Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-09-18

D9IOFe To-Day.
But l saw you'll should think you
would be ashamed to deny it-and
here is the very number you lost from
it at the time-444, see, it is like the
number on the front of the carl"
Elida looked very lovely as sh3
stood there in her fresh pink gown
with her breeze blown brown hair
about her flushed face
He got out and looked at the back
Of the car where there was no num-
Der.
"You are right" he said gravely.
But l assure you that / know nothing
about the accident / am John Mason
Of Rosendale and I will make every
effort to find the person VINO used
my car and who is responsible for
the killing of your COW. Believe me,
l am very sorry, indeed"
Elfda found herself placing faith in
his statement. She gave him the
number plate and saw him drive away
for he explained that he had an i'm
portant engagement that evening and
must hasten.
1t was not until the red car had
disappeared and she met her father
painting toward her that Elida remem-
bered.
Did you let that scamp go?" he
demanded.
Elida explained the situation.
"And you let him go and take the
number plate with him." he asked
when she had finished.
"He said he would come back and
I believe he will" said Elida.
Why do you believe him."
Elida blushed to the roots of her
fair hair She was glad that the twi-
light hid her embarrassment from her
fathers eyes. How could she explain
to him that she had ga2ed into the
blue eyes of a complete stranger and
trusted him implicitly? He would not
UNDERSTANDABLE did not understand
herself.
He said he would come back" she
repeated family.
'T'll stop him next time!" threat
ened Simon grimly-
The next day Whitey's remains no
longer lay by the roadside. The red
automobile did not come back. Day
after day passed and Simon Bissell
sat on his doorstep with his shotgun
beside him waiting for the coming OF
the red car. Elida grew pale and anx-
ious over the possible tragedy that
might result from her fathers anger
over the loss of his favorite COW.
eff he had only stopped and ex-
planned instead of running away, I
would not have cared so much" he
muttered once
'He will come some day. father,
am sure" Elida murmured.
''He won't get by!"
Thereafter Ehda watched the road
with painful anxiety. At every sound
of motor horn she would rush to the
front door but not once did she rec
ognize the red car or its occupant.
Her father kept as close watch as
she did and his loaded gun stood at
his hand just within the barn door
when he was at work or i'll the
kitchen when he was at the house.
Once, at the very risk Of her life be-
cause Elida was afraid of firearms,
and knew little about them, the girl
discharged both barrels of the weap-
on. Simon was in Plantville and did
not know that the gun he continued
to carry was unloaded.
One evening there sounded the IA
miliar horn from the hill top. Elida
paled and flew to the door but her IA
Their was quicker for he had grasped
his gun and dashed to the front yard.
He raised the gun to his shoulder and
fired-but there was no sound, no ex-
plosion
The red automobile was drawing to
a standstill In it were two men One
was the young man Elida had talked
to and the other was dark, rather
surly looking person dressed as .
chauffeur.
Elida was at the gate instantly.
81 have to apologize for my delay
in coming" said John Mason gravely,
but the death Of my father has pre-
vented my attending to the matter
before this. find that Francois, my
chauffeur here, was the guilty man.
He was using the machine without
permission and admits killing your
fathers COW. I have come to settle
the matter"
When the settlement was concluded
satisfactorily to the farmer and the
motorist, Simon Bissell looked keenly
at his daughter.
Did you draw the charge out of
my gun, Elida?" he asked.
Eyes, father-or, rather, fired it
you might have killed somebody, you
know"
Young man, you can thank my
daughter for saving your life" said
Simon Bissell solemnly, Il had that
gun loaded to kill and I've been in a
most unchristian frame Of mind for
weeks. l guess I'll go in and have
a little session Of prayer-there's
some matters got to be cleared be-
tween me and the Lord before I'll feel