The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-03-16
Observation-Disclosures
Meriden in the Mountains
By STANLEY E. BARTON
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Literary Press.)

A week later this yearning had b.
come SO strong that Meriden was
seriously considering the ACCESSIBILITY
Of packing up his traps and effects
and returning to the city.
One morning he stood in a reverie
by the banks of the very brook he had
begun to fish when the mysterious
singer had manifested her presence in
the vicinity.
Crack! Smash! Bang! Noisilt, and
out Of the brush at the mountains
ledge just above him, sprang fright
ened Diana. capless, and with her
dark hair over her shoulders as she
sped silently toward Meriden.
The keen eyes of the youth summed
up the rare beauty of this forest ad-
ventures before the grizzly that he
instfnctively knew was behind her
came numbering into the open.
There Is little fear in the heart Of
hungry bear. The great brute came
on In it's shambling, rapid pace, and
the girl, without a word on her lips,
but with eloquent appeal in her eyes.
raced before the grotesque giant.
Meriden took steady aim and fired.
The great brute wavered only for a
minute. Again face full of shot told
tale Of torture to the Spartan-like
savage, and again the brute rallied.
The girl, with a gasp, dashed by and
the youth pumped another offering.
into the face of the animal. Then
Meriden felt a crushing blow on his
head, and he knew no more.
"Are you better?"
The young hermit came to his
senses to find himself in a strange
bunk. The cabin seemed to be one
similar to his own. A CHEEKY fire
burned in the fireplace just opposite,
and fussy iron teakettle, hung on
irons, gave the room homehke ap-
pearance.
Are you better?" reiterated tho
soothing little voice, and cool
hand sought the feverish brow Of
the man.
what happened?" asked Meriden
laconically.
"The bear-you blinded it-struck
you before it turned to retreat. had
to leave you while went for father,
and then we brought you here to
our cabin"
But where are we?" came from
Meriden. AS he spoke his invest
igative fingers tenderly touched his
aching head. It was bandaged.
"Not over mile from your place"
came from the smiling girl. 1--WE are
concealed by large ledge" The maid
was all that the man who hadn't
seen a woman in months could de.
sire. She was clad in neat hunts
woman's suit that served to accentu.
ate her athletic shoulders.
The maids eyes suddenly turned
serious. II don't know what should
have DONE" she said, simply, "if it
hadn't been for you. You saved my
life. Father has gone to dig some
herbs for liniment for your head
Oh, forgot the conventions! Father
is the Hon. Meri Harmon, of Denver.
He made his money in the hills-gold,
you know-and every year we two
come out here to live close to nature.
l am Daphne Harmon.
"You are not seriously hurt" she
continued. "You will be all right in
a few days, but of course shall keep
you here and nurse you until you,
have recovered"
Meriden became a willy pessimist.
II recover slowly" he said. II al
ways recover slowly from sickness
and accident. Slowly" he repeated
with peculiar emphasis
The girl blushed and suddenly
turned away her head.
In the heart of Meriden there was
no thought of Dolly Condor.
Lincoln Liked Praise.