The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-11-30

MS daughter into his Office room and
question her as to her feelings toward
these individuals. He began at the
top of the list.
have you given your word to Bert
Wharton. my darling?'
Il don't know"
DO you love him?'
i think l might If tried"
"How about Fitz-Varren?"
Il think l might love him a little
too
You mean you might love him ex-
clusively"
"Yes"
Then there are Rutledge. Winterton
ana Abercrombie. have no objection
to any of them except Abercrombie."
10 this there was no reply.
"Abercrombie came very nearly kill
Ing himself riding his bay gelding in
the races last season. and he might
have been shot by that villain he in
sisted on lighting II 1t hadn't been for
his luck. These reckless fellows all
seem to be protected by the ghosts of
their mammies or some other guard
Ian. We must count Abercrombie out"
yes. papa"
Il hope you haven't pledged yourself
to him in any way"
mot any more than the others"
HIN! Not any more: Have you
given him as much encouragement as
the others?"
"Just about"
The colonel knit his brows.
"Well. my daughter" he said after
reflection. II fear can't help you in
the matter. wish could choose for
you. but that is impossible. Consult
your own heart and
"All right. papa. I'll find some way
out Of it. Don't worry"
She kissed him affectionately and de-
parted.
Anita consulted her own heart and
found that there was leaning toward
the only one of her suitors to whom
her father objected. mad Dick" Aber-
crombie unfortunately held first place
on the list. She would have taken
some means to eliminate the others
and get out Of the muddle by accepting
him had it not been for her fathers
disapproval. But her father would
disapprove Of her not keeping faith
with him as we'll as the others. There
fore she decided that. whatever the
plan she chose to settle the matter.
she would give him an equal chance.
Miss lie Grand's plan for q decision
was 4 stroke Of genius. At least so
she considered It herself. She wrote
each one Of the applicants for her
hand note stating that she had be-
come somewhat involved with several
Of them and had concluded to marry
| the man who loved her best. This
point she would determine by the en-
ergy displayed in endea voring to Sc
cure her hand. The first man who
proposed to her in person after the re-
ceipt of her note she would accept.
Miss lie Grand. having written the
notes. gave them to Anna. her maid.
to deliver the next morning and the
same evening disappeared.
The lie Grand plantation was stu
dated about ten miles from the Miss!s-
sippi river. Miss lie Grand arranged
with Uncle Bob. the master of the
horse. to get out the carriage and
have It standing outside the gate at
II o'clock on the night of her disap-
pearance. Accompanied by Anna,
who was In her confidence and car
ried a portmanteau. Anita stole out
Of the house and made her way to the
carriage. Sending Anna back with a
last injunction to deliver the notes.
Uncle Rob was instructed to drive to
little town on the bank Of the Mis-
sissippi river. There the next morn
ing about 10 O'Clock a steamboat COM
Ing down stream stopped at the wharf.
Miss lie Grand went aboard. the steam
er drifted of. and our traveller regis
tered as bound for Baton Rouge.
where she intended to visit a rela-
tive.
Some ten miles Of the journey had
been traversed when q man On the
eastern shore. about two miles below
the boat. plunged into the yellow wa
tiers Of the Mississippi and swan for
the channel. When the steamer neared
the point where he was swimming he
was observed BY the captain and some
of the passengers. The forward
guards soon became crowded. On
reaching the swimmer he was seen
to be struggling to keep atioat. for he
had made Il long swim in dangerous
waters. A plank was thrown to him.
and a yawl usually towed Mt the stern
of such boats was pulled for him. He
was taken aboard the yawl and rowed
to the steamer In an exhausted condi-
ton.
Miss lie Grand. who had not slept
the night before. was DOING in the
ladies' cabin. She was awakened by
babble Of voices and saw standing
before her. foremost in crowd of pas.
sengers. water soaked and painting.
none other than Mad Dick" Abererom-