Show A CASE by gated 1905 by the authors publishing company three guests from the city were away heated time at the wilmoth homestead they were r lascar son of the host who had early gone to the metropolis taken up law studies and was now a rising aloner before the bar benjamin mond a student friend aad miss jen nie BI akeley the latter had been given by doting and capable parents every advantage along the line in which she exhibited decided taste and talent painting and was now making a collection of country sketches for future use in her studio mr hammond reclined drowsily in a seat from half closed lids was seen the rivers shimmering bosom and to his ears came the sound of approach ing wheels he stirred sufficiently to behold a carriage stop at the gate smiled then returned to his doze lascar wilmoth and miss blakeley had been to the adjacent village evi dently something there transpired to strain the appearance of friendship As the carriage stopped lascar sprang to the ground his extended hand was but lightly touched by the lady as she alighted and her dark eyes were fixed unswervingly ahead when she walked away the gentleman s brown orbs danced with the very demon of mischief and his lips twitched but he did not dare laugn gracious no the situation was entirely too se rious for that ten minutes later mr hammond was startled by a slap on his shoulder I 1 I 1 require your assistance ben said bascal sliding down into the seat beside him ben yawned drowsily and replied its always on tap for you old fel low want me to ask the girl worse than that and lascar laughed until the other smiled you ve got to help develop the minor points of a plot then carry it out when lawyer and college student put their heads together something is bound to result while they yet conversed a female figure emerged from the house her lithe form was attired in dress of pale blue and on her head was a broad sunshade mr hammond arose and walked away lascar called after him tal e the one painted red with black belt yes she said as ben unlocked the boat and shoved it down so she could step in I 1 called mr wilmoth a cow ard and I 1 think he deserved it lascar has been an acquaintance of mine for a long time and I 1 never thought that of him was the grave reply oh it sometimes takes years to find one out he was provoked at me for what I 1 said I 1 guess for he flushed quite angrily but the man who wishes to stand well in my favor must have stamina and be willing to dare some thing in my behalf when that per son ran into me with his bicycle las mr wilmoth never said a word in cen sure im sure he even had the au daulty to be inclined to laugh no doubt you served him right in the same grave voice while a smile lurked about the corners of bens mouth but here we are miss blake ley shall I 1 assist youa placing her hand in his jennie tim idly found a seat in the boat s stern want 1 me to ask the girl ben pushed off and took up the oars at first the tiny vessel rocked terribly and she held on with both hands but soon came smoother sailing and her timidity vanished to such an extent that she trailed her fingers over the side as they glided out upon the placid stream ben bend ng to the oars re silent at last the lady cast i s AA s ing up at him a coquettish glance asked can you swim mr hammond not a bit was the reply then in a tone which suggested imparting of interesting information when I 1 was a boy father whipped me for going near the water impressed upon me the fact that great men are drowned every year and ive been afraid to attempt hello there s allmoth on the bank waving us to come ashore ahall wea no indeed followed a short silence miss blakeley pulled down her sunshade so he could not observe the direction of her glance she flipped moisture I 1 rom her fingers turned and dabbled on the other side the oarsman stealthily moved one toot she turned t ack face towards the home shore and continued he need not think we are going to have him with us it would be too simply endeavoring to realize what a whopper you are m ich like surrendering when I 1 ve no of doing good gracious mr H ammond look at the water I 1 thought there was something wrong with this boat it was becom ing 0 o unwieldy groaned ben there wa a tiny gurgle as a small stream continued rushing in well drown gasped the terrified maiden as she drew her feet up on the seat almost lost her balance and came near upsetting them sit still confound it grumbled ben as he saw the watery grave yawn ing why was I 1 such a tool as to bring you out here when I 1 can t swim help help lascar allmoth heard the cries he jerked off coat anh boots and sprang into the stream lower sank the boat it was almost submerged in another he would have reached it but aiss BI akeley suddenly becoming aware of a chilly encroachment gave a start and over they went that was an awfully close shave gasped allmoth as he dragged the 1 alf drowned birj up the bank where where s ben Is he dead queried she when her mouth was par bially free of water f no he Is clinging to the capsized vesel despite the fact that I 1 m al mos tuckered I 1 must go to his assist akrc at once cont las lascar and she clung to Ms arm fi must hang it do you suppose stand here and see so nolle a fel ov as he go down without at least an effort to save him he would do is much and more in my behalf ana since you unkindly condemned m my life don t count for much ailway besides ah thank heaven there s a boat putting out from the bank to months later mrs jennie wil moth was reading from a dally paper while her husband lounged in a ham mock on the porch of their city home presently she said in considerable prise here is an item saying ben ham mond has entered for the inter college ato swimming race yes was the drowsy reply he thinks he can win win can he swim well I 1 should say so why the whale that made the mistake of its life in swallowing jonah could not hold a candle to him then sir what meant that that heavens ejaculated lascar en deavo ring to disentangle disen tagle the hammock s intricacies so he could sit up ive put my foot in it now will you kindly explain 9 reckon have to that boat had a plug in the bottom and he kicked it out while you w ere watching me from under your hat I 1 waa not you sir oh yes you were otherwise you have seen him you are entirely mistaken how ever that s not pertinent to tl e bub eject why did he kick out the plug now dont get excited dear it vas done so your coward might uve an opportunity to display himself the audacity of the thing so amazed jennie that she sat perfectly quiet starting at him well observed lascar at last I 1 m simply endeavoring to realize what a whopper you are |