The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-02-20

of his friend!"
OF all the crowd of admirers on whom
Laura Freeman had practiced her Wlles,
her old friend DIR. Johnson was certain
w. the one who had come the nearest to
awakening something like affection in
what she was pleased to call her heart.
He had known her as a schoolgirl, and
when he met her in all the enjoyment
and success of her first season, he had
promptly fallen in love. But although
he lost his heart, he had by no means
lost his head, for he was busy man,
and he had little time to dance attend
ance OF the maiden of his fancy. Con-
sequently, he soon proposed to her, and
when she, in accordance with her usual
method of keeping her fish dangling on
the hook, tried to satisfy him with prom
Uses of considering his offer, he had in
sisted that he must have definite an
swer. She, therefore, deeply offended,
had promptly refused him, with the, re-
suit that he had at once withdrawn f1tsm
her circle of suitors, and beyond an occa-
siOnal conventional greeting he had
scarcely had the opportunity of speak
ing a dozen words to her up to the time
!
at Lucerne.
Mrs. Cunningham, who was naturally
sympathetic where love affairs were con-
cerned- although abhorrent of what she
termed fiat firtation-knew that DR..
Johnson had certainly done no harm to
his cause by this strong minded avoid
ance of her sister; and she had noticed
with satisfactory deductions the express
sions on her face when he had appeared
in the dining room of the Pension Rouge.
And now she earnestly hoped that DR..
johnson would propose a second time,
that Laura would be wise enough to
accept him, and that she would thus be
finally married to sensible and deter
mined husband
Yet, as the days passed by, it did not
seem as if Susie's hopes were likely to
be realized. DR.. johnson paid but slight
attention to her sister; indeed, except at
the evening meal, the Cunningham party
saw but little of him. All his interest
appeared to be centered on his friend
They spent whole days exploring the
neighborhood, either on foot or in a mo-
tor, and neither appeared to wish for
other society.
Really, my dear child, Capt. Mellor
takes absolutely no interest in your said
Mrs. Cunningham, with annoying frank
ness.
II believe that is quite true What
a very strange young man he isl" said
Laura, meditatively.
The other laughed He is certainly
showing himself to be different from
most men in one particular way. But he
strikes me as being a very egotistical
person." she said.
Eyes, that is exactly what he is. He
thinks and talks of nothing but himself;
and what Bob Johnson can see in him, l
can't imagine. They are so restless, too
always rushing about. In fact, they
are no good to anyone. / never saw two
men who were so inseparable."
With this parting speech Laura left the
room, and, having protected herself with
a thick cloak, a motor cap and an UNI
brella, she started out for a brisk walk
along the side of the lake. The air was
mild, though damp, and she enjoyed the
sensation of the raindrops beating on her
glowing face. She had been walking for
about ten minutes when a motor car
overlook her, and the occupant who was
driving it pulled up and accosted her.
Miss Freeman 1 say, won't you
come for a drive with ne?
Wonder of wonders 1t was Capt.
Mellor, who for once had evidently es
capped from the leading strings of his
friend. Laura's spirits went up with a
bound After all, he was not as indif
ferent as he had pretended to be. She
had succeeded in making an impression,
and here was something almost like an
adventure She would make him take
her for good long spin. How angry
Bob johnson would be! What fun
ooh, Capt. Mellor, aren't you very
cold? Where is your coat?" she ex-
claimed suddenly as the car moved off,
and she discovered that her companion
was wearing neither coat nor waistcoat,
but simply macintosh cape over his
linen shirt.
''Cold! Not I! am always burning;
yes, burning, I tell you'll"
Laura experienced a little thrill of
nervousness. She wondered if Capt. Mel
lor had been drinking. Yet it hardly
seemed likely. Oh, no. He was uncon-
ventional; he was just having a joke,
nothing more.
Away they flew. He had turned the
car and they were racing down the dusty
white road at terrible pace. On they
| rushed, leaving the old town lar Deh1nd
them, and narrowly escaping several COL
lisions.
/ But surely this pace was not right.
| Even Laura felt frightened. GO slower.
[ don't like it, she cried.
| Capt. Mellor stretched out a free hand,
tore the hatpin from her motor cap,
snatched it from her head, and tossed it
on the road Something must go! The
car is too heavy! You or [ next-who
knows % he exclaimed excitedly.
The girl screamed, for now her nerv-
business had developed into abject terror.
Her mind had worked fast and she un-
derstood only too clearly that Capt. Mel
lor was of course not merely the chosen
friend and companion of DR.. johnson,
he was patient under his control! Evil
IDENTIFY, in frenzy he had escaped from
his Keeper, and would probably end in
killing both himself and her.
| "Bob. T want YOU to make me solemn