Evening star., 1936-09-04
INSTALLMENT XXVI.
0~O ON" said Deeds.
Jere Kendall drew a
deep breath before reply

A
~ ing.
when got out on the porch 4. i.
Doc Sloan seemed to be hauling Gene
out of the water! John waved to me
-. said something :. I thought he
wanted me to phone and"
But Deeds was already out the front
door. with the Rev. Mr.. Beckham close
at his heels. They saw three figures
on the sand at some little distance
below the cottage, one of the three
was prone, motionless.
1t was Gene CASTOR.
Deeds caught one glimpse of the
face, pillowed on bare arm to keep
the nose and mouth from the sand.
He was startled to find himself think
ing that Gene smiled
Sloan Elledge. gray wet hair hang
ing over his eyes, was astride Genes
slender form, applying artificial res
piration with dogged persistence. John
knelt close by. pudgy fingertips on
Genes wrist.
HE =. he isn't =. gone, is he?"
Deeds choked.
"I fear he is -. fear he is. Poor
chap"
But how did it happen? How
could it happen?"
Sloan took up the explanation in
measured tones: there was no break
on the rhythm of his relief measures.
He did not raise his face.
Young CASTOR heard us stir
ring around early. Came over and
asked :. if he could join us :. in
our before breakfast swim. He went
In the water little ahead of
us swan out in deep water. John
saw him go under =. came up once
before I got to him &. couldn't
find him right away. Finally did and
got ashore
His voice trailed away. Deeds and
the clergyman watched Sloan in a
species of fascination and for what
seemed a timeless interval. His Ia
bors appeared endless, fruitless. At
last he rose to his feet and pushed
the hair out of his eyes.
"Sory," he announced. mo use.'
1--WE can't stop" Deeds broke in
harshly. We've got to save him
here! I'll work. You show me
how"
Sloan stepped aside with a shrug.
After a few murmured suggestions
from John Elledge, Deeds settled
down to his task grimly, his jaw set
His one idea was to maintain the
fixed cadence that might start those
lungs to functioning. He could not
realize that the inert form under his
hands was Gene the Gene he hao
talked to such a few hours before
This couldn't be the answer to the
boys trouble >. it wasn't fair. Joan
wanted to help 3. she'd never for
give him if he didn't save Gene
They mustn't let him drift away like
this
His mind and body were working
30 mechanically that Deeds never
knew how much time elapsed until he
was conscious of Beckham's voice in
his ear, Beckham's kindly hand on hs
shoulder.
I'm afraid it's of no use. my boy.
I've seen it too often -. and these
doctors know"
Scarcely comprehending, Deeds al
lowed himself to be raised to his feet
where he stood, gazing down dumbly
into Genes quiet face.
His poor mother" Beckham
said softly.
II guess you're the one for that
job," Sloan suggested tersely. May
be you'd better do it before we bring
him to the house. Ask Kendall to
come down and help us. will you?"
The minister hesitated.
II am not familiar with procedure
here, of course . but is it not Gus
tomary to leave body for the author
tiles to examine? In case of acci-
dental death, that is?"
There should be no question" Sloan
answered quickly, with two registered
physicians as witnesses. However. it
makes no great difference. I dare
say Kendall has been telephoning
already"
Unfortunately, the phone is out oi
order"
Beckham did not see the sharp
glance sent him from the doctors
gray eyes. He had stopped down
and was spreading his handkerchief
carefully over Genes face.