Mower County transcript., 1908-05-06

er said, putting dispatch in the
drivers hand. Read that" he ex-
claimed exultingly.s z
& strawberry Valley, noon. Heavy
rains, heavy roads, heavy loads
Uncle Billy read.
We're in time, then?' Stella whis-
pered softly. ==.
Uncle Billy nodded. Wilder cheers
made speech impossible.
Strawberry Valley was 63 miles
away!
LII II i! & :,',zs : :! :.
CHAPTER xxi. y
a Heart for . Lite. .
In the depressing loneliness Of 9
strange hotel stella's fears returned,
multiplied by the hours they had
rested. 1mpatiently she paced the
small room. She had no watch to
count the minutes. But that the SUN
still shone on the mountain above her,
she would have declared it already
night. #
Where was Uncle Billy? Why hadn't
he come to take her to dinner?
Innocent Stella! She knew nothing
Of Mrs. Grundy's code; suspected no
whit OF the reason for Uncle Billys
/ aloofness. In Colfax, under Sally BIS
powerful wing, where Uncle Billy was
known and approved, no one would
have dared breath against her. But
1t was very different in this feverish
city. Good women were few. Honest
men, toiling for loved ones away,
jostled the blackleg, the gambler, the
man of many aliases; and petttcoated
vice preyed upon its authors, and
sorely beset clean hearts as we'll. Es a
beautiful ffiendless girl must indeed
be hedged by angels if she were to run
safely the gantlet Of this "wickedest
city in the world. .
She left her room and wandered
!, about in search of the parlor; came
upon it at last-small, stuffy ''and
possessed by several overdressed, be-
diamonded women, who stared atsher
brazenly and openly commented on
her. AS from pestilence, she fed to
her own corridor again, hesitating be-
fore her door. But vanquished by
thought Of the desolation within, she
dropped the key In her pocket and
began walking the narrow hall, darker.
emptier than her room, but open at
either end to human approach. Here
the hall boy found her, bringing .
message from Uncle Billy to meet him
in the parlor.
Stella thought Of 1t : little resentful-
" as she hurried on, recalling the IN.
hospitable occupants. But they were
gone; and at sight Of Uncle Billy's
CHEEKY face she forgot they had ever
I-been. s:sSss5 .. .5..5
He came to her with outstretched
hands. '.As Told you, honey, Vim
cents o. X. He's
.Here?" she interrupted impetu-
ously
No; he didn't come through, honey,
Blodgett, the driver. said he got of at
Carson. Cadwalladeh met. him; they
seemed to have business togetheh. |"
"OhH The long drawn exclamation
was all Of Stella's reply; and he hoped
she would ask no questions.
You must shut those sweet peepehs
Of yes sharp afteh suppeh get right
smart Of sleep tonight, 70 you must
start home early IN the maWning..
Gideon-where do you suppose no
Is, Uncle Billy p ..ssss=
He had dreaded the words. II Honey,
Why do you pesteh yo'self about Gid.
con? II Yincent's doing business with
anotheh man, both Of them @. r. tel
! ! lows, how can Gideon get ii any devil
! try i I, ,:ssz s.;
Stella was not reassured. But,
Uncle Billy, Phineas Cadwallader's no
protection; he stes Alfred And why
didn't we see Gideon on the way? He
must have come ii ahead at us must
Is be here now. and - II q could only get
word from Hired e Il: 81. Il:
Shall I telegraph for you? n ssssss:sSl
She shrank back .sOh, no. III
wonldn''t wish me to send him mes
d lsagess the wires. !, x. :si q
II FIX that. He won know s,yo,,Ts
lFheat. zsSs..A
4 hat viii be good hank YOU. 81, So
s.sueh q trouble 70 & YOU Jncle. Billy!
md my trip has been quite useless
slssshe added swearily 3s5ss
useless, honey. You sbrough,
4 mo lnclk won race for g
She smiled hope ;1I brins syou
moregluck BIT rs home yd,i Us
Il morrow.
@ right, sch lid (3ood. bye til
ma win 1--we
esoodsbye 1ndSr M
reg