The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-02-26

dHuOuHClllS hiS lbPiuiJ A"-o
and, looking in his pale face no one
doubted his statement.
Blaisdel was just starting for a
pleasure trip with his wife and daugh-
ter, but this affair would keep him
home. He insisted on their going
without him, however as party OF
friends went the same route in few
days.
John Dalton, the head clerk, was
installed in Traverse's stead; he was an
inferior person in stature, with some
thing disagreeable lurking in his rest
less gray eyes.
So thought Irene Blaisdel, for al
though only clerk, he was often IN
vited to accompany Traverse to the
hospltable homes ofhis employers, the
latter being something of q favorlte,
especially at BlaisIel's.
His family had been gone two weeks,
when Blaisdel sat in the gray dawn
OF morning, porting over lot OF &C
count books, with all sorts OF papers
in disorderly confusion about his
desk.
There was an air OF neglect about
his person like tho appearance of q
man, who has been up all night, and
his face wore q puzzled expression, as
he shut the cover with q bang over
the dancing figures, and gave the bell
pull that brought sleepy.looking
ofice-boy to the door in some trepida-
ton.
1t was as much as o clerks place
was worth to offend Blaisdel, and
somebody had deeply offended him.
Who it was, he hadn't 81 doubt, and
sent post-haste for Rogers.
Some fifteen minutes later, that
gentleman came putting into the Office
very red in the face from extra exer-
ton he had found it necessary to
make his usually placid temper some
what ruilled as he enquired:
whats up now2"
Enough, should think" was the
answer. look Mt these books That
rascally villain, Traverse, has cleared
us out OF ten thousand dollars, and
been gone these two weeks. We de-
serveto lose every dollar us punish
ment for our carelessness and neglect"
"Traversel" exclaimed Rogers in
credulousIy.
But there it was; no one else had
access to the books, and it had all
been done few days before he left.
After u brief consultation, Detective
Farley was sent for, matters were ex-
planned, and with a picture Blaisdel
had no conjunction in taking from
his daughters album, Farley was set
to work to trace out the guilty man.
A guy party of ladies and gentlemen
were enjoying the grand scenery and
bracing air in a tidy-looking camp on
the shores OF Lake Champlain. Some
were playing croquet, others strolled
leisureIy away exploring the wonders
along the shore, and the green boughs
OF the cool, dark wood.
Irene Blaisdell sat on huge rocky
bowlder, watching the restless waves
at her feet, and the towering outlines
OF the Adriondacks, which rose so
abruptly from the other shore.
Several boats were moored near her,
and being a goodrowerfrom formere x-
perlence, she did not hesitate to APP
propriate one OF them to her own use,
and was soon out on the broad lake.
The sky was partially overcast, but
Irene apprehended no danger, con
tinuing ito row from camp, until the
freshening breeze warned her to return
The sky grew darker, and the waves
were crested with foam, but not
until the roll OF distant thun-
der sounded on her ears did
she fully realize her danger
and although she was brave girl, her
cheek was blanchcd with q deadly pal
lor, as she bent to the oars, sending
the frail boat through the foaming
waters with speed she would have
been incapable OF in calner moments.
The thunder became an almost in
cessant roar, and flash after flash
lighted up the dark sky and seethng
waste OF waters, where tossed a frail
boat, with its pale, lone occupant.
Other boats were putting out, manned
by strong, willing hands, but one from
point nearer than that from which
her friends had started was fast MP
preaching the exhausted girl, The
rain poured down in torrents, and the
next flash of lightning revealed gold
en- head in the mad waters; but a
strong arm reached out, grasping the
weary, struggling form, and Irene was
saved.
She gave one glad cry OF "Harry, is
it you'll" as her eyes fell on his face,
then the tired head sank on his breast
in perfect content, while he bent every
energy to gain a landing-place with
his precious burden.
When at last the boat touched the
land, and they looked shudderingly
bacS,it seemed to them no living thing
could breast those mad waters for q
moment, and the rascal who could
appropriate another mans funds
without conjunction, drew the pale
drenched girl down beneath the pro
tecting boughs OF q friendly tree and
offered fervent prayer OF thanksgiv
ing to Him who saved them both from
grave in the waters.
They proceeded slowly toward
camp, and in that walk through thu
woods, with the bowling storm about