The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-01-01


ton an hour or so later.
This action was suspicious. Detec-
tive Samuel took the trail, and, like the
human bloodhound that he was, he
shadowcd the suspect. 1t was rather
disconcerting to have Ryder turn after
a mile or more had been covered and
rudely command him to he on his way.
RYDER even called him little boy.
Sammys heart rose hot within him.
and he assured himself that Ryder
must he q very desperate criminal.
But practice makes perfect. and the
time came when Sammy learned to
maintain a safer distance between him
self and the object of his suspicious.
and at last he tracked him to his lair
The lair was disappointing. 1t was
not cave reached through cunning
" hidden trapdoor. 1t was not even "a
rude shack such as the one in which
Billy. the Silent Sleuth, found Pete
Pom.ro, the head of the train wrecking
band
IT was Just little nook in bend of
the creek, with fallen log for seat.
and with his own sister Lucy sitting
there apparently waiting for the arrival
of the desperate.
It was rather disconCerting to find
ones own family mixed up in such af
fairs. but duty is duty. and Sammy
wriggled as close as he dared and lis
tened to the low murmur of converse
ton
i all seemed abs1rd!y simrls ELder
was not planning a burglary He was
kissing Lucy many times. and between
caresses they We're discussing how best
to approach her father on the matter
of their marriage
Judged by the stern. unyiPiding stand
ards of Josiah Temple. Ryder was far
too gay a young blade to he trusted
with Lucy. who was destined to marry
a minister when her father could find
a minister of whom he could fully ap-
prove. Lucy feared to let Ryder speak
to her father lest she be forbidden to
soc or speak to him. RYDER. on the
other hand, was urging her TO con7ent
to Il test of fate.
VI feel like Il scoundrcl meeting you
~ the woods this way" he urged, III
your father refuses to give his con
sent, then Wa will elopp."
Lucy shook her head in dismav.
Il couldn't do that" she cried. "1t
would break fathers heart"
"Ietter his heart than yours" sug
gcS;cd Ryder seliiahy. Then came
more caresses and pleading, and Sam
my. tired of such talk. wrigglcd softly
through the brush and headed for home
He had been wasting all his time on
n pair of silly lovers when he might
have been better occupied with his
books.
As he turned into the yard his "a
thor called to him from the porch,
did you read your chapter of Jose
phusf"
#ammy's face grow long with dis
may. Josophus was dull reading for
ten+roar-old. but II was n duty, like
watering the stock and feeding III"
chrFens. In his cagerucss TO trail
Ey ter h" had forgotten all about it.
w hat were you DOING" continued
the old man.
II was down by the creek" explain
ed Sunny uncomfortahly.
And what We're you doing down
there" came the prompt question.
sammy wae no George Washington,
hrt the hahithf truth was strong with
in him.
~ wanted to 500 what Dave Ryder
was doing down to the creek" he ex-
planned.
"And what was he doing?" asked the
elder.
Kissing Lucy" was the startling re
Sponse, and the old man sprang from
his chair in sudden anger.
Fit by bit he forced tho frightened
lad to tell all he could rememror of tho
conversation. He found relief in the
statement that Dave wished to marry
Lucy. but his lips tghtenad angrily Is
SONNY explained that they both feared
to breach the subject TO him.
He nodded approvingly over Dawes
reluctance to do his counting clandes
tinelD and again at LucY's refusal to
con2i1er an elopement
Sammy was startled when the maui
sition was concluded at being released
with only mild reproof for not having
read his Josephus. He scampered
around the corner of the house in
spirit Of thanks giving at getting off so
lightly.