Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-12-19

AW III NuIIOuS DdllS VI IDc INOCklGS,
"a where he had been trying to
forget that he was the most
miserable fellow in the west, Claude
Extrum. artist unarrived." as he styl-
ed himself, turned his face toward his
lonely mountain cabin among the piues
IN Rainbow canyon.
Purposely he had stunned Denver,
declining the invitation of two artist
friends to a big Christmas reception
He did not want TO run the possibility
of meeting Aldyce. 1t would be pain
full to both, since her father had de-
nounced him as Il good for nothing.
fortune hunting dabbler"
Art must FIRST be mastered. the cold
critics won, then If Aldyce had not
forgotten, his great dream would be-
come sweet reality. But what If
she should forget him? There was Il
capriciousness in the sex that was
quite beyond his understanding.
1t was noon when he reached the
large cabin among the pines. The first
room he visited was the studio, gay
with warm colored Indian blankets and
the walls covered with sketches by his
own brush and a few copies of the
m" sters. On his easel was an unfin-
ished picture, just as he had left it
when he went away in the latter part
OF October. He drew aside the cloth,
brushed off the dust and looked long
into the laughing brown eyes Of
lovely girl. Underneath was penciled
the name "Aldyce."
With deep drawn breath he re-
placed the cover and went into the
kitchen. In the large zinc lined pro.
vision box he found that Joe Clark. the
prospector who had looked after the
cabin during Claudes absence. had
obeyed his instructions by leaving Il
sack of -four some beans sugar. part
of ham and dried veniSon.
Nov I'll have supper after my
own appetite" he declared. making
fire in the little stove
Presently pot OF beans with piece
of ham to give tavor, was bubhlin%
away, filling the room with its savo.
steam. Then Claude swept the floor
wiped the accumulated dust off the
simple furniture and proceeded to make
lonely house look comfortable.
II must decorate to be in spirit with
the season." he said, after scanning
walls and uuadorned mAntpl shelf.
By the time the young man returned
with his arms full of decorations
cold wind was racing down the pass.
driving steadily increasing fall of
snow and sleet before it
Gee. Old Boreas is sending me some
Christmas weather with all the frills,"
he soliloQuized, making a run for the
shelter Of the cabin.
Claude had scarcely put the last of
the mountain holly on the walls and
built a cheerful big fire in the fire,
place in the studio when the door burst
open, letting in a dash of snow, in the
midst of which stood slender youth
in furry overcoat and cap, with huge
goggles over his eyes.
"Well, can't you come in and shut
the door?" demanded the artist impa-
tiently as he stared at the apparition
before him.
81 must look like I'm posing as old
Santa, don't II" laughed the boy, Then,
with a start of recognition, Claude
Extrum, as l live and whistler Suit
ing the action to the word, he gave
vent to prolonged whistle.
Tne arust grew RED ana white by
turns as he recognized the boy. 1t
was the sixteen year-old brother of
Aldyce:
Hal Banniers!" he cried. Where
did you drop from?"
"From the snow Clouds" answered
the youth, hugging the surprised artist.
''This is some luck, all right, finding
shelter, and just think of its being your
mountain retreat. Aldyce is out there
IN the car. The machine broke down
Just below your cabin"
"Aldyce in the car out in this storm"
cried Claude. buttoning up his coat and
rushing to the door.
Eyes. We were on our way to Fra
x1er's, up Bear canyon" Hal shouted
his explanation as he chung to his COM
panion's arm through the snowy gale
The Frazlers are giving an old fash
toned Christmas eve party at their
ranch house. You know Aldyce and
Dell Frazier were great pals at school.
90 Aldyce was bound TO go to the par
". l was sure / knew the road there
but this snow came on so suddenly !