The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-14

last, the boat was ready. Mama and
his father climbed in joyfully. The
boy flung the rope out to them.
They waved to him gaily as the
boat leaped to the waves. The boy
didn't wave back to them. 1t would
serve them right if they both were
drowned!
A mutter Of thunder sent bathers
scuttling homeward. Alone on the
dock, the boy watched, his breath
catching as big waves played hand
ball with the boat. If his father
would only reef the sail a little. In
the boat he might have felt exult-
ant with them. Here on land he was
in an agony of helplessness. He
wanted to call Capt. Henry, but he
stood, rooted. A fash of lightning
terrified him, but he dared not leave
now.
There! At last his father was
swinging the boat around for home.
Before it happened, the boy knew
what was coming. He tried to
scream and couldn't. A great wave
caught the boat broadside! The boy
shut his eyes. The thunder howled
triumphantly.
NTAMA E. Daddy :. out there
1V1 capsized," the boy,
dranched and painting, burst into
Capt. Henry's boathouse at the far
end of the dock.
Capt Henry didn't stop to ask
questions. Close at his heels, the boy
plunged into the rain after him. At
the ladder Capt. Henry waved him
back. Obediently, the boy hung over
the wet dock above. Would Capt.
Henry ever get his engine started?
John wrung his hands helplessly. He
forgot his rage against his father.
He forgot his fear of lightning. His
teeth chartered every time the over
turned boat with those two clutch
ing figures disappeared in the
trough of wave.
Hurry! Hurryw he pleaded,
though the captain couldn't possibly
hear him against the wind.
Frantically, the boy ran along the
dock ahead of the motor boat. AS
he turned out on the pier, wave
dashed at him. The wind almost
hurled him off his feet. But he
fought his way, as if he were racing
to the rescue, too. Capt, Henry was
having tough battle. What if he
couldn't reach them? The boy ran
faster as if his desperate effort
could give the motor boat more
power. At the end of the pier, huge
hurting waves stopped him. In the
crashing downpour, he stood, shiv-
ering uselessly.
Mummy, Daddy Mummy
Daddy" he prayed as the motor
boat beat its way past him toward
the capsized boat.
VXTHEN at last Capt. Henry
Wv pulled Mama and Daddy to
safety, his legs were shaking and
he felt duly ashamed of the sissy
tears on his cheeks. Unwilling to
be caught blubbering, he plodded
back to the house and flung him.
self, trembling, on a secluded
couch in the far corner of the liv-
ing room.
BY and by the excited voices of
Mama and his father passed
through the hall. He could hear
them upstairs, dramatically telling
his sisters of their adventure, or
dering themselves hot drinks and
dry clothes. They were so exultant.
he felt reSentful. He wondered if
his boat had been rescued. Well, he
wasn't going to ask them.
1--WE might have been swept out
to seal" Mama thrilled to the glo-
rious danger.
IF hadn't shouted to Captain
Henry :" His father explained
to the girls how lucky they were
to have a father with such pres
ence Of mind
Warmed by the hot drinks and
dry clothes ana exurberant at their
narrow escape, they came down
stairs and noticed that John was
still Sulking
I'm surprised at you, john"
Mama grieved.
On the couch the boy shivered
in the wet clothes Mama had not
yet noticed, and said nothing.
Didn't you want Daddy and
Mama to have that wonderful ex-
perience?" she coaxed in the sug-
airy tones of the Make Believe
Lady on the radio.
"Aw-" the boys nSutter
trailed off into a defeated whine.
He hid gulping sob in the pill
low. 1t didn't matter if his Doe
wasn't res 5ued. After all H.
matter what Mama said it
didn't belong to him.
THE END.