Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1906 — Canning's Cruise [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Canning's Cruise

By CLARENCE ODELL

Canning, running down the beach, looked about for the familiar blue and white turban. Somehow he had come to expect the sight of the odd little bathing cap, and it was with a gesture of impatience that be searched the beach and the little knot of bathers clinging to the life ropes. Ever since the girl had first appeared on the beach Canning had been interested. She was a splendid swimmer, vastly different from the girls who clung to the ropes and gave little shrieks every time a wave rolled In. She headed straight for the raft with strong, steady strokes and kept away from the flirtatious group in the shallows. Canning admired her for it, and he was frequently found on, the raft

watching the little head bobbing through the surf to the same goal. He never had a chance to speak. She was not the kind of girl a man spoke to without excuse, but of late there had been a sort of friendliness in her glance as she had climbed to the raft. More than once Canning had wished that she might have a cramp—just a tiny little one—so that he might go to her rescue and thus break the conventional Ice. She was nowhere in sight today. The water was unusually rough, and the life guards were pacing the beach restlessly instead of occupying their usual perches, but rough water could not prevent her from taking her daily dip, and Canning wondered what the matter was.’ Then suddenly he caught sight of a blue and white dot out on the water, and he strode into the surf. It was reckless for the girl to try to make the raft in this sea. He wondered that;the guards had not called her back. Once in the water, be advanced with powerful strokes, following the girl ahead. It was no easy matter for him to make headway at first, and he wondered how she was faring farther out She must have been making slow progress, for he could see that he was gaining on her. She was not more than a hundred feet from the raft now, and he was some fifty feet behind her, when suddenly she threw up her arms, with a cry, and disappeared under the water. He fought his way desperately toward the spot where she had disappeared and came up to her just as she rose for the second time. “Turn on your back,” he commanded. “I will get you to the float Don’t be afraid." He caught her just In time, and slowly he paddled with one hand toward the raft It was a difficult matter to get her on the raft unaided, but the realization that he would have to work quickly gave him new strength. She had lost consciousness, and his first care was to administer first aid. It was several minutes before her eyelids fluttered and he knew that he had won that battle. When at last he was assured that she was all right he sank down on the boards beside her to rest before even trying to signal the life guards. “You seem to be more exhausted than I am,” she said after a moment “It must have been hard work getting me on to the raft.” “The swell made it difficult," he explained. “Once or twice I thought I had lost you, but I held on.” “I suppose we can get them to send out a boat for us,” she commented. /‘lt would not be easy to swim back." “It would be out of the question,” he declared. “It looks longer than ever before," she said, with a little shudder as she glanced out over the heaving water. “The hotels seem so much smaller.” Canning glanced up fob a moment, then sprang to his feet, with a cry. Presently he turned to her with a grave face. “Do not be alarmed,” he said quietly, “but I am afraid the raft is loose.” “But it was moored at four corners V’ she exclaimed. “How could it get loose?” "The logs rot in the water. I suppose I raised the edge out of water as I climbed on, and the swell tore it

loose. At any rate, we are in'for a cruise unless we can signal the shore.” They stood up together and waved frantically, but apparently the little tragedy had passed unnoticed on shore, ana there was no answering signal that they could perceive. At last, tired by their exertions, they sank down on the raft and faced the situation. ’‘The coastwise steamers come close in to shore here,” he said reassuringly. “There will be a good chance of being taken off before night. Perhaps at the turn of the tide we may drift back.” “I hope something happens,” she shivered. “It seems so dreadful to be carried out to sea.” "We at least have a raft,” he comforted. “Suppose you had to keep swimming?” “I should have given up long ago,” she said. “As it was I should be dead now had it not been for you.” "I was afraid you would have some trouble,” he said, “when I saw what you had undertaken to do.” “Did you follow me out on purpose?” she asked wonderingly. “I didn’t know any one had seen me. The guards warned me against trying, but I wanted to see if I couldn’t, and I did—almost.” “That was the only reason that brought me out,” he said. “I saw your bathing cap, and I knew it was you.” “And I am the reason.for your being out here?” she asked wonderingly. “I am responsible sos your danger too?” “Not at all,” he protested warmly. “I am only too glad that I was in time to be of service.” “I thought it was because you wanted to come,” she explained. “I havs noticed that you were such a good swimmer.” “I have wished hundreds of times that I knew you,” he admitted. “I have admired your swimming ever since you came.” “My name is Rose Wilcox.” “I am Harry Canning,” he responded formally. “I'm glad to meet you, Miss Wilcox.” Their hands met in hearty clasp. She colored when she perceived that he was still holding It. and for a moment she moved away. Then she drew closer to him again, and they sat there and chatted while their eyes searched the horizon for the sign of sail or steamer. They soon found that they knew common friends, and this swept away Rose's last barrier of reserve, and she gossiped on as if they had known each other for years. So engrossed did they become that they forgot the peril of the situation, forgot everything save the fact that they found each other wonderfully congenial. It was with a start that they heard a panting behind them and turned to see a steam yacht drawing alongside. In a few minutes they had been taken off and, with the raft towing behind the yacht, turned back to shore. “I like this style of cruising better,” laughed Rose as they sat on the deck wrapped in blankets. “And just to think that we were in sight of the yacht for half an hour and never thought of turning around." “It never occurred to me that they would have to telephone the inlet for a boat,” he explained, “though I might have known.” “I’m a little sorry the cruise stopped so suddenly,” she confessed shyly. “I had even forgotten that it was getting near lunchtime.” “Let’s make the next cruise in a yacht,” he suggested. “We could get up a party,” she assented. “I don’t want a party,” he declared. “A party would be de trop on a honeymoon.” “Yes,” she admitted shyly, her color deepening. later be managed to obtain a less vague acquiescence to his proposal.

HE PADDLED WITH ONE HAND TOWARD THE BAFT.