The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-07-16
Polly's Viking
BY RUTH M Err w Y N
(Copyrisht. 1903 by Associated Literary
Prees.l

AbbOClALcQ
'-Oh, Jack" sighed Polly lugubrious-
~, there isn't person on this boat
! know. and I won't have soul to
speak to all the way from Chicago to
Harbor Point"
Poor little grill" Jack laughed
teasingly at his sisters rueful face. Il
know it'll be mighty hard for you to
exist 80 many hours without man to
talk TO-. but don't fiirt with any
stranger. Polly. II you do. he'll prob
ably turn out to be a confidence man."
why, Jack. you've suggested way
out" exclaimed Polly mischievously.
There's an interesting looking mani"
She lowered her voice a trife. Il
mean that tall one with blue eyes and
magnificent blond hair. He's regu-
lar viking. and adore big. blonde
men,"
After her brother had gone and the
boat had started, Polly tried to forget
her condition in book. At last it
grew too dark to read "Oh. DEAR"
she sighed, II wish something inter
esting would happen. it's so stupid
here alone!"
For heavens sake, take this!" Polly
heard tense voice whisper, Hide 1t,
quick, till call for it,"
lnvoluntarily her hand closed over
the package, and looking up she saw
the viking" hurrying away to the bow
of the boat.
She was about to return the article
when the captain appeared. accom-
panied by another man.
There's the fellow!" Polly heard
the men exclaim as the two walked to
: the bow of the boat.
Come below" the man with the
captain ordered, touching the viking
on the shoulder.
What's your business with mes
asked the blonde man angrily.
Better come down into the cabin
where we can talk quietly" was the
reply Polly overheard.
After the men had gone below,
Polly hurried to her stateroom. The
mysterious package proved to be a
small leather case. and as she held II
to the light the clasp fell aside, dis
closing the contents. On a bed of
white satin lay a magnificent gold
cross set with large diamonds.
"Oh, OH" breathed Polly in ecstacy.
How perfectly gorgeous! Dear me,
there's the center diamond gone!
Wonder if the man has it? hope to
goodness he'll come soon!"
She hurried out on deck again and
for a long time watched for the re-
appearance of the stranger. At last
she looked at the time. It was II
O'Clock.
Its surely too late for him to come
tonight. so I may as well go below
she soliloquized. Tomorrow. shall
give him back his old casket the very
FIRST hing!"
Polly tried hard to go to sleep, but
the mystery of the cross kept her wide
awake At last an explanation sug
gested itself Doubtless the viking
had stolen the cross! II SO, she, Polly
Grayson, was a receiver Of stoler
goods.
Early the next morning, q tired
white faced Polly. with dark circle,
under her brown eyes, hurried int
, the dining room. Eagerly she looket
nj the passengers seated there. but thu
mm she sought was not there.
After vain effort to eat she made
tour cof the shiI; but the owner o
the casket was nowhere in sight, moi
did she dare to question the pursel
! for fear ,of drawing suspicion upor
herself.
At last the 'Northland reached Tho
dock at Hafbcr Springs. Polly fell
sure she should find the owner of tn,
casket among the crowd who disem
barked, but. to her great 'dismay, HI
was not there.
81 wished something exciting woult
, happen" she gasped as she took the
ferry for HaTbor Point, land II has
happened with vengeance. Its luck,
papa's home. for he'll know what II
do with this norrid casket ia like Il
pitch 1t into the bay this very min
ute!"
On reaching home Polly was great,
I dismayed to find her~father away OF
an extended business trip. She could
not tell her mother about the casket
for Mrs. Grayson had weak hear
and so was useless in an emergency
The mystery of the diamond cross lay
like weight on Polly's heart. Eacf
day she grew more fearful. Why
didn't the viking" come for his prop
erty? Perhaps an officer would come
instead. II so, could she convince hin
of her innocence? To say perfec'
stranger had handed her a costly dia
mond cross--well. even Polly had t.
admit the story sounded decidedly
fishy. Every time the docrbell ranf
her heart beat riotously.
At last. in her desperation, Polly
began to haunt the auction stores a
Pefoskey. hoping to see the mysteri
Gus stranger among the ever changin,
crowds there.
"I1l 60 crazy II he doesn't come
soon," she said to herself one day a,
she leaned YEARLY back in her chail
at the auction store.
Just at that moment the woman II
the next chair left and Immediately /,