The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-03-30
s
Waterways Water War
Copyright, ISL, by Associated Literary Press)
By PLBfAfER ERSKINE


evening in a telegram that was sent
to New York. It may have been a
violation of regulations, but the
entiro town knew that the colonel had
wired:
Keep Clio in city. Young Water
bury here
1t was brief enough, but sufficient to
give the hint that romance lay be-
hind the matter, and interest grew At
more than compound rates.
The colonel, with growing uneasi-
ness, observed the change of senti-
ment- He had been accustomed to
dominate the small community and
now he found that Waterbury's more
practical ideas were being accorded
the greater respect. It was intolerable
that this enemy should invade his own
town and destroy his prestige, but 1t
was none the less a fact though the
colonel stormed.
Then came the final straw in the in
timation that a scion Of royalty had
decided to visit "the States" and would
accept the coloneIs repeated invita-
tons.
81 am anticipating with great pleas
ure," wrote the Parsonage, "a visit TO
Castle Carr. I recall the photographs
you showed me and am anxious to see
an American country place"
For an hour the colonel sat before
the window, looking out across the
rank marsh grass to the ugly wall and
the colony of muskrats on the further
side At last he went over to
the table and drew out telegraph
blank
Clio appeared three days later in
answer to the summons. 1t was too
dark to see the lake when she arrived,
but early the next morning she looked
out of her window and giggled with
a most unfilial appreciation OF water
bury's attack.
She preserved a grave face at the
interview with her father, and pres
emily she departed behind the Carr
chestnuts, clothed with plenipotentiary
powers.
Apparently Waterbury had some
knowledge of her coming, for he was
waiting for her on the piazza
What do you think of the fur
farm?" he asked. Look good from
your side of the water?"
you ought to be ashamed OF your
self, Fred" she scolded. Its perfect
Iy horrid"
IT'S your fathers fault" he defend
ed. 'I didn't want to make trouble,
and wasn't going to see my musk
rats go homeless this winter, nor was
going to have my frog industry inter
fered with"
sT know" she agreed. But fathers
/ in an awful fix"
Look here, Clio,' he said earnestly.
eve either got to lick or be licked.
I've licked him good and I'm going to
rub it in. It's the price of peace, dear
| Your father will respect the man who
has defeated him. He never will If l
appear to give in. I've worked like
day Iaborer ever since spring and I'm
entitled to my victory. You come to
make terms, don't you?"
'sTo plead with you," she corrected
seTo ask you, for the sake of old
friendship, to give up this idea. You
will be paid all you have expended
and a handsome profit
"And if 1 refuse?"
Well ae last resort che con
fessed. 81 think father might be will
ing to merge the two properties. We
could build on this side Of the lake.
It would help the view
81 think I'll drop over" laughed
Waterbury, land talk over building
plans. Come and see the place.
With little EXPLANATIONS of wonder
and delight she accompanied him over
the farm. Waterbury could afford the
best and his place was most com
pIete.
TT seems a shame that this will all
have to CO." she said, regretfully. 81
suppose you will give it up
For you, yes" he assented. and
count it well lost in the bargain.
think I'll keep couple of muskrat
families, though, as sort of re
hinder to the colonel"
The colonel stared when he saw
the two leave the carriage together
and Clio, tripping up the steps, ex
planned:
He says that I am the price of the
property, father. You told me to
make the best bargain I could. He
would not listen to any other
terms"
The colonel sank back in his chair
and heIplessly regarded his prospec
tive son-in-Iaw. Only surrender was
possible.
You have stood my test" he said
with dignity. ct wanted to prove you
before 1 gave my consent"
Waterbury, his arm round Clos
waist. smiled pleasantly.
you don't expect me to believe
that. do your" he asked The colo
nePs head sank Even from the
last ditch he had been driven in
defeat