The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1901-12-05

suit and stockings, he sniled-and
took a swallow OF the brandy himself.
IF you'll excuse me" he said apollo
getically, "I-your appearance rather
upset me-" A rare, but strangely pa
thetic smile answered him.
II don't wonder" she said; "you
must be colder than l." Shaking her
self free of the sand which chung to
her dress, she gathered up the remark
able covering and rolled it into a bun
die which she tucked under arm.
Il am very grateful to you," she said
again, "and I hope you have no worn
yourself out"
"No," he interrupted. "but before
you go will you kindly tell me why
you are out so early in the morning,
alone, and with that most peculiar
peculiar costume on?"
The girls pretty face grew seriously
wistful. my father" she said, and
then went on in a lower tone, you
must not breathe a word of this, for ne
would punish me If you did; but ne
makes me learn to swim so. MY
mother died last winter. Then my
father, whom ! had eve seen before,
came and took me away, and l am
learning to swim with that tail. 1t IS
like swimming without your feet--and
that wouldn't be very easy, would it?'
Il should imagine not" answered
Van Holden grayely. Il think your
father should be thrashed himself for
making you do this. How old are you,
my little siren?"
Fifteen" she answered. He wants
me to be a mermaid in the show this
summer. You wouldn't make me &c
that-if you were my father, YOU
your" she added suddenly, as II strucH
by a happy thought.
"Assuredly not" answered Van Hol
den, taking one of her cold little hands
in his; what is your fathers name!
Frank Moran" she answered. Il
is Moran's Great Three Ring Circus
you know"
eyes," said Van Holden, a curiou
light coming into his eyes, Il q
know" The child came closer to hin
and looked up at him for a momen
without speaking. Then:
"You are good" she said slowly
you are strong, too. I think I lik
you very much" Ere he could sto
her, she stood on tiptoes, pressed he
pretty lips to his, and turned and ra
feetly away toward the hotel in tn
far distance. Van Holden smiled an
called after her, Goodbye, little mel
maid!"
She paused a moment to wave he
hand to him, and answer, "Good-by
good mani" Then she was gone agati
Frank Moran, indeed" said Va
| Holden, the determined lines about h
mouth showing plainly. "He is addir
: kidnapping to his other fine art
t Well, Mr.. Moran, I have stopped son
3 of your smaller games; I'll see if
. can put an end to this. Poor lit
mermaid"
BY five o'clock that afternoon Va
Holden was back in New York, and
e day later there was a brief but inten
S scene in the which Mr.. Mora
q occupied at the seaside hotel. At Il
- 0uQ Ol LudI SCSnO, III WAlCA FoA LIN
: den. Moran, an old but determin'
t lawyer from New York, and a frigh
: ened, shabbily dressed little woma
y who proved to be the small mermait
S aunt, took part, Van Holden show
O the circus owner the door, with t
admonition: 81 give you two hours
k get away; at the end Of that time
you are still here, or If you try
T take this child again by pretending
l. be her father, or any other relati'
e into the penitentiary you go!"
g And that evening the little merma
,r whom her delighted aunt called N
rian, was placed in the motherly CO
of Mrs. Hargrave, the manager of t
= hotel. A few days later Van Holde,
mother came, looked at the chi
looked at her son-and took t
Of former to her heart, for all time.
or That was five years ago.. Today V
Co~~