The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-26

planKS u gather some flowers q
the edge Of the pool. Ned thought
he heard q faint cry. 1t was such
tiny. nunled sound that he didn't
think 1t important aud would have
gone about his business had he
not seen that Mary was no longer
there! No longer anywhere III
sight.
He ran at q tremendous rate Of
speed. such 4 squirt ax he had never
accomplished 10 al his university
days.
The pool was muddy and dis,
turbed. He couldn't see Mary. but
there was q long streak In the
muddy edge that showed where her
foot had slipped.
His coat was OF. and he was
In the pool. Cropping. his hands
came In contact with her dress. He
put forth all his strength and rose
to the surface. dragging Mary with
him.
Now that he held the mOtionless
girl In his arms. he wondered liz
this was the end. He knew. in the
same dim uncertainty. that Tilt was
ne would 90 mourning all his days
for what had been denied him.
He put the girl down ON the
grass and still In daxe Of mingled
effort and dream, began to work To
restore her breathing. and as lie
raised and lowered her arms kept
repeating: ''Oh, my dear. don't
die."
+ He must have said It aloud. for
her long Iashes lifted. the blue eyes
looked straight at him, aud Mary
said. Il won't DO stop and-let
me up please"
Ned helped her to her feet.
''Oli, I'm SO ashamed" hreathed
Mary.
Ned. not yet able to speak. or
look at her for very long ut n time,
took her hand and tried to hurry
her to the farmhouse. Though 1t
looked deserted. Ned thought he
could see signs 81 tiYe. Mary was
SO hampered, BY her wet garments.
which were plastered to her with
mud. that he picked her up IL his
arms. refusing 10 listen to her pro-
test. After the initial request to
be put down. Mary simply let her
head rest on his shoulder and
shook with cold.
At least that was Ned's hplief
until he looked down ut her face.
She was quivpriny with laughter.
II can't help it," she gaSped.
I'm grateful for your saving my
life. and all that. but I can think
Of nothing but how much ! want to
wipe your face. It's - It's 81
streaky"
Ned put her down and laughed.
"iOu ought 10 see what you look
like. You look exactly like u mud
baby" he told her./as he felt In his
pocket for handkerchief.
Gravely. Ned divided the hand
kerchief and xravply Mary accept
Ell II. Laughter still trembled about
the corners Of her mouth. however,
as she took this opportunity Of
wringing some Of the water from
her garments.
Come" Ned commanded. I'VE
can't stop for that. Now then.
let's see what the farmhouse holds
for U.S.
II hope 1t holds just one wOln-
an, no matter how old or fat, be-
cause I'm SO waterlogged ahd mud
plastered l can scarcely lift one
foot after the other" Il
~ hate to blast your hopes. but :
see approaching US an ancient mar
with whiskers. He has the look
Of hermit. No. cheer up. Hes
calling Phoebe. and by all the
gods. she's young"
She was. Phoebe Sayer was
fourteen. but for all that she kept
house for Uncle Nate. and misel
though he was. he loved Phoebe.
Now. though. he had growled
something In his tattered whiskers
about having ''passel Of halt
drowned rats" on his clean kitchen
floor. Phoebe. who had scented ex
element. and fallen In love with
Mary. ordered him out to the barn
with pair Of clean Overalls for Ned
Though It cut Uncle Nate to the
heart. she made him take with him
q shirt and 4 pair Of socks.
Phoebe WAS just fourteen,
little short, II anything. and hers
were the only feminine garments
In the house. Slowly. and with
much hilarity, Mary was indicted
into "the longest things I've got"
When Ned emerged from the
barn and brought the car up to
the door. the blinds were up aud
Phoebe was throwing the wet gar
nents. whose dainty hneness she
marveled at. into y washtub near
the door. She saw Ned and called
back tO the open door. "Nav, Miss
Johnston. your young mans ready
for y0u."
Ned. wondering how Mary would
take this classification: looked with
interest ut the doorway NJ Mary
emerged. She was ciad IN, Phoebe's
dark blue Dress" odhe-lliece gar
ment that ended ut the knees. She
had Oh Ph0ebe's hest black cotton
stockings. which didn't quite reach
those knees. ST. Mary had rolled
them. She had tied her dark hair
with \ biue ribbon and she looked
like u charming actress ready to
blny "Alice In Wonderland