Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-16

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Judith ran out of the room and
opened the door. She could not say
anything; but her father. whose ace
wore a most harrassed expression, did
not notice her silence. Having i'm
printed a hurried kiss upon her cheek,
he said, in an undertoGe:
II have taken you by surprise; but
something very unfortunate has hap
pened. Oracle telegraphed TO US
Il know, papa. Claude is here"
Indeed exclaimed Mr.. Hatfield, in
sudden excitement. Then | shall be
very glad TO hear his explanation of
this very discfeditable affair."-and,
having cast down his Ia and run his
fingerC through his gray hair, he stalked
into the dining room, where Claude
awaited him. We'll, SIR he said. with
4 fair assumption OF sterRness-it really
panied the IL ar to come out of cloud
land and exert himSelf-'I can't say, i'll
the circumstances, that l am pleased to
see you. VIII you be good enough 70
tell lie what you have done with my
daughter?"
Il hope | have done nothing but
show her consideration since you gave
her into ms care" Claude replied.
Your care, sir? Why my poor child
has had to run away from YOU"
Il suppose you do not deny my right
10 exercise some authority oyer her in
matters where her iL.eXperiencc would
lead ner astrdy. ] am quite willing TO
Il k upon myself the responsibility of
having demonstrated with her bit ]
do not consider myself answerable for
her childish. Wilfull freak"
"ITm-a!,' calculated Mr.. Hatfield.
running his fingers through his hair
again and looking from his son-in-
laws pale face TO Judith, who had re-
turned to the and was sitting
quietly near by. well, it is very I'M
fortunate. OF course / know Elsie has Il
will Of her own; but | never knew her
to do anything so wild and foolish rs
this; and / cannot account for it now
unless she was acting under ono
stroag excitement from-h'm-well,
annoyance AT the same tile, rs |
said TO my wife-who. by the way. l
left in n very PROSTATE condition after
a terrible attack Carbohydrates. JU-
dith-I have a great respect and liking
for YOU. Claude. and | cannot believe
that you would wilfully injure or an
noy my daughter; so that / nm bewild-
cred-extremely bewildered!,'-and he
looked ii.
The chief rule OF the household was
that Papa is never TO be upset or ex-
cited;" and now he was both in I per-
fectly unlocked for manner Since re-
ceiving his elder married daughters
telegram about Don tie reading of
which his wife had interrupted with
shrieks OF dismay that had deafened
him. he had scarcely been able TO
string two thoughts together. His wife
had Insisted upoi. his returning ZONE
ut once to see if Elsie might be there.
and. failing that. to 90 on to London,
TO find that villain. T~ownsheId and
thrash him within an inch of his life. if
her darling should still be missing.
BERTHE had taken his ticket fer him and
put him into the train: a porter had
reused him at the junction. reminding
hin, that he had to change trains; and.
when he had arrived at Claxton. he
had been nearly carried to the next
station; md now that he found him
self at homeland with Claude. which
was great relief-he was utterly at q
loss as to what step to take nex
Seeing her fathers ~perplexity. Jul
dith came TO the rescue.
Claude has put the matter into the
hands of a detective. papa. and to-inor-
row he is going to the hotel to wait for
news of Elsie. Don't you think it is
the best thing he can doE"
neutrality-suspicious. agreed her
father. And, probably. as your moth
err desired me, / had better 80 with
him.
81 e,aIi To ~, clad 10 - u-;u {, a
scented Claude; ''you may be able TO
suggest where and how we had best
look for -
daughter, who shook her head, saving:
Il have already told Claude that |
eau give him no idea.'
"Ah, wcll-it is very unfoTtunatei
What had we better do first. ClaUdey
Go UP town tonight or start early in
the morning.
'.Start in the morning" suggested
Judy, ~glancing at Claude's tired face.
Il think that will be the better pan.
Now let us have some supper, .Judith."
The girl went away to make prepara-
tons; but when she returned to the
room a few minutes later to lay the
cloth. her father said:
AltI iii, We dlt -oil- UP tO OWL
tonight. Judith; Claude prefers It.
We have just an hour and twenty min
utes in which to eat our supper and
catch the 1910"
1--WE can sleep going up" Claude ex-
planned, in answer to her glance.
So Judith busted herself in attending
TO their wants; and, mt 10 O'Clock, hay
ing returned her fathers kiss and
Claude's warm hand-prescure, she
stood alone at the gate watching their
receding figures.
While Judith was busy over her nee
die work the next morning, Mrs. Gard
liner called.
This is not keeping your promise.
my dear" she remarked, affectionate-
ly. "Your people went away eight days
ago, and you lrave not been near me.
You have been working too hard, your
cyeG are heavy and your face b white"