Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
By Mary Chase.


by roll OF threatening. thunder. The little
catboat reeled as the blast of wind wrenched
her sails around. The boom came across with
a crack and snap. The crack was when it
hit Eddie's head in passing. The snap was the
sound the ropes made on the gunwales, as,
released from the clowns slack hold, they
whipped merrily out into the water over the
side. ...
The bisque shepherdess shrieked Historically
as she saw Eddie lying in heap in the cockpit.
And Robin made vain attempt to get his:
hands on the ropes to bring the tapping sail
back into some order. He held the slippery
ends in his hands, and shouted to Lizette to put
the tiler over as far as it would 60. But the
tiller, was in the rigid, utterly unaccoHntable.
grasp Of the shepherdsss. who was now in-s
dulgng frankly in very complete at ef
Mysteries. ~, $751;
"A couple precious seconds were wasted while
Lizette struggled to get the tfller into her own
capable hands. She pushed the shrie,sing blond,
with vigorous violence--anothcr second and she.
and Robin would have the crazy, carsening boat
in control But that last second was taken up
by a jagged lightning glare, roar of thunder:
and the sweep of the furious wind which
nothing could this time deny.
With heave and a cracking of boards the
catboat turned herself upside down In the
black, tumbling waters of the Atlantic Ocean,:
sickening. choking downward plunge "A;
fighting up through the singing salt water.
A gasp and stroke or two. The shape OF
the boats keel was a yard or so away.
Where -. ? Something bumped and slithered
against Robins SIDE and the still unconscious
form of Eddie was awash in his hand.
ROBIN had grown up in the water. He
turned Eddie expertly so that one arm
was free to swim. Then flash of the now
constant lightning revealed two figures strug-
CLING near the boats bobbng keel Lisette'a
black head. and around her neck, in that
strangle grip which is the terror of swimmer
the arms Of the shepherdess fighting crazly
with the girl who was trying to keep her afioatss
Robin. hampered by his burden Glove tina
water to reach the girls. Just as he gained
them the shepherdesS made a last grab Cd
Lizettes fighting arms, and the black head
disappeared beneath the turbulent waves
Terror seized Rcbn
His world conferred about that black head.
Maybe that Is why he was able to pull the
shepherdess toward him by her mop Of yellow
hair. and plant fist on the point Of her chin
which abruptly stopped her struggles, leaving
her as tractable as the also unconscious Eddie
Her arms relaxed. and .Lizette's black head re.
appeared. She was white in the glare Of the
storm, gasptng, almost exhausted, but rama,
Very game and COOL
"Dieu!" she spluttered, THAT one nearly had
me out"
The weight Of the two was almost doing for
Robin. Just in time with an experiences euual
to his own Lizette grasped the shepherdess I'M
her left arm, striking out for the boat with her
right.
Come on, Robin, I can make it. Hurry
the boats drifting off,"
Somehow, the two, each with a burden, VA.
lowed through the waves to the boat
Dieu!" gasped the white-faced Pierette once
more, What now?"
Can you hold on, child?" asked the asoa,.
lied Robin.
while you can, Robin" she Sid. /
He tried to give her some support with hss
free arm How little she was! How brave.
and how dear. Finally the storm let ND. but
tne night was black as ink. and the rain fen
nopeieSsiy Maybe he wouldn't need to give I'M
tnat job. Maybe the ocean would decide for
him how he was to quit But If that was M
there was something he could say-now.
Lizette, kissed. you because I love YOU nd
much. I couldn't tell you for a lot Of rotten
reasons That don't matter now Let me try 10
get you up on the boat with the Others xnr
afraid ..
I'm not, Robin With you"
And once more her soft mouth, this time
cold and salty and trembling, was against his
own. Tney chung so-and light cut across
the blackness. A government cutter. counbing,
Tor rum runners, had picked them up.
-
HE next afternoon, Eddie, head-bandaeed
and glum, wandered with a badly worried
Robin about the Haine terrace
Going down to see the heroine, Robin?" h.
inquired morosely.
IN not. I'm going back on the 4:3O."
without seeing her, Lord. man, the sirfS
nu'ty ABOUT you. And after last night-youre.
for the asking. my boy. She needs Won in -.
business. What's eating your.
Vlees Mortimer ". Calhoun's dauahtep
doesn't need me. Her business is eoinr slone,