Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-12-14
COMPASSES AND
CONFUSION
By LOUIS PIERCE
By LOUIS PIERCE
copwtoht. 1905, by +. 5. Mcclure

the blaze.
Instead Of expressing an opinion
upon the happenings Of the moment
GLADDEN. sprang to his feet and hurried
to the beach just as the light canoe
grounded on the shore.
One look into the bright face under
the red Tam O. Shanter and GLADDEN.
was glad that the bacon had been spill
ed. He had been in camp for six weeks,
and even an-ugly woman would have
been welcomed at the camp. To have
this graceful guest at his supper was
something he would not have imagined
possible ten minutes before.
Welcome to camp" he said hospita-
bly,, extending his hand to assist her TO
step over the side To his surprise she
refused his aid and sprang to the shore
as lightly as bird. With naughty
glance she swept past him and into the
hut Another moment and she stood
before him again, her eyes ablaze.
Where are the others?' she demand
ed. And where are all our thingsF
There are no Others" he laughed. Il
am afraid that the limited population
OF this camp does not permit the ap
pontment OF reception committee;
unless, indeed, you are willing TO rec
oguize me as such
What have you done with the 9th
ers?" she repeated. Have you killed
them or have YOU merely driven them
away
GLADDEN. laughed There has been
no one here for six weeks he declared.
There was this morning" she cor
rected. when | left to go over TO
town there were six here besides the
guides Now not even the things are
left. and you have the audacity to camp
right here. l suppose you thought that
since YOU had made away with them
all, there was no danger of detection,
for few days at least | suppose
YOU will have to kill me now to keep
from being exposed"
Don't you Think" asked GLADDEN.,
that you may have made mistaken
Camps look very much alike to per
sons unaccuStomed to the woods. Per
haps YOU are on the other arm Of the
lake"
There is no mistake" she insisted.
Il steered by compass"
DO you know how to use the com
pass?' he persisted. She looked at him
in disdain.
is It necessary to insult met' she
demanded. Why don't you kill me
and finish off the work you have com
mencedE'
That's Il good idea" assented Glad
den. recalled by the last half of the
sentence The work | had commenced
was the getting of supper. If you are
as hungry as am you will regard me
as n life preserver rather than muir
derer"
without another word he went
about the work Of kindling a fresh fire.
AS he knelt over the twigs the girl
made a rush for the boat. He reached
the canoe first
See here" he said firmly. You are
lost already. | cannot have you still
further confused just because you I'M
agine that this is your camp and that
have slaughtered the whole family. TO
say nothing of the guides, for the sake
OF your canned goods. Sit down and
rest. and after you have had supper l
Will try T. find you.
The girl followed him back to the
fire, cowed but unbeieving. Sklllfully
GLADDEN. famed the fire into IA bright
glow and set the pot on. Then he
sliced frc n bacon and set out the
plates
Presently tie smell Of the browning
bacon began 70 fill the camp, and the
girls face soctened She did not re
alize how hungry she was until the
bacon began 10 fry. For the first time
she took notice that this young man,
In spite OF hi, evidences of city breed
ing. was not only decidedly good look
ing. but skilled in woOdcraft, and fear
gave way to admiration Of his deft
ness.
Il guess YOU can eat that he said
AT last. as he placed some of the bacon
on plate and poured a cup of coffee
for her Silently she accepted the food
and GLADDEN. smiled softly to himself
as he saw the way she ate. 1t had
been his experience that girls were al
ways more reasonable after they had
been fed. and already she was unbend-
ing visibly.
Are YOU convinced that | am more
human than you were willing to be,
lleve at firstf" he asked as the plates
were at last cleared.
Perhaps there has been some mis-
take she grudgingly assented. but
was so careful to steer by the compass
that | cannot see how any mistake
could be made"
perhaps you turned east instead Of
west" he suggested The camps are
on the west lake because there is a
mail delivery over there. That Is why
/ chose the east lake"
But this is the west lake" she In
sisted .The village IS to the south.
turned west"
You turned east" insisted GLADDEN.
'since you are on the west lake at this
very moment
Look" she cried. The other lake
IL bNti llt't' fNll'' ll'iltl'Nl AL pNo 'AA'
point to where the river formed a strai
between the lakes
"That Is the west lake over there,
he assured her For answer she drew
fro.l hey bit Il tiny compass, gorgeous
il &c; g,l' c'sc.
"Scc" she cried tiiumphantly. Here
IS tae north This must he the west!'
u am afraid. chuckled GLADDEN.
that yau are under the impression
tLat ,ue so3th is the north. That nee
ole 81 pointing directly away from
whit yoJ can the north
Certainly" was the prompt re
spon.r II ain afraid YOU are not ver
familiar with compasses. They ar
like weather yanes, you know The!
point with the arrow head from tn
direction"