, 1912-05-23

" oAs "
fore you are a day older. And IL Won
are skillfui In the sports of Diana we
may have some vension of your kill
ing"
Il believe ! can fire a gun without
shutting my eyes," said Miss Gray.
man. laughing. But of course we
shall postpone the proof until the ar
rival of the others"
or course. and they ought to arrive
at any moment now"
Upon their return one of the men
she had seen on the Chameleon an
preached and handed a slip of paper to
Payton. He read it and frowninp
snapped his fingers, exclaiming. half
under his breath: by Jove. that's
really too bad! | am sorry to have to
announce a slight mishap. which
while 1t accounts for the delay of our
friends. also makes 1t certain that they
cannot reach us this morning"
The blood fed from Miss Grayman's
a She felt an inexplicable premo-
milton q evil.
oh. don't let 1t distress you., said
ra9ton cheeringly. Here. please read
TINS dispatch. just come by wireless
l nave electric communication with all
parts. so we are not lost, you see."
He held the paper before her, cover.
ing the lower corner where the sigma
ture would be with his thumb.
"Ihe secret isn't open vet. You
know" he said with a d~eprecatory
smile. land of course can't let you
see the name"
She read:
Brown, Camp Bear:
Aero brolse down near Pettytown. Bring
repair tools All send greetings and re-.
grets to Miss Grayman.
AS he finished he cunninp,v and no
II totally n ware slipped aside his
NUMB. and h saw that 1t had GOV.
cred the name Mitchell"
Sorry my pledge compels me to
conceal the SIGNATURE he said. fold.
ing the paper. "You see, II will be
necessary for me to go to the rescue.
l would by all means have you 90
along in order that you might the o
er meet your friends: but, unfortu.
nately, ! shall have to take all nv
available men and some machinery SO
N'NN h"h VIII De IOtub1 10
her limit. So for a few hours you win
be free from my attentions, which for
my part l deeply regret. But you will
find Mrs. Williams most entertaining
in her way. And in the library there
is a stock of the latest novels"
At first Miss Grayman did not know
what to reply. the thing was so unex-
pected. 1t vas really the Mitchells of
Washington. then. who were at the
bottom of this affair. and she wonder
ed that she had not thought of them
at the very first. for now she recalled
how the two Mitchell girls and their
brother were always engaged in some
practical joke on their friends with a
pleasant ending.
They must have written to her
father. letting him into the secret. and.
knowing his dislike to having her long
out of his sight. she felt sure that h
was n of the party on the disabled
aero.
"Oh. go by all MEANS" she said.
I'VE shall get along very well in this
delightful place. provided she added
archly. that that bear doesn't come
this way"
mo fear said Payton. laughing and
secretly rejoicing to see how well ev-
erything played into his hands. Bears
never venture near the lodge. Then
there is Indian John. who is a dead
shot. to say nothing of Mrs. Williams.
the two chambermaids and the walters.
So you will have a garrison capable of
w~ithstanding a regular siege by the
bears"
AS soon as the breakfast was finish
ed Payton took his leave, and the
aero. rising gracefully. doated off over
the trees and disappeared.
Miss Grayman was now filled with
agreeable anticipation. In a few hours
she was sure that she should see her
father.
Miss Grayman felt that she could
paddle the canoe well enough. and ac-
cordingly after they had enjoyed for
an hour the scene from the veranda
she and Susan embarked. Mrs. VIII
liams ran down to the landing. offer
ing to take the paddle or to end for
Indian John. but Miss Grayman de-
clined all assistance.
When they had entered the inlet and
were out of view Of the lodge Miss
Grayman turned to the shore. and
they disembarked in a delightful lit
tie cove overhung with pendulous
branches beside an enormous lichen
covered rock which she had noticed
and admired during their former trips.
Here they sal down on the sweet
scented moss and chatted.
I'D like to know where Pettytown
is" said Miss Grayman. 81 never
heard of the place before. suppose
1t is some little backwoods town.
Commodore Brown said he could go
.Lara In nm hour and q half. and /