The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-06-29
Of course. remember the place well
enough, though I was there for only q

the hills and that Uaverins's was only
hnlf a mile away.
Haven helped Carol to rise and they
both looked forward over the top Of the
awning. They saw a steep, high bank
heavily wooded with evergreens and at
its foot o tiny pier for small boats.
though none was there at the mo
ment.
"Wherees the hotelr' demanded Ha-
ven.
Behind the trees," said Carol. This
Is the back Of the island. The landing
is on the other side"
II told Captain Haskell that you'd
probably prefer to land here" said
Tom. Your arrival will be beautifully
inconspicuous. whereas II you go to the
wharf
II hoped that Mrs. Barle would 60
with me Just for a moment" said
Carol, until find grandma"
"N0w. why should we put Mrs. Earle
to this Inconvenience and delay her
from her supperT protested Haven.
'4n this unconventional region will
anybody question:
''Of course not exclaimed Gladys.
'You VIII stroll up through the pretty
path, and no one win know that there
are not forty chaperons at your heels
Still, II yon'd rather, we'd take you
around to the wharf
mot for the world" said Jack Ha-
ven
So they were set ashore upon the ut
tie pier. where they waved farewells as
the launch drew away.
1--WE may row over after supper"
wharf"
She had Tom by the arm, and both
Of them were struggling with mysteri-
Gus mirth. Haven exchanged O quee-
tioning glance With Carol.
TOO deep for me-" said he. II don't
know what's the matter with them"
Carol answered with shake OF her
head as they began to ascend the path
which ran diagonally up the side OF
the bluff The evening seemed to close
upon them suddenly among the tall
and somber trees.
1--WE must hurry" said Carol as they
reached the top. Yet It's only little
way, and it will be tight again when
we come to the end Of the path"
Il hope we shan't meet lot OF peo-
pie"
They'll all be on the other side of
the house or on the tennis court.
wonder we don't hear voices"
The path sloped downward and made
a sudden turn. They saw an arch Of
green rs sharply outlined as the mouth
Of a tunnel.
"Why, where's the housef' cried the
girl. And she began to run.
Haven overlook her in a stride OF
two and helped her mount knoll at
the edge Of the grove. The green cres-
cent Of the wood curved to the shore
on either hand. embracing a little bay,
with a pier and boathouse. the roof
Of which was blackened and partly
stripped OF shingles In the middle OF
this, picture heap Of ruins marked
the place where Clavering's hotel had
stood. It had been consumed Ike q bit
Of paper, and its ashes scarcely suf-
feed to fiji the shallow cellar.
Haven whistled softly.
This Is indeed a merry jest" said
he
"But I had telegram from grand
father this forenoon exclaimed Carol,
bewildered. He said: Shall expect
you this evening. We are very nicely
located I thought that last sentence
was odd"
This house burned down yesterday. =
said Havcn. "Hour grandfather sent
you word Of II to Toronto. not knowing
that you had gone on 70 Annandale.
Your mother had the message forward
ed, but II missed you. and Tom learn
ed all this at Muskoka after appear
ed. and he and Gladys put up this Job. -
"But surely Mrs Earle
"You may depend upon II that she
doesn't know. Tom bribed that old
villain. Haskell This is why we were
set ashore on the back Of the island.
It's why we took the launch, IN the
FIRST place"
'They can't mean to leave us here
long,"
"No, indeed" safh b. you'll see
the>launch come around that point in a
minute or two. At the worst. they'll
send It for US after It has put them
ashore at The Bluffs, and that won't
be more than twenty minutes to wait. !"
They waited twenty minutes by Ha.
vens watch and then ten more fos
good measure, but the launch did NOT
appear. In the meantime they had
visited the ruins and ti,s wharf and
had made up their minds that the b
land was entirely deserted except foF
their own unwilling presence.
"Do you suppose that Gladys reafly
meant to leave us here until after
supperY' asked Carol. ''You remembes
what she said.'
Haven answered in vaguely reassur.
ing manner. for hts real opinion was
too alarming for expression. He per.
ceived clearly enough that this jest
AitO kuAc VtSouO thc Htcu'ou VI tne
jestcrs and that some accident had de
layed a rescue How serious the mis-
hap had been he could not know.
Lets walk over this way" said he
pointing toward tho right horn Of the
ever darkening crescent. I'VE can look
out toward The Bluffs and see them
coming
The suggestion suited Carols impa-
tience. and 50 they crossed the nban.
doned tennis court and struck into the
woods by path that Carol thought
that she remembered. The path deceiv.
ed them. and they got lost and wander
ed aimlessly. hearing bewildering voices
calling from the lake, as 1t seemed te
them, and answering as best they