t registered, after a
moment, in hiss mind. He ran back
and leaped into the water.
He clambered into the boat and
reaching over pulled Margery bodily
over the gunwale The child, sick and
hysterical, huddled into the bottom Of
the boat.
"Are you all right, Lydf he asked.
"Sure," replied Lydia. who was be-
ginning to recover her breath.
It was the work Of minute to
ground the boat. Then unheeding lit
tie Patience's lamentations, the two
children looked at each other and at
Margery.
"rll run for her mother" said
Kent.
sand scare her to death She isn't
hurt a bit" insisted Lydia. MAR