The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-08-11

he said. II got to get back to ketch
the $40 from Chicago. Fifty cents,
please, and a quarter fer them trunks"
The knock-kneed white horses
shambled away through the deep dust,
kicking up a cloud which put a fresh
layer on the brown leaves of the hazel
tsbresh" on either side of the road. In
two minutes the thick woods hid them
from sight.
On the high bank of Lake Mary in
northern Wisconsin were left four
trunks, Miss Elizabeth Jordan, and the
Hon. Jabez Jordan. The articles left
behind by the bus driver are here stat
ed in order of their Importance. The
trunks containing an elaborate sum
mer wardrobe, Miss Jordan vas a
pretty girl, and the Hon. Jabez was
merely a father and incidentally a
trust magnate, the president and chief
stakeholder in the International Air
Engine company.
a smile which would have brought any
other man to his knees, ut looks az
though we'd come to the right place
for pastoral quiet, don't it?"
But'the Hon. Jabez simply pulled
the corners of his thin upper lip fur
Their down over his mouth.
1T looks to me al though we were
going to be cast away on a desert is
land" he said.
If the ferry don't come out pretty
soon we'll have to, camp out in the
woods all night" laughed the tantaliz-
ing Miss Jordan, land I don't see any
sign Of their coming. Don's you think
you had better call them. father? The
island is only three-quarters Of a mile
away, and the voice carries far over
the water"
The Hon. Jabez Jordan almost
sprained his ancient lungs, and Bess
added her loudest cry to the appeal,
but there was no sign of life on the
island. Presently. however, a big
white skif crept round a point In the
shore. In it were two blue-shirted
young men.
Come here" called Mr.. Jordan.
sharply, as the boat came into view.
"and take us over to the island. We're
in a hurry"
will you please go" began the
man at the oars as the peremptory or
der reached him-then, as his compan-
ion punched him in the back and whis-
pered, cts a pretty girl"-"down to
the point, where we a get the boat
close in to shore?"
1t was a short row to the island. Just
before they landed the Hon. Jabez Jor-
dan handed the young man in the blue
shirt a silver dollar.
Thank you'll" was the answer. "Will
you need an oarsman tomorrow"
Mr.. Jordan could see no need Of as
sistance in that direction, but Miss
Bess declared she intended spending
every hour on the water, and an en-
gagement was made for 8 o'clock the
next morning. .-..l[..
.!"well, for heavens sake, Tom," said
one Of the young men, as the skiff row.
ed away from the island, what on
earth are you going to do now?"
why, I'm going to find out who
that pretty girl is. and, since I haven't
the honor Of her acquaintance, I'm 60
ing to pose as her oarsman. I'm tired
of fishing, and it's so dull here that
her coming Is a blessing. I'm sorry
there are not two of her. If there were
you might get a job. too"
1t took only q few minutes to dis
close the identity Of the beautiful Bess
Jordan. Tom Edwards had heard her
name often in the city. and knew her
by reputation as a society girl. He
told what he had discovered to his
friend Elliot, and they agreed that the
situation promised pleasant complica-
lions.
But If this story ever gets out on
you at the club" said Elliot. "the
boys" 1
"If it does get out I'll know who is
responsible, and 1t won't take me long
to get even with you."
What is your last name?" asked
Miss Bess Jordan, as Edwards sent the
skin flying out into the lake the next
morning.
That was a question on which Ed
wards had not counted.
Everybody calls me Tom." he said
which wa true enough.
"But your last name?" she persisted.
"It's Tompkins." he said. despairing-
~, Thomas Tompkins." ]
Edwards or Tompkins had been at
the lake three weeks and was reason
ably familiar with 1t, but Bess Jordan
put all his knowledge to the test. She
wanted to. know where the best fish
ing places were, where the water lilies
were thickest, whether there any
bears in the woods, and finally she
asked where he lived. He had got
along fairly well. until that question
came. Even then he did not entirely
lose his presence Of mind.
Il live right over there in that
house." he said. pointing to some
chimneys which showed above the
trees half a mile back from the lake.
Miss Jordan looked at the chimneys
carefully, as II making q mental note
Of their location.
One morning, two weeks after the
arrival Of the Jordans. Edwards was
stricken with astonishment to hear
Bess Jordan address him ~ MI. Temp
kins. whom he rowed up In the
morning 10 usual 10 take her out On !