Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-17
CHAPTER |.
Near TO Natures Heart"


she is on a par with her surround
ings"
Gladys Middleton glanced scorn-
fully about the little room.
Her brother Claude Cor Buster" as
he preferred to be called, looked a
little crestfalIen at the girls dis
approval, and his eyes followed hers
on a tour of inspection. But where
he saw only plain apartment with
walls grotesquely lined with news
papers in varying conditions of age,
a deal table whose only ornaments
were a Bible and an album, and a
stairway running up to the second
door the brother noted a general air
of coy comfort and innate refine
ment that extended from the Towering
plants in the window to the cupboard
fun of tin dishes and kitchen utensils
Brother and sister were strangely
out Of place amid such surroundings.
From the looks of their faultless
riding clothes the pair might have
stepped out of bandDox
They were the twin son and daugh-
ter of Thomas Middleton, senior part
ner Of the prominent New York firm
of contractors Middleton & Blessing.
The firm was engaged in building
an aqueduct on Lost River, the stream
which flows through the little summer
resort of the same name, in southern
Indiana
The junior partner, Mr.. Robert
Blessing, had come out in person to
supervise the work. A few days
earlier Mr.. Middleton had sent his son
and daughter to Lost River on a vaca-
ton.
There had been a double purpose in
this: First, to enable Buster Ca Har-
ward sentor), to learn something OF
the work done by the firm; second, to
allow Gladys to be near Bob Blessing,
20 whom she was engaged.
The twins. as we'll as Blessing
were stopping at the local hotel.
Buster was enjoying every minute Of
his stay Gladys spent most Of her
time Tin company with the city girls
who were summering at the hoteD,
in sneering at everything about her.
Today Bob had told the pair of a
pretty little cottage some miles from
the hotel where lived a beautiful
daughter of nature, who kept up the
farm and cared for her aged grand
mother Ca type of local character sure
to amuse city folk.
blessing had suggested that they al
three ride out to the Gates cottage, as
1T was called for dinner The twins
accompanied by Pickles, their groom,
had started ahead, leaving Bob 10
follow when he should have finished
bit of engineering in the aqueduct
They found the cottage apparently
deserted when they tok possession.
IF you think I'm going to dine in
this squalid place you're mistaken"
broke out Gladys. after her survey of
the room.
But what's the matter with it,"
TT is not the place for lady It's
a common farmhouse"
why, so it is" exclaimed her
brother as if the idea had just
dawned on him. DO you know. I've
been wondering why there We're no
Persian rugs over this hardwood
floor; no old masters hanging on
these tapestried walls and no array
OF priceless gold and silver plate on
your antique sidebodard I had ex-
pected to find all those things lying
around lose at Lost River, Ind. The
reason they aren't on deck here is
because this is actually a farmhouse
And it remained for my sisters Sher-
lock- Holmes instinct to get next the
fact. Hasten! Let us depart ere the
cOntagion smites u.s."
'Td wish you'd stop trying to be
humorous" replied Gladys. petulantly,
and try to find some of the creatures
that live in this hole We can leave
word with them for Bob that we've
ridden back"
AS she spoke beetle-browed
bearded man slouched into the room
Its Bill Loucke, the tollgate
keeper said Buster to Gladys. q
remember Bob said he boarded here
ne and Ezra COOllus, the bus driver,
who leads the local orchestra at the
hotel hops. | say. my friend" he
went on, addressing Bill, Cant you
tell me-
The rustic had stood gaping at him.
Now with a roar of laughter he ran
upstairs and disappeared into an
upper room.
Scarce had he gone when a sandy
haired man, with the narrow. mean
face of ferret. came in.
Hello. Ezra" called Buster. Can
YOU
A second roar of laughter and a sec
ond exit up the stairway answered
him.
rs this a coy house. or what? p
gasped Buster, in amazement.
Il think, sir, respectfully suggested
she groom from the doorway, They've
Just countrymen tryin' to have a little
fun with city folks. And" as the
sound of steps was heard outside
Here comes Mr.. Blessing now, sir"
A tall, broad-shOuldered young fell
low stepped across the threshold aud
advanced toward the brother and
sister
Sorry to have kept you waiting. q"
he began. My horse went lame and
had to go back to the hotel and
borrow a bicycle. Why, hello
Gladys!" noting the girls scornfuI
face. What's up?'"
How dared you bring me to place
like this?" cried the girl, stamping
her foot.
What's the matter with the place.
asked Bob in surprise "Ahi" ht