The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-22

! uay IL get Dack TO my OWN apart
ment tonight and get a good rest"
What's got into you, Tony?' she
asked.
You act a hundred" !"
swell, my child" he said lightly,
$50 am, nearly"
And he smiled as gayly as he
could at the flushed, warm young
face beside him.
And now you youngsters run
along. I'll sun myself here, and per-
haps not wait for you. But I'll drop
around for a good-by before / CO."
Il was going to ask you to come
over TO our place for lunch-both
of you. But perhaps you'd rather
not"
Well said Tony, still with an eff
fort at lightness, perhaps I'd bet
ter not. I've some things to get to-
gether before | 60"
Bob looked searchingly at the old
er man. Then he put out his hand.
IF you get away before see you
again, | want to say good-by now"
The two men shook hands.
ITS been great knowing you.
I'm"
That's al right" said Tony, look
ing smillngly into Bob's troubled
young eyes. You're a good fellow,
l.;
And he turned and walked slowly
down the beach.
Mary took Bob's hand. "Come on,
she said, running into the breakers.
Whose funeral was 1t, anyway?
What on earth were you and Tony
talking aboutf"
Bob didn't answer.
Darned fine fellow Tony was.
Bob's pulses raced, as he felt
Mary's hand in his. lie wasn't afraid
of anybody else.
He'd win Mary surely, now. Fine
man, Tony.
They dove into the oncoming
breakers, swan hardly for a few
minutes, and then aoated and pad
died along until they reached the
float
There they were alone-alone in
a world of blue sky and sparkling
water.
Mary flung herself down in the
sunshine.
Bob sat beside her.
Then it happened.
One OF those quick, treacherous
storms that sometimes seem to
come out of a brooding summer
sky.
1t rose behind the two on the
float, Mary looking shoreward, Bob
looking at Mary.
And before they knew it the float
was rocking and jumping with the
chopping waves.
Come on" said Mary, Tets swim
in"
"We can't said Bob quietly.
1t LOD IOuEL-tuO ldlt.
Blackness and thunder and light
ming, and a rocking, swaying world.
And then, out of the gloom, a
voice-Tony's.
Here, you two. Jump off the float
and climb aboard. l don't dare bring
it any closer"
He maneuvered his commandeered
motor boat as near them as he
could. Bob jumped in the water
first. Mary followed him. And that
was all Mary knew.
That afternoon she and Bob were
sitting on the terrace of her cot
tage that overlooked the sea-a sea
again sparkling and calm under a
blue sky.
But l can't see why Tony didn't
come to say good-by," she said.
He told US he would"
She was still a little wan and
weak from her mornings expert
ence.
For moment Bob was silent.
Then: Mary" he said, "he told
me not to tell you, but I've got to.
You passed out, you know, when
you struck the water and l
couldn't get you in, so l climbed in
his boat and held 1t while he went
in for you. And when he was get
ting back In the boat with you he
gave his leg an awful whack against
the side of the boat. He's laid up
at the hotel-cant 60 back to town
for a couple of days"
Mary jumped to her feet.
II must go TO him-this minute,
Bob"
Bob took her roughly by the shoul-
ders.
why, Mary? Why?"
Mary stood there pale and shak-
ing-utterly lovely and desirable In
Bob's eyes. Suddenly she smiled at
him, brave smile.
Bob" she whispered, 81 love him.
, But he'll never know Just real
lied myself"
Bob turned miserable eyes away
from Mary. He patted her shoulder
gently.
Mary, I'll take you over-if
you're sure. But tell him. Mary. He's