The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-23

tHdl IOOM OF AHSutSHsu teal " SuU
girls dark eyes. He felt sure OF that
Father and daughter were devoted.
Chatterton had said. Some sudden
crisis must have come In Ralph
Strsngways' illness that she had rid
den in such desperate haste for the
doctor. The suffering in the white.
. beautiful face. as she had thanked
him for his tritiins service. had
touched Jack Craig strangely-the
, more. perhaps, because this girl had
reminded him OF the girl he loved.
who was passing through the suffer.
ing of suspense too.
And here we are rat the Kings
Arms at last" said Joe at this juno
| ture in tones OF relief. And I don't
know when I was more truly thank
full for anything in all my natural"
as turn In the road brought the
| weary mummers in sight Of the old.
fashioned hostelry which was their
destination.
II was long past closing time; but
lights cleaned invitingly in the win
dows, falling across the roadway in
glowing patches. promise OF cosiness
and warmth within. The landlady,
| Mrs. Kirby. an old friend. must have
heard them coming. for. as they were
making their way to the door, there
came the sound of bolts drawn back,
the door was flung open. and the fig.
IRE OF the plump, smiling pleasant.
looking landlady appeared on the
threshold to welcome them. silhouet.
ted against the glow within.
| We'll. here you are-better late
than never!" she cried. as she shook
hands with half dozen OF the new.
corners almost simultaneously.
For goodness sake. don't let the
railway company hear you say that
Mrs. Kirby!" cried ice, as they bus.
tied into the bar parlor. where a roar
ing fire greeted them. and the still
more alluring spectacle to a hungry
party Of the supper table laid. Funny
people. railway companies! We were
only an hour late today on a journey
OF thirty miles. but IL they got it into
their heads that we liked II rather
than otherwise" and he gave an ex.
pressive shrug to finish the sentence.
We'll. I'll go and dish the supper
this very minute. for I'm sure you
must all be more than ready for it."
And Mrs. Kirby hustled of kitchen.
wards. whilst the actors crowded
round the glowing fire. that threw
dancing lights on the old oak wains.
coting of the panelled walls and
cleaned on the snowy damask and
glass and cutlery.
'Jove. this is a bit of all right" OBJ.
served Joe. taking the center OF the
hearth rug. and looking round the
cosy room. hung with its old yellowed
sporting prints. whats happened to
the ladies'? Titivating themselves up.
stairs, l suppose. Tell girl she can
have two minutes before a looking;
glass. and at the end of half an hour
1t needs wild horses to drag her away
Now. with man-but soft: some
one approaches!" continued Joe. strik,
ing melodramatic attitude-for he
never could forget that he was a CO
median by professionals the ladies
OF the company came in, followed by
a sleepyeyed servant bringing tray
laden with smoking hot savory dishes
"Oh. II was too bad Of you to be Sc
long!" said a girl who had entered
with rather piquantly pretty face
pretty enough to be an apple OF per
. petual diseord In the company. with
the various members of which Il
seemed to come natural to her TO fiirt
shamelessly-Peggy Chatterton. the
managers daughter. doomed by hel
fathers position to play lead, al
though a born soubrette. You mus
!, have just crawled from the station
!. although you knew we were dying fol-
.. our supper
/, And do you think we aren't fam
, ished too?" retorted Joe. ITO hea
you. one would think we had wake,
4 from the station for the fun OF 1t
? You ride in comfort, you were her,
! toasting yourselves by roaring fire
F, luxuriating in the delicious aroma 0
8 what is 1t. by the way. Mrs. Kirby
Steak and onions? Oh. rapture. like
q wise joy. Peggy. the sight of tina
noble dish moves me to magnanimit,
/. You are forgiven. All care about no,
. is to grasp a knife and fork-as OF
n one other memorable occasion. Gratis
, do you remember? Monty does.
o you DON'T with a laugh.
d All the discomfort of the firing raj
L way journey and the long walk fror
e the station was forgotten. the player
Q sat down to do justice to the exec
G lent supper OF Mrs. Kirby's providing
r Mrs. Kirby sat down with them: 10
a led her with empressement to the Il
e BILE.
y do have done with your nonsens.
d Mr.. Grisson." she said. smilingly. 10
s was favorite of hers; and probabl
n Joe would not have done with his mol
sense had he not happened to loo