Evening star., 1932-08-15

second time The heat was getting her,
she thought.
Hello" called Joe, the lifeguard. Is
she picked her way across the beach.
BE csreful-it's 0 strong surf
Hello, Joe" she nodded, In no mood
to exchange banter with him. I'm not
afraid" She did not notice the man
standing beside Joe, nor was she aware
of the interest with which his eyes fol-
lowed her into the water, nor the ques-
tions he asked concerning her.
With easy, swift strokes she swan as
far out as she dared, considering the
high waves, wondering meanwhile II
she did have the courage to let 60,
yond. What If she did keep her threat
to jim? She would rather die than go
back! Battling the waves, her strength
became exhausted and before she had
time TO decide the matter was taken
out of her hands. That dizzy feeling
swept over her again and she lost con-
troll OF herself. A nearby swimmer saw
her difficulty and sustained her until
Joe, who had been watching her, came
to his aid and they got her to shore
She felt uncommonly silly when she
opened her eyes and saw the crowd that
had gathered about her. A man with
the most amazing shock of red hair
she had ever seen bent over her, and
inVoluntarily she smiled into his kind,
humorous brown eyes.
I'm quite all right" she declared.
Make them 60 away please"
Sure" answered Joe. Just give her
chance TO breathe, folks-she's all
right" And he waived the little group
away, leaving Jean alone on the hot
sand, with the red-headed man watch
ing her solicitously. He brought an UNI
brella and placed it over her, then
famed her with his straw hat.
She fell asleep. When she awoke, he
was still there, still welding the straw
hat
I'm sorry" she said. You needn't
have bothered thank you
Are you better? Joe and I were
watching you and we couldn't figure out
what happened to you-it looked for a
minute as If you let go on purpose. ="
enough" Tears Welled into her smoky
graV eyes.
Nothing ever justifies that"
How do you know" Jean sat up
suddenly, realizing what she was doing,
talking to this stranger. She brushed
the moist curls from her forehead.
Please don't let me keep you any
longer" she said. 1T Is not necessary"
He smiled quizzically. You're not
being rude by any chance, are you?"
Il beg your pardon-I have the ad-
vantage OF you; Joe told me about you.
My name Is Webster-Martin Webster
For the moment this meant nothing
to Jean You know JoeP" she queried,
hoping thus to place him.
Yes helped him get his job here. "
There's a bit of breeze; thank good
ness for that"
Il hope 1t turns out to be some real
! relief. for the sake of those poor kids
over there on the East Side-they are
/ suffering frightfully. don't know when
/ it's been SO hot this early in the sea-
! SON.
Jean became suddenly interested. I'm
sorry for the poor youngsters, too-I've
/ helped a bit in the work at Chris
todora House, and ! saw what happened
E. If were rich I'd do something
like that with my money.
Would you?"
Yes, but my good intentions are of
no value-I'm so poor I can't afford a
decent dress"
You won't need one. If it con-
tinues to be as hot as it has been" >"
Jean laughed, and as inconsequen-
tial as the remark had been there
was somehow forged bond of un-
derstnding between them. She let him
talk to her without being self-con-
scious. An hour passed quickly
delightful hour to Jean. Martin Web
ster was the first educated person,
outside of Joe, with whom she had
conversed since she lost her father,
Besides, she liked his nice brown eyes
They we're steady and kind, but some
times very penetrating. and best OF
all humorous and full Of understand
ing.
why don't you swim2" she asked
him.