The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-06-08

Mighty queer. disconnected sort of
conversation you hold. Wa Shiny" he
expOstulated. reaching up for the or
nament and holding it close to the
light. How do you manage that
talkee-talkee business: Your head
seems hollow. but Of course that's no
criterion that your vocal organs may
not be in good working order. What is
1t they say about empty vessels max.
Ing the most noise! | rather guess
I've been asleep" yawned Mr.. Hunt.
Ing. In conclusion. as he returned the
mandarin to the shelf. where he con-
ttnued to nod foolishIy for several
minutes. Lost your power of speech.
! eh! Good for your
! He leaned back with closed eyes and
Immediately forgot all about the man
| DARN and his strange conversation.
which he firmly believed to be the re-.
suit OF short nap. In his fancy Paul
FOUND an occupant for the other large
cnalr beside his hearth. 1t would be
somebody gowned in pale blue. with u
fuf OF golden hair and pair of for
getmenot eyes. Where had he seen
just such Il face before?
Suddenly he leaned toward his desk
and opened drawer. He fumbled
there for awhile. tossing aside papers
and pictures With furious zeal until he
brought forth small photosravure Of
an ideal head. He propped it against
the pedestal Of the electrolier and stud
led It silently.
At last he drew deep breath. mo
wonder her face seemed familiar" lie
said In low tone. III she didn't pose
Tor this picture I'm a sinner, and. fool
that am. | never tried to find out the
artist: was just satisfied to be in
love with her without discovering her
name. How In thunder can | get to
know her? For must even II l hold
Old Mason Mt the revulver's mouth and
demand an Introduction" He stared
lntenfly into the Goals of fire. and for
several moments there was dead 81.
lence In the room und without. Even
the shrill complaining Of the wind had
ceased for awhile.
Then there came piercing scream
from the room underneath. a terrified
cry FOR help. and there was the sound
Of running feet across floor.
1t was the work of an instant for
Hunting to open his doors and reach
the staircase. Afterward be remem-
bercd that bis slippered feet only
touched three stairs In descent. Then
he pushed open the parlor door and
met an appalling sight,
One of the long lace curtains ut the
windows was tiercely blazing. while
the girl with the golden hair was try.
ing to tear 1t down with the little
desperate. shrinking hands.
AS Hunting came through the door
the blazing curtain fell to the carpet,
and a. the girl tried to stamp out the
charr1ng remnants her own soft wolfe
gown ignited and the flames swept
upward.
1t was then that Paul Hunting
snatched up white fur rug from the
floor and, throwing it around the girl.
crushed out the flames before they
reached her hands or face or even
burned much OF her gown. At last
she lay in his arms. limp and white
as the rug that enveloped her.
"lm all right now, thank you." she
said in soft voice.
She released herself from Huntings
arms. and the white rug dropped to the
f1oor revealing the skirt of her pretty
gown scorched and charred.
She held out a hand to her rescuer
with charming smile. This gentle
man has saved my life, Cousin Le-
ander. VIII you and Cousin Sarah add
your thanks to nine
BLESS me. child. it's Mr.. Hunting
from upstairs: l thought it was Pen.
low. Your hand. Mr.. Hunting" The
mummy extended a dry brown paw.
and Pauls strong fingers closed around
1t. while his head swan dizzily as the
old mans voice rambled on in a mo.
notonous speech of gratitude. for the
voice Of Mr.. Leander Mason was like
the voice Of the mandarin. high and
thin and piping in quality.
Cousin Sarah stopped screaming aud
gave another dry hand into Hunting's
grasp and made prim little speech.
Paul Hunting and the golden haired
girl looked at each other across tho
width Of the fireplace. and the forget
menot blue eyes fell before his be-
traying glance. With a sudden Inn
pulse he told her the story of his little
zap and the whimsical dream he had
had Of the nodding mandarin who had
found speech.
When he had concluded she laughed
merrily. "You were not asleep. after
ali. Mr. Hunting. Cousin Leander
made a dre In the CRATE tonight to
please me. and he opened some little
ventilator in the chimney that must
communicate with your room. We were
talking. and you really heard Cousin
Lenders voice."
"Was he talking to your" demanded
Paul suddenly.
YES" she said. With embarrassment.
did you hear what we saidT"