The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-08-03
Patricia Weldon held the receiver
to her a and listened to her chum's
vnioo

her friend. ~es
She found no difficulty in opening
the cellar door and removed her
heavy coat and left it on the smooth.
white stairs before venturing to the
blackness Of the cellar. Patricia went
bravely on toward the furnace and
began to shovel the coal.
In the big living room above a nan
sprang quickly to his feet.
by Jove! There's somebody
prowlipg about in the cellar!" He
tptoed over to q huge bag lying on
the couch and took out a large, ugly
looking shotgun.
I'll Just surprise him at his own
game-even If the gun isn't loaded"
The man crept cautiously down the
cellar stairs. the noise of shaking
down the fire drowning his footballs.
Patricia Weldon took one last look
into the fire and. turning suddenly,
found herself looking into the muzzle
of a shotgun. She promptly did the
first thing that entered her head. She
fell in a faint to the floor.
The mans gun fell almost before
the girl dropped. He rushed to her
side and with something very much
like a swear word on his lips picked
up the huddled mass of unconscious
beauty and with shaking heart but
steady arms carried 1t up the stairs.
When he stopped. halfway up. to
kick the fur coat out of his way, Pa
tricia found her senses. She felt her
self being rather reluctantly put
down on the couch in the living room.
The. man sat down beside her then
and with a mans awkwardness began
to fan her with a magazine.
wake up, girl! For goodness sake
wake up!"
Patricia felt instinctively that his
next move would be for water, and as
she had no desire to be soaked she
opened her eyes slowly and effec-
lively.
"Who are you and how do you hap
pen to be in Mrs. Stones house?" she
asked.
"Who are you and how do you come
to be in my sisters house?"
The man laughed.
Patricia jumped up. "Alice Stones
brother! She has never even men,
toned that she has a brother!"
"Nor has she mentioned to me that
she has a new chum!"
II the light of understanding dawned
In both minds at the same time
neither spoke of 1t.
II have just come in from a hunt
Ing trip and before that l had about
circled the globe"
II suppose the gun you were about
to shoot me-"
Was not loaded. 1 can't tell you
how sorry I am to have frightened
you 80. I couldn't see any one until
you fell-the turn was sudden"
1T was stupid, Of me to faint, I
had come over to fix the fire for
Alice"
IT you feel equal to 1t now, 1 will
get your coat and take you home"
The man leaned forward in his chair.
Patricia looked up. Are you mar
ried?" she asked suddenly.
mo. Are you?"
mo"
Then they both laughed.
Because" Patricia continued, II
prefer. in this instance, to be sensible
rather than strictly proper. There is
no one home at my house and there
is no n here to get your dinner,
Now, I am MOI much Of q cook but I
intend to get your dinner for you.
The girl looked him squarely in the
eyes. There 10 not a bit of n in
your sitting alone here and me alone
there. especially when-
when WHAT" A light had come
into Dicks eyes.
When when you are my beet
friends brother" She turned Quickly
toward the kitchen.
Alice said there was a nice little
steak and some lettuce"
"Altce!" Pat turned swiftly toward
him, her cheeks scarlet. What does
Alice know about this affair" Abe
looked suspiciously at Dick Farel
did she know you were hereI"
Sure; l saw her in town and she
told M how to get in and to make
myself perfectly at home"
Patricia was looking at him acous.
ingly.
Il wouldn't have frightened you out
Of your wits with a gun II I had known
about you." he put in, defending
himself"
Then Pat smiled.
alice Is not very particular about
whom she sends to you for a cook"
isis knows l am not looking for
cook" Dick looked into the drift