The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-23

abandoned old boat of the familiar two-oared type. lying bottomsIde up in the barnyard of farm two miles away.
 For the trifling matter of 60 cents It became his own, and with the help of Pietro and Angelo he got 1t up on the bct@of wheels lent by the farmer for the purpose, and lowed his treasure home in triumph.
 For hohrA every day. he worked on 1t. pounding. painting, screwing. tarring. adding constant oGd im- provement6 of his own,tand at last, he pronounced 1t water proof, what Ginger called a Rabbit worthy craft.
 At heart Benito was a genuine navigator. He liked the lazy lap and roll of water beneath him, but for the arduous work of rowing had small inclination.
 He removed the seats from the boat-an easy matter. for they were rotting away to soft splinters--and filled the bottom with an old cot mattress. q pile of blankets, old rugs. old clothes, and then, when he had rowed across the river to the deep pool. anchored at once and stretched himself out full length in the boat upon the soft bed beneath, and with q fishing line attached to each wrist, he lay in the warm sun. listened to the lap of water against the boat, dreamed dreams and saw visions. and kept the camp supplied with fresh fish.
 Nor did he keep his pratical craft bottom-side up on the landing with Ginger's white canoes, but let 1t ride the tide at the end of long rope secured just out of sight of the cottage.
 "A real bow-line mooring." ap- provel Bard.
 "A real river boat" said Benito, Hooks best in water"
 And on his next list for Ginger was pipe and smoking tobacco" for as he said. pipes look best on rivermen." l,-,.. ss.aa1e4
 Certainly 10 .Joie de Vivre they were acquisitions without peer. They cooked. they gardened. they sang. Motor parties visited the club from far and near drawn solely by the vivid tales of their accomplish ments.
 Tn this wave of enthusiasm, Bard Holloway managed to hold his own. receiving commissions for more portraits than he could execute in months. and at a good round price "a price fixed, and frequently raised, by none other than Ginger.
 She had constituted herself his untiring chauffeur, his patron saint and his unremitting companion. For Ginger was quick to realize that the portraits he was commissioned to do were not the safe and stately I I,,,t t1, ,aS. Cot, S..,N AnA marriagenble daughters. She had set hcr heart upon establishing Bard as portrait painter. but she meant to see that 1t was carried out under her personal oversight. .
 When the days had heightened into week and two weeks Bard announced, much against his own wishes. that since there was work to keep him busy in Red Thrush for 6 great many days to come, he felt he must move In to town some where and settle down. E5 sss
 It was obviously the proper pro. cedure, and at his request Phil set herself to suggesting possible ad- dresses. And then she glanced at Ginger. Ginger was slumping dis consolately In a big chair. her head in her hand. wrapped in an air of incxpresslble melancholy.
 What's the matter. Ginger? Don't you feel well? Have you been too Mill Rushed lately?"
 Ginger sighed. "Oh, everything is so tiresomc," she mourned. Even Joie de Vivre is stupid now that 1t is standing on It's own foundation"
 Things are n bit dull" said Phil thoughtfully. Then she added pur- peacefully. "I think 1t would be distinct unkindness. Bard. for you to desert us right now when we are so bored with everything. It seems Absolutely up to yousto chiTk us up. Won't you go on being company for a while--for our s.sakes?, .,.5s.s1.
 "Of course. if you put 1t like that" he began eagerly.
 T do put 1t like that" she said firmly.
 And Ginger smiled.
 (TO Be COntlnucd)