The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-07-15


skin. The dickens He was adrflt
and already several feet from shore.
The rope must have come united from
the anchor. Yes, there 1t was trail
Ing. But 1t looked as if--by Joye, 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
mad so casually allowed himself to
take 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
a 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 1t.
He heayed a 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, IL so, the advent of a
strange man would most certainly be
annoying. She spoke first
II have been watching you, wonder
Ing II you would make a good landing
You see-my-my husband will be
back here any moment with the boat
and will be glad to take you back
take it you accidentally got afoat"
you've said it," cried Jim gaily.
"A little red-headed devil cut the rope
while l was taking a nap. You see l
was-er-waiting for my-er-wife"-
there, that would make 1t better all
around. II she had q husband and he
had wife, the thought of them ought
to act as sufficient chaperonage.
That's what it looked like. That
is, don't mean 1t looked as If you
were waiting for wife, but as il you
were adrift. Won't-won't you come
up and wait until my-my husband
returns? He's out fshing-there, I
think you can see his boat out near
! that buoy?" She indicated a tiny
black speck out towards the horizon.
He'll 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 a kim
dred taste in books, marine engines
and radio announcers.
what a pity" thought the girl,
"that every nice young man | 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 un-
earthing mutual congenialities that
the speck near the horizon had grown
to a sizable object easily TO be made
out as boat with q single occupant.
before either became aware of It's ap-
proach.
The figure 1t held was slim one,
khaki clad.
Needs haircut" was Jim's un-
spoken comment as he glimpeed q
tswny mop that matched the sunset.
Then he noticed that his pretty COM
panion was folding and unfolding her
slender hands nervously.
"Mr.-er-" she began.
"Jim Murdock," supplied Jim
promptly.
"Well-why didn't you say SO to
start withf" 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
tinctly said you were bachelor"
"I am," said Jim meekly. II invent
ed wife just to save you embarrass-
ment. Thought you might not mind so
much my unceremonious intrusion II
you thought"
He was interrupted by a silvery
burst of laughter. "How funny"
cried the girl. II invented a husband
for similar reasons. I realized right
afterward that sooner or later you'd
find out, but I thought for the mo-
ment 1t 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
stridently. His mother answered,
then turned In amazement to her son
who had been watching his mother
nervously.
81 don't understand" she said. "A
man from the drug store has just
called up and said that gentleman
has left orders that every day for a