Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-10-31


"That's the extent of my information.
She was here when | came day before
yesterday. Wanted the place for my
self, but it wouldn't work. told Mrs
Witherspoon that it wasn't safe for
girl to live out there all alone, and she
said 'M-m-m! or Well, now | forget
which. She always says one or the
other. It's blamed sight easier to tell
Mrs. Witherspoon something than it is
to get her to tell you anything
1.-THE girl isn't alone in the orchard"
said 1. "There's Miss Scott
speaking with all possible respect"
rejoined Derringer thoughtfully, Its
simple fact that in an emergency a
good dog is worth dozen old maids.
I've been tempted to send her one. OF
course she wouldn't accept him"
lit is customary to make the gentle
mans acquaintance first" said l, and
Derringer kicked the stile softly, re
fiectively, as if there might be another
view of the matter. my own notion;"
/ continued, was to buy some blood
and thunder stories-some of these his
torical dime novels that sell for a dol
lar and a ealf in cloth. An armful of
those things ought to drive her out of
that cabin in "A hours But, to be seri-
Gus, I'd rather she'd stay, though l
really do want the place very much for
myself. The girl is perfect; she fits the
orchard even as the blossoms of the
trees. I've seen her at a distance,
and
"Well," said Derringer, as if l had
hesitated, what did you think?''
"Why, nothing in particular" said
I, except what I've told you"
He had got down from the stile, and
as it seemed to be his intention to re-
turn to the house l fell in beside him.
His room was directly over mine, and
at my invitation he inspected my quar-,
ters before ascending to his own. When
I struck light, it happened that the
print of Sibyl was lying on the table
beside the lamp though / had sup
posed that had put it away. l saw
Derringer glance at it and start.
ANY one you know?" l queried.
He took it up.
Charming girl" said he, "for as
mucn as one may see mere.
when a photographer takes the
back of a girls head" said L, ''the cir
cumstance is suspicious"
1--WE seen her somewhere" said he.
would it be intrusive to inquire
mot the least in the world. She Is
Miss Sibyl Wayne. She has been my
fathers ward from her youth"
Derringer shook his head.
81 can't have had the honor of meet
ing her." he said. 81 always remember
names much better than faces. She's
not staying here? Well, that's odd"
He turned to his study of the picture
Its a matter of perfect certainty,
he went on, "that I've seen this young
lady recently-within a day or two,
should say, yet the times uncertain
She hasn't been out here? l would
have said
He paused and stared up at the cell
ing.
Strange how one forgets"- he be
gan.
THE picture doesn't show much ex
cept an ear" said l.
He tapped the print lightly with his
finger.
It's the hat" he said. pretty BIZ
of millinery, isn't it? l have an eye
for such things, though you'd hardly
believe it. Yes, SIR" he added slowly
ve-seen--that-hatp
He seemed to take a deeper interest
than the facts warranted. By my way
of thinking the matter was of impor
lance to me rather than to him. How
ever, he was not in possession of al
the facts, and could not know my mo
tive for treasuring this picture. l hat
contented myself with explaining tt
him that there was young woman II
the world whom wished to meet will
a perfectly free heart and mind, ant
that therefore l had come to Mrs
Witherspoon's for the purpose Of shak
ing off a certain fascination, spell o.
modern witchery, under which l hat
fallen.
Was Derringer right in believing tina
he had seen Sibyl recently? Was sh'
among the guests of Mrs. Witherspoon
II concerned me much to know
Derringer and l became so mucl
absorbed. each in his own reflections
that we were unfit for conversation
and he presently withdrew.
lit fresh cigar and sat down b.
that window which gave the best vieN
down the orchard. The slender ores
cent of the moon looked bright agains
the darkness of the sky, but could nc
light the earth. l pictured the gil
looking out upon 1t from the verand
of the apple tree lodge, and upon tn
lake and the rough hill, both as Go
made them. She might well imagin
herself in the primeval wilderness.
was pleasant to think of her Their
clarifying the scene with her ow
sweet fancies, And yet 1t must be ver
lonesome and not altogether safe.
l did not then know that the Withe
spoon estate was patrolled by night.
that faint cry from the orchai
would have brought swift rescue.
came into my mind that l would pc