The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-16

there Tor an hour. She said II was
for fresh air: tattle-tale said that a,
determined young man could reach
the roof by climbing the big oak tree.
growing SO near the wall.
Miss Wells compressed her lips; she
would see to It; she did see to it,
Old Thomas was set to watch at
night, but he snoozed the hours away,
His old watch dog took his place, and
was found dead of old age the very
next morning.
All, she had 1t at last! She would
go upon the roof herself and catch the,
tie old to be eating around on house
roofs at night. hut the honor of the
Wells school was at stake.
The second night after tattle-tale
had given things away was beautiful
summers night. It was night for
cats and lovers to prowl. An hour
before midnight found Miss Wells
stealing up the scuttle ladder and out
on the roof. She was there to watch
that tree. Yes. one Of it's limbs ac-
tually overhung the roof. 1t would be
no feat at all for determined young
man. Miss Wells was scantily dressed.
Her scant hair was hanging down
around her neck, and she was bare
footed in her slippers.
The watcher had been at her post
nearly an hour when something hap
pened. She thought she heard some
one In the tree, and in shifting her
position she lost her grip and went
rolling down the steep roof until
chimney brought her up. She was
safe from a further fall. but she must
get back to her place. cat could
have done 1t, but. alas, she was not o
cat. She was only an old maid with
shaky nerves. She wouldn't have
tried that climb for thousand dol
lars. If She called out who would
hear her? II she waited until day
light--heavens!
And then she looked up to see the
figure of a man above her. Some
thing told her that it was the deter
mined young man with the scar or
his chin, In addition. he told her sc
himself. He was very cool about 1t
After gazing down at her for three
or four minutes he asked:
"How are you going to get W
again?"
Young man, I'll have you arrested
for burglary!"<
"You can't. There's no breaking
and entering in climbing tree.
Il
ITO get you out of scrape, II yo'
are sensible. If not you'll be left TO
people to gaze at in the morning
About 600 hands in the shoe factor.
can overlook this roof, and you ar
not dressed for company"
'Tll scream for belp!"
"And have it in the papers that yo'
were sneaking around on the roof a
midnight! No, my dear Miss Wells
your way is the quiet way. Imagine
reporter sitting here in my place an
interviewing you! Imagine the head
lines in the papers! Imagine him ts
king a snapshot at you by fiashlight!
Are you the young man Miss Kell
wanted to marry?"
".She wanted to, and she wants t
yet. I'm here tonight to help her dow
the tree. We are going to elope.
have a rope here, and have prt
POSI- to make"
"Yes?"
Let her seemingly start for hom
in the morning with her trunk. L
take care of the rest. If you won
agree, down the tree we go, and yo
are left right where you are!"
Miss Wells gasped out never!
| and added that she would perish frs
but when the young man started
slide the scuttle and signal to Mis-
: Jean, things changed. She gave he
solemn word and was pulled up
Y keep it. She started her off on pr
} tense of sickness at home. and as til
!. girl was ready to depart she whispe
3 ed in her ear:
: IF you never, never, never say an
a thing about this III always say th'
a If l ever marry any man 1t will be
< determined young man who know
. what he wants!"