The broad ax., 1926-12-25
Footprints in the
Sand
tCopyrfght.l
BY RUBY DOUGLAS


remarked Claude Granite.
A river ran along the back OF the
| garden. and every morning he and his
companion arose and climbed down
the grassy bank to the pool that was
cleared for swimming.
One morning Claude had discovered
q girls footprints on shifting, sandy
edge that bordered the river little
lower than the pool In which they
swan.
these steps lead into the water
but where has the girl gomez" he
asked his friend.
Don't ask me. I'm startled Come
on" retorted the other.
The next morning he found fresh
return prints.
The mystery added zest to his va
cation, but now, after a week, he be-
gan seriously TO wonder how the girl
could disappear so early each morn
| ing and Lecome entirely lost to sight.
There was no evidence of her but
those footprints In the sand each
morning
Claude sat down on the damp sand
and studied the footprints. Yes: I'M
mistakably, they had been made this
morning Well, he would walt until
their creator returned. She might
look like the back of crazy quilt,
but at last he would see her and
solve the mystery
Somehow he fancied she was beau
tiful. He sat there in the early morn
ing light and began to dream a pic
ture Of her. But-she did not come.
The next morning Claude was gone
when his chum sought him out to
take their early dip, and, thus left
alone and being not too enthusiastic
about the chilly water, the young man
dressed and went to breakfast. He
was getting irritated at the mood Of
his friend.
Claude had hidden himself, almost
at dawn. behind some crimson bushes
so that he might see the girl who
made the matutinal footprints in the
sand and entered the water, appar-
emily not to return. He had searched
the opposite bank for evidence OF her
leaving, but nothing but miles of bar
rem, stubby woods stretched out across
the river. A few old trees and many
rocks bordered the bank.
His emotions were mixed when he
heard the cracking Of the twigs on
the hill behind him and knew that
some one approached. Clad in
bathing suit, brown, closely cropped
hair alight in the sunlight, and carry
ing a large, well-stuffed rubber bag,
she made her way to the rivers edge.
Just before she reached the smooth
sand she slipped off her sandals,
tucked them and tied them into the
bag she carried, picked her way DELHI
erately across the yellow, impression
able sand, climbed onto a fat rock
and-tossed the bag across the short
span Of swiftly moving water to pro-
| jecting bit Of ground. Then she
| slipped into the river, swan about
for few moments, clambered out on
the opposite side, picked up her bag
and disappeared among the thick au-
tumn leaves and rocks. Presently
Claude was startled beyond belief to
see, short distance back from the
edge, the girl. clad in a charming au-
tumn red smOck and brown stockings
and sandals, climbing up an old tree.
He could barely see her movements,
but as he twisted and turned and
moved cautiously. he saw that she had
plateau. veritable tree house in
the broad branches and that she was
about to do some sort of work.
This was enough for today. He
fairly flew up the bank and into his
clothes. His heart sang. He had dis
covered the one loveliest girl In the
world and the very romantic finding
Of her told him that she would re-
main in his life. He did not speak
Of his experience.
As usual. he took his swim the fol-
lowing morning and his chum gath
cred, from his changed mood. that he
had forgotten the steps.
He went down to the rivers edge
after breakfast with his rife and some
old bottles. which he proceeded To
place there on branches and stumps
and rocks In order to try his aim.
Careful. always. TO shoot ON his own
side of the river. he still knew that
the girl in her tree house would not
realize this.
A scream greeted him. He saw n
lovely head emerge from the golden
and red leaves.
"Pm here cried the girl. Don't
shootl'
Claude hastened to the nearest Op-
posite spot. "Oh. did brighten your
he asked. hypocritically.
Almost to DEATH" admitted the
painting girl.
There followed nearly two hours of
explanations. she told him this was
the only escape she had from social
life and Interruptions to the writing
she was bound to do.
And then, feeling that she did nor
dislike him and might forgive him,
Claude confessed TO his maneuvers.
When Claude told bis chum about
it-not all about It. but enough to sat
isfy-he remarked:
"WelI, might have known that
some girl leaving footprints on the
sand would mark your time as q bach
nIor old man 7 sunnoan vou,u hova