The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-09-29

SkiH. The dickens! He was adrflt
and already several feet from shore.
The rope must have come united from
the anchor. Yes, there it was TRAIL
ing. But it looked as if-by Jove, it
had been cut!
Probably by that red-headed kid
back there on the beach. jumping up
and down and laughing at him. Wait
until he got hold Of him.
Thoroughly awakened by this time,
jim examined the boat in which he
had so casually allowed himself to
take a nap. There were no oars and
nothing detachable that might serve
as oars. He must either jump over
board and swim, thereby doing cOnsid-
cradle damage to his clothes, or else
resign himself to the situation.
The outer rim Of the small cove was
fringed with small islands, some Of
them grassy and tree clad, others
rocky and BARE and one with house
on it.
Chances were that he would even
tually bump one Of those islands, and
could either pick up bit of driftwOod
and paddle himself to the mainland,
signal the occupants of the house for
rescue or, at the worst, simply wait
until some one at the hotel discovered
his absence and Investigated. In time,
no doubt, the red-headed ruffian would
have sense enough to own up to what
had happened.
Not until the skiff's side actually
grated on the shoal did Jim feel al
together certain, however, that he was
actually going to strike the bit Of
land with house, on it.
He heaved sigh of relief, lifted his
eyes, then gasped all but audibly.
Above him, obviously amused, was
quite the prettiest girl he had ever
seen.
Then it flashed upon him that she
might possibly be alone upon the is
land, and, if so, the advent of
strange man would most certainly be
annoying. She spoke first.
81 have been watching you, wonder
ing if you would make good landing.
You see-my-my, husband will be
back here any moment with the boat
and will be glad to take you back. I
take it you accidentally got afloat."
you've said it," cried Jim gaily.
ga little red-headed devil cut the rope
while was taking nap. You see. I
was-er-waiting for my-er-wife"-
there, that would make it better all
around. If she had husband and he
had a wife, the thought of them ought
to act as sufficient chaperonage.
'rThat's what it looked like. That
were waiting for wife, but as if you
were adrift. WOn't-won't you come
ND and wait until my-my husband
returns? He's out fishing-there,
think you can see his boat out near
that buoy?" She indicated a tiny
black speck out towards the horizon.
"Hell be starting home presently"
So, for two hours that passed all
too swiftly, they sat getting acquaint-
ed while the sun sank lower and low
er. If the girl was good to look up
on, no less, in his own masculine way,
was Jim. And they discovered kim
bred taste in books, marine engines
and radio annOuncerS.
"What a pity" thought the girl,
''that every nice young man l meet
is always married."
And "What a shame" thought Jim,
"that the only girl ever knew could
love has husband!" but they did not
speak aloud what was in their minds.
So engrossed did they become in I'M
earthing mutual cOngenialitieS that
the speck near the horizon had grown
to a stable object easily to be made
out as a boat with a single occupant,
before either became aware of it's APP
proach.
The figure it held was slim one.
Khaki clad.
"Needs a haircut !" was Jim's I'M
spoken comment as he glimpsed a
tawny mop that matched the sunset.
Then he noticed that his pretty COM
panion was folding and unfolding her
slender nanOS neEVOuSly.
"Mr.-er-' she began.
"Jim Murdoch" supplied Jim
promptly. ......
"Well-why didn't you say so to
start with?" cried the girl. ''My Sis
Ter, who is staying at the hotel, has
told me all about you. And about the
book you are writing, But" and she
looked at him accusingly. "She dis
itinctly said you were a bachelor"
II am" said Jim meekly. II invent
ed wife just to save you embarrass-
ment. Thought you might not mind so
much my unceremonious intrusion If
you thought" @....,.
He was interrupted by a silvery
burst of laughter. "HOw funny"
cried the girl. 81 invented husband
for similar reasons. realized right
afterward that sooner or later you'd
find out, but l thought for the mo-
ment it would suffice. In reality, that
person in the boat is my Aunt Agatha,
the most indefatigable fisherman in
Sheltered Cove" ..
That night the telephone in the
home of red-headed Billy Masters rang
Stndently. His mother answered,
then turned in amazement to her son
who had been watching his mother
nezyOusly.
" don't understand" she said. "A
h. HfN hos