The Woman-Haters

r the terrible storm of 1905, when the great steamer Bay Queen went down with all on board, the exact spot of her sinking unknown even to this day. Then the whole ocean side of the

alm. There had been no wreck, or the lifesavers would have

of the beach. As he approached the recumbent figure he yelled a panted "Hi, there!" He did not expect the hail to be answered or even noticed. Therefore, he was

e breast of his blue flannel shirt,

lightkeeper reached his side, but remained quiet, looking up from a pair of gray eyes and smiling slightly with lips that were blue. He was a stranger to Atkins, a young fellow, rather good looking, dressed in blu

r an instant of silence. "J

slowly. "So do I, though there's still room for improvement. What wa

r as he spoke. Atkins, his surprise doubled by this

been the most casual and ordinary possible; "I think you said a

he world? Are you c

e misunderstood you. Ple

layin' there all soaked through? You scared me pretty n

olutely sure that I'm not, even yet. You'll excuse me if I lie down again

imself on the sand.

" he exclaimed. "You're the c

tretch of ocean here isn't exactly a Turkish bath. I've been swimm

vered

r two? Where on eart

d from a steamer off

him to pause. The lightkeeper awoke

you talkin' so kind of every-day and funny drove my senses clean out, I guess. Get

ing to try. Would you

couldn't have risen unaided. His knees shook under him when h

n manage to make a five-minute cruise on dry land. . . . Even if the course we steer would make an eel lame tryin' to follow it," he

, but they accomplished it, and at length the

that miserable Ezry has-that is, my assistant's left me, and I have to go it alone, as you might say. So we'll g

hair and stripped the blue and dripping rags from feet which were almost as blue from cold

ed before that a valet was such a blessing.

ried Seth,

me for comparing

and they say the things I called the doctor was somethin' scandalous. You ain't responsible. You'

droom. The young man

e to a less conspicuous apartment? The door is open, and if any

hbor nigher'n four miles; and, in the next, I'd have you understand no women come to

omfort. However, it was dry and warm and, by leaving a button or two unfastened at the neck, answered the purpose well enough. The strang

leep. If you get to sweatin', so much the better. 'Tw

e strange arrival had taken the advice concerning going to sleep. But all the time he was washing dishes, rubbing brass work or sweeping, Mr. Atkins's mind was busy with the puzzle which fate ha

the bedroom. Seth was setting the table for dinner, when

are yo

hat do y

ing me what you've d

k on the chair by the sou'west window you'll find a rig-out of mine. I'm afraid

w moments he appeared, dressed in the Atkins Sunday suit of

keeper's greeting. "Ho

Where do you wash,

cket over top of it. Roller towel on the close

k you. I'm caked with

plit herrin', if he ain't used to

husiastic. "You watch me! My

N! Didn't you

N

y n

adn't the price. It took my last cent t

What time was it when

know. Two o'c

' up at two o'clock? Why wasn't

ateroom. Statero

swum three hours o

you'll excuse familiarity on short acquaintanc

excuse my sayin' so that shouldn't,

intervals of frying and eating, watched him with tremendous curiosity and as much patience as he could muster.

, "how'd you come

ing over the rail and watching the waves. Then I was very d

y? Seasick

or. I'm inclined to think the cause

e no supper. Still, yo

. Only a

at did you have

overslept and decided

s for a whole day I cal'late I'd be worse than dizzy.

ection and started to swim for them. I made the shore finally, but I was so u

wasn't your everlastin' nap!

't pleasant enough to think of. I'm

em lights out there are Eastboro Twin-Lights. I'm

. Atkins. And tremendously

done nothin'. Let me see,

n seemed startled, al

he admitted, "I don't know's you did say i

na

es

n. Not the gentleman who was hanged, o

ey? What steamer di

em to remember. Tha

say 'twas. Wher

u mean where w

rti

going to-to. . . . Hump

ha

ould forget all

regarded his gue

pose," he added, after a moment, during which he stared intently at Mr. Brown, who smiled in polite ac

ot," was the

e from t

time. As I told you, my assistant's left all of a sudden and I'm alone

own als

remember perfectly well that I'm not a crook, that I haven't done anything to be ashamed of-as I see it-that I'm very grateful to you, and that I don't steal. If you ca

immediately. The pair looked

d and turned to

o'clock I wish you'd call me. You'll find some spare clay

e door. Mr. Brown stepped over to th