The Delta independent., 1912-11-15

"Help me to stand" she directed,
gripping his arm.
He raised her. She let her fost
touch the ground, WINGED and toppled
toward him.
There's a wood choppers cabin
Just ahead" she groaned Could
could you carry me there?" blushing.
For answer he picked her up in his
arms. She threw her arms about his
neck and clung to him. her hair
brushing his cheek. In sight of the
hut she whispered:
"Wait! Let me down a minute"
She stood leaning against him. her
full, ripe lips teasingly near. For
moment as he looked into her faith
omless eyes. Bedight felt the weak
ness of man for woman coming over
him. To combat 1t, he moved farther
away. supporting her at arms length.
ut would be well to leave me at the
cottage and go back for help. Look
inside. please, while l lean against
this BIRCH" she directed.
There's probably a burglar in the
woodbox or a man under the bed"
he said laughingly. as he started
| toward the cottage.
The mayor stood for a moment
upon the threshold and then entered.
AS his form disappeared within. there
appeared around the corner OF the
cabin a mantle game warden OF
Lakeville. In a twinkl!ng he had
slammed shut the door and thrown
great bar across 1t from without.
There, darn ye; told ye I'd git
vel" he beloved with radiant POM
posity.
Bedight turned angrily as the door
closed and realized too late that the
warning given along the trail had not
safeguarded him. He was prisoner.
Peering through the dirty window
pane, an aperture not large enough to
permit the passing Of a mans body.
he saw Miss Farnsworth leave the
tree against which she had been lean
ing and walk leisurely toward the
hotel.
With the realization that the girl
had deliberately led him into the
hands of the enemy, he gritted his
teeth and then, at the thought that
perhaps Jackie Vining had planned
this coup de main. Bedight felt
queer sinking of certain hopes that
heretofore had buoyed up a heart
yearning to take high hurdles. No
woman may keep n man in hot wa
ter on general principles of love. but
to throw him in Jail is treachery, and
when a woman reaches that point she
is like the woman scorned-a perfect
fury.
The room in which Bedight found
himself was big and rough like some
of the words the mayor said before
his sense OF the ludicrous returned.
Then, in full possession OF the humor
Of the situation. he sat down on the
side Of the bunk and grinned. A man
can grin when the joke is on him. but
he seldom becomes boisterous under
the circumstances unless he 10 In pub
prove his good fellowship by blatant
laughter.
That the game warden had gone for
help there was no doubt. Remember
ing the slap which Bedight had ad-
ministered on the day o; their frst
meeting. that worthy did not desire
to take further chances.
But II Miss Vining planned the
trap. why did not the warden bring
enough help with him to arrest met"
This was the question the mayor
asked himself-and gave 1t up. He
had no way OF knowing that the war
den had sent word to the sheriff to
be on hand-but that functionary was
at the moment marooned on an island
five miles from the village with ample
food sent by kind providence in the
light OF the moon, but with no boat
by which he might navigate the inter-
vening waters.
An hour passed. during which time
Bedight had satisfied himself that
wood choppers' cabins in general and
this one in particular were built with
the express purpose Of being better
jails than those possessed by the or
dinary hamlet in the north country.
He was securely confined-and he
was in to stay until some one chose
to liberate him.
A voice from without suddenly gave
him hope. 1t was a voice he knew
well-the voice OF Jackie vining.
"Mr. Bedight," queried the voice.
ARE you there-inside the cabin?"
mo. Miss Conspirator." replied the
mayor. vindictively, I'm up on the
roof playing solitaire"
"Will you tell me which Of the
girls was with you last night!" de-
manded Miss Vining. ''If 30. will
let you out"
"Oh. like 1t in here" replied the
mayor. Enthusiastically. TITS nice.
quiet place. no hooks to bait. no
mound builders to excavate. no rum
away horses to catch, no balsam to
pick, nothing to do but relax and
think of the perfldy Of ones fellows
feminine gender"