The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-02-06

lOiIcu VI HIS purpose. II lOOhcu as
though the girl herself tried to avoid
him. The fact only aggravated his
desire to renew his investigation of
her. To defer it so long was like being
obliged to wait a Whole month for the
next num- - Of an interesting serial.
There We're many things they had
not talked ct that night she had come
to him. 1t remained yet to decide what
employment she should take up in
| town.
KinrOss had usually found that his
interest ia Il woman was in an inverse
ratio 10 his intimacy with her. The
charm of mystery or eiUsiyeuc.,$
quickly vanished OH a closer view. BIT
here was case III which what at first
had seemed Il perfectly obvious char
acter grew more mysterious and there
fore more interesting each time She
opened her lips.
AS a diversion from his irritation at
his continued failure to see her alone
he one day asked Mr.. Morningtars
| permission to sleep that night in the
haunted part of the house.
He WAS surprised at the effect hi;
simple request produced. The farm
er's wife turned white to the lips and
! tr2n'iCd so t':Ht she had to pause il
her clearing of the dinner table and
| sink into q chair.
You couldn't hire me with tlimors
to go near there she gasped And
| wouldn't he dom right to leave you
n m,
better yourself"
lie hai fingered after the rest had
left the dinner table to put his request
| and he was alone with her. With his
usual contempt for feminine logic, he
would not waste time III reasoning
| with her on the point at issue but at
once put to her the one argument
which he knew could scarcely fail to
| convince her. I'm pay dollar extra
board this week for the privilege" he
said. Delicacy in dealing with Mrs
Morningstar would have been casting
pearls.
"What fur do you want to do some
pin that dangerOus!' she curiously in
Quired, weakening i'm her resistance. as
he was sure she would.
81 never met a ghost. Ia find it in
teresting to make the acquaintance OF
one"
He suddenly started as he became
aware Of Georgiana's presence in the
kitchen. Size had come in at the door
behind thin and had walked into the
room before lie saw her. He cast a
hasty glance upon her to find evidence
of her having overheard his remark.
delivered in his natural tone ana Ian
guage and not in that of his assumed
character.
But Georgiana was not Observant.
She gave no sign of having heard him
as. tanning her heated face, she Ian
guidly rested on the big wooden set
tee Daisy followed and sat down
beside her
"Wc've decided it's too hot just no.:
at noon, to walk over TO the woods
We're going to bed Until it's coo'cr,'
Georgiana announced. Why. what's
the matter, Mrs. Mornngstar?" she
asked, for the landlady still looked
pale in spite Of the prOffered extra dol,
lar.
care you and Pete having row.
asked Daisy, with relish, f'inging 4
greasy cushion off the settee to a chat!
I across the room.
"Och, me and Doe we're havin' a de
bate! He wants fur to sleep in the
haunted room oncet. amt in fur il
much. But" she said doubtfuly. Il
| 7 tn, tor t,,S hoe
promised cxtry dollar on his hoard
fur the chanel"
The girls stared. puzzled. and Kin
ross had look of being cornered. But
even in his annoyance at such give
away" the added liveliness of GeOr
giana's face in its rare self forgetful
ness under her momentary surprise
was not lost upon him.
Board? Does he pay bOard?' ask
ed Daisy half reaching for her note
book "A farmland isn't boarded"
Mrs. Morningstar was confused
"Och, Doc" she stammered. 'how's /;
body to answer EN-; Well. to be
sure" she added, becoming resource
full. n farmhand's board is counted
as part pay"
"How fine of you, Peter" said Geor
giana enthusiastically, "tO rise above
this sOrdid. superstitious fear! Your
spirit of inquiry. too, is fine. an
glad You are undertaking to do this
Peter. believe we can rise to plane
where fear is entirely eliminated"
"Thcre's Il mouse" remarked Iotcl
experimcntaIly, pointing under the So
tee. ana simultaneously the two girls
with gen.eeIly depressed shrieks
sprang TO their feet.
1T amt no such thing" Mrs
Morningstar Indignantly denied the re,
flection on her housekeeping. 1T amt
no mices in my house. \ mOusy house
that there don't have"
Daisy, holding her skirts high enough
to reveal her pretty ankles and dainty
shoes, and Georgiana, trembling, stood
out in the middle of the room.
>'Ts mice eliminated from that there
plane you referred to, MISUSE" Peter
inquired.
Georgiana's smile was wan. "Dt
you mean to be facetious, Peter?"
"Supposin' the haunted room is
mousy," he suggested.
"The mice are no doubt the only
creatures that haunt the place" -Geor
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