The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-04-17

T IAlIp olDFt was a lbclr1n l4Al4f, ~
was her frat season ~ camp, and her
brothers had readily enough given in
% her demand for ~ absolutely cor
rect atmosphere They Rad camped
IN tents On the little lake instead OF in
the comfortable wooden shack On
Lover lake. and they had cooked IN
primitive fashion over an open fire.
The boys had doae tho cooking
since they had gone into camp three
weeks before. but it had all seemed so
easy that when they wanted to 60
down the lake to the village she had
insisted that It would be no trouble at
all 70 get her meals
They had padded away just as the
Sun began to tinge the clouds IN the
east and would not be back before [
night. Twice Teddy had spilled the
bacon into the fire. and as crowning
accident she had set the coffee pot
wrong, and that, too. was sliding into
the flames. putting out what little fire
there was left.
A crashing In the underbrush reused
her and she sprang to her feet. nerv-
ously handling the revolver the boys
had left with her for r.c iection. She
raised the glistening weapon as man
burst through the tangle Of brush and
with a voice that she tried to make
gtern commanded him TO hold up his
handa.
They went above his head In an IN
stant and stayed there while he par
ieyed Teddy knew that the next
thing was to bind her victim, but how
20 do that and retain the revolver was
something that was not told in books
He smiled at her look of helpless
meas and came few steps forward
i am not tramp or robber." he
said. with flash Of white teeth be-
meath HE mustache Il saw a fire
while back and thought that perhaps
might beg some breakfast / wan
dered further from our camp than !
intended am on the other side Of
the ridge on Blue lake."
There isn't any breakfast she
eaid, forlornly. Il spilled the bacon
into the fire and then the coffee pot
fell In. was eating these" She
waved her revolver toward the box
Of crackers. and the tramp smiled.
IF you viii take my parole" he
suggested, 'Tll earn my breakfast. I
believe that IS the. proper thing for a
tramp to do"
Teddy lowered her gun. He prob
ably was tramp, but he had nice eyes
and a pleasant smile, and she felt that
she could trust him.
II you viii set the table, he called.
-T'll have things ready In ilEy"
For a moment Teddy paused. Shc
did not quite IKE The idea Of eating at
the same table with tramp, and she
felt that he must be tramp. None
Of the campers she knew wore such
outrageous garments. But the smell
Of coffee and the frying fish decided
her, SO she set two plates.
shlfuIly be dished up the fish and
took the coffee from the fire. He was
even more expert than the boys
Probably that was because he had to
camp ont the year around.
The breakfast put her IN an excel
lent humor and when the tramp sug-
gested that II she would lend ~
gun he would try and get some ng
for dinner she loaned him shotgun
without thought until he had left
the camp. Then the realization Of
what Bob would say should he come
home and find the rife gone, led her
to follow the trail the tramp had
taken.
She soon overlook him and he looked
up with smile ct her approach.
Come to share the fun?' he asked
pleasantly. Her blush told its own
story and he threw his head back
and laughed. II was going to bring
the gun back he declared. do you
really think ] am tramp?"
NO" her voice lacked conviction.
''But. you see you are not like the
boys"
Possibly they would be like me"
he suggested, III they were ia camp
without ladies' Khaki and leggings
are all very pretty. but there is more
comfort in an old suit that won't be
hurt If you do take notion to wade
trout stream before breakfast"
This was plausible enough, but
Teddy reflected that pIausibility was
the stock Ii trade OF tra.nps ana she
was not convinced.
After dinner he entertained her with
stories Of the woods and neither real
ized how late It had grown unsil
boat shot around the point and the
boys waved welcome
They swarmed up the beach few
moments later, and Teddy stared as
they warmly greeted the tramp.
Il didn't know that you knew Mr..
J Charteris." said Bob IN surprise.
He came for breakfast" explained
Teddy.
And having had the breakfast, I
4 stayed to get the dinner" Charteris
added with a laugh You see / was
out early this morning and got too
far away from camp to make It for
breakfast Then saw this fire and
came over"
4 Hope you'lI come over often" said
, Bob heartily He liked the young
( rnilroad rnagnafa