The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-07
The Blot And How It Was
 Wiped Out
By cLARIssA rAcKIE


 The new house was finished, No detail had been omitted Co make lt homellke as we'll as beautiful and comfortable. Sun it lacked somethiag. Paul Main paced the terrace, smoking an after luncheon cigar, ponderlng why he was not happy and contented after all the expense and bother he had endured while building this hand some country home,
 Below Fairdale village lay steeped in the brilliant october sunshine. From his house on the hilltop the village looked like a collection of toy houses, Quainty picturesque, without one jar ring note of ugly line or crude color Ing
 PauTs eyes fingered on the village and then lifted slowly to the one blot on his landscape. Hidden from view of his own estate because Of a project ing spur of the mountain, the railroad circIed the hin and disappeared, a gllmmer of shining tracks, through a cut among the ranges.
 The railroad was innocent of ohenSe in Paurs eyes, but on a strip Of hilly land bordering the tracks, quite In plain view of pauls windows, was an Immense signhoard bearing iu six foot letters an advertisement of "Wind- muller's Balsam For Coughs and Colds" That abomnation of black and yellow paint was the blot on Paul Mains landscape and on his peace of mind
 "If I had known that sign was Co be put there would never have built here. I'll sec Coomhs about it' he de- cIded. and. whistling up his favorite pointer he pulled his cap down over his eyes and tramped down the ave nue to the main road.
 He found Lawyer Coomhs in m un- responsive mood regarding the sign board
 'I dare say; I dare say" replied Mir Coomhs after Paul had stated his ease, 'but as understand the situation the owner of the property wishes Co derive some income from the land. AS you are aware. that hin runs shccrly Co the tracks below, and it is useless for build Ing purposes"
 But it is a blot on my view per sisted Paul impaticntly. "Tm willing to buy the land if necessary to-
 "You couldn't buy the land. my dear sir It Is held in trust and cannot be disposed of until a minor has reached his majority, which will be in exactly eighteen years"
 "Perhans TW Nuy the balsom fac tory ." threatened Paul ruefully as he left the lawyers office.
 He went down Co the railroad and slirtcG the tracks, looking up nt the offending signboard with speculative eyes. "Td like to talk to the owner of that property" he poudered thought fully.
 "Oh. deorr' cried a sweet voice in dis trpsS
 Paul turned quickly. On the railroad crossing behind him a woman's form was bent fin evident perturbation. In stantly he surmised the cause of the trouble and was beside her in a few swift strides.
 "You have caught your heel| he asked quickly.
 "Yes," she pantcd affriEhtcdly, "and a train Is coming too. Oh, dear"
 A shril whistle echoed from the cut among the hills, sounding a warning to clear the track upon which the woman stood. Paul bent down, united the rib bon bow and gently lifted the little silk stockiugcd foot from It's prison.
 Run for your life" he commanded briefly. and she obcyed him. He vainly wrenched at the imprisoned little shoe, held by its obsurdly high heel between the track and one of the crossing blanks, but he could not hudge it so leaped aside iu time Co allow the train, a long string of freight ears, Co pass. The second car tossed the mangled lit- tlo shoe at his feet, and he placed it in his pocket
 When the last car had passed he crossed over Co where fhn owner of the shoe was waiting Co thank him. For the first time he really saw hcr-as a matter Of fact for Che first time he really lived from that moment
 She was small and dainty with a lovely, Howerllke face, which retained It's youthful beauty and charHt In spite of the softly grayiuE brown hair that fufred under her black hat She was gowncd in white with touches of black, and Poul surmised that she was a widow from the wedding ring on one little white hand I am afraid he would have been bitterly disappointed lf he had found otherwise.
 "How can | thank youF she cried gratefully as he came toward her
 By allowing me to assist you home, was Paurs gallant reply. "I am afraid you will have difficulty with only one shoe, but there was nothing to do but leave it there
 "Oh. I live quite near by, and I can take od the other shoe and get home nicely. thank you" she said pleasantly, adding with little toss of color If vou had not arrived-think of what
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