Belding banner., 1910-12-01

one OF discerning mind. What man
could resist the chance Of looking at
girl who would call forth such a
hasty, helpless, love-struck telegram
as that sent by H. TT"
II appeared that Mr.. Atterbury was
not In. He was walking along the
shore with Miss Baxter, to show her
the moonlight effect on the Rhino
Rocks. No, he had not specified when
he would return. Mr.. Baxter said he
would not wait. AS he walked back
to the hotel he marveled. Old Hal
wasn't so slow. But If he knew what
Baxter knew, would he take any
chance on moonlight strolls with a
girl who had received such telegram,
and had wired back, Doubtful
Shortly after nine the following
morning, Mr.. Baxter sauntered down
to the postoffice. Not that he expect
ed mail, but the postoffice occupied
one-half the fresh pine board shed
where Minnie Hoskins sold painted
shells, and drawn work, and etched
lichens, and generally the first move
on the part of newcomers to the is
land was that pine board shed.
He was quite right in his surmise.
She was at the tables, pretending to
look over the shell baskets, with Hal
Atterbury at her elbow. She was wear
ing Halls frat pin, too, to hold back
the brim of her new white outing hat.
Evidently the moonlight stroll had
been to some purpose. Baxter bowed
to Atterbury very nonchalantly, and
crossed to the postoffice side. Then,
suddenly, she glanced up, and their
eyes met. No CLEAN of even interest
showed in hers, but she asked After
bury:
Where is the nearest telegraph
station?'
Hotel" said Atterbury. Can l
run over fort your"
A flash of interest came over Bax-
ters immobile face. Atterbury turned
and caught the thought wave.
Say, Frank. old man, oh, by the
way. Miss Baxter, may / present Mr..
Baxter?"
She laughed hesitatingly, and bowed
slightly.
80 we have the same name, Mr..
Baxter" she said Isn't that fun.
And they used to call me Frank at
college, too"
so they did me-" murmured Bax-
ter. Then Atterbury suggested his
idea.
You're up at the hotel, aren't you,
old man? Sure thing Then can't
you send a wire for Miss Baxter? /?
We're going on down to the dock, and
catch the Mike for Glen Isle. It's right
on your way. isn't it?"
1t was on his way. Baxter took
the slip of paper and folded it de-
liberately. There was no need of
subterfuge. After she had written It,
she held it out to him for inspection.
twenty-five will carry it, won't it,
Mr.. Baxter?"
Baxter said it would. He scanned
the message.
"Mr. II. T.,
Care The Grange,
'Woodsmere, N. Y.
still doubtful. Will write later.
"F. b."
THE cad. The luggard. The worm
to be trod upan.'
He met Jimmie in the hall before
breakfast the next morning, and the
latter winked in comradely fashion.
"She got four wires this a. m.," he
vouchsafed. confidentially. Got him
going some, hasn't She"
Baxter nodded haughtily. He could
not discuss the affair with Jimmie any
more. 1t had reached strategic
point demanding reticence. But after
breakfast he watched a certain un-
mistakable bright green parasol pa
rade up the beach towards the Rhino
Rocks again. and 1t sheltered Miss
Baxter and Atterbury.
Merely as man to man." said Bax-
ter, to his conscience, and he went de-
liberately to the telegraph desk, and
wrote a message brief but suggestive
Of possibilities.
III. T."
"Woodsmere, N. Y.
Come at once. F. B."
1T Is subterfuge." he thought, with
a happy chuckle, strolling back to the
veranda. But II ever tip was need
ed, it's here. She wouldn't have wired
doubtful II he had been impossible. I"
He was far from being impossible.
On the next boat from New York city,
came III. T. Baxter had strolled negli-
gently down to the dock when the
first long stain of smoke was visible
on the sunset sky. Everybody went
down to the boat dock when the
steamer came In. II was the only real
excitement at the Point. Half way
down, Baxter met Jimmie coming on
the run.
"Oh, say" he gasped, stopping to
breathe the news. "She sent smash
er this afternoon. She trun him
down."
"She-what?" demanded the deputy
10 Eros. severely.
"Trun him down. Gave him the
long, cool adoo. Threw out a long