The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-06-10
The Quest

ing Of kindly emotion. But the night
that the McLanes COW lost her happy
home NOBODY in the summer commun.
ity sat up and wept in tender commits
GRAFTON.
Just why the COW should have chos-
en- to wander from the comfortable,
hay stuffed barn toward dusk when the
McLanes' man had his back turned for
a fatal instant is one Of the mysteries
Of bovine psychology which nobody can
figure out The COW, intoxicated by
her freedom, wandered far down the
lake shore After wandering for a
while, however, the darkness and the
scurrying Of small unknown animals
IN the underbrush made her nervous
and she began to look around for her
warm and coy barn.
In something like a panic she lum-
bered along through the trees until
she saw light. "Ahal" said the
COW, home at last"
The light shone from the cottage 20
cupied by Miss Atkinson, a maiden Of
q considerable number Of years, who
was entertaining at the moment three
other staid and elderly women at
bridge.
Just as one of the three had said
disgustedly that she made it spades
Miss Atkinson, who was facing the
porch, gave a bloodcurdling shrek
and her cards flew all over the room.
IA mani" she Kissed. There was
man peering in through the porch
screen doorl He disappeared when /
jumpedl"
Her guests tipped over the card ta-
BILE in arising hastily If there were
prowlers at this quiet and safe resort
they were Of the indignant opinion
that something ought to be done about
IT!
One Of the brayest Of the four ven
tnred out to the porch and In qua
vering voice demanded to know who
was there, while the others support
ed her with the carving knife and the
broom.
Nothing answered from the silence,
which made 1t all the worse.
The guests put Miss Atkinson to bed
with the hot water bag and the smell
Ing salts and locked every window In
the cottage Then, shivering with
fright, the three held hands and bolt
ed for the hotel.
It was a little later that the Bundy
cottage was upset. Mrs Bundy had
put the children to bed and was
crocheting while her guest, Mrs. Hull
ton, was reading aloud a particularly
gruesome detective story Suddenly
Mrs. Bundy made a startled clutch at
Mrs. Hulton's wrist and said: "Lis-s-s-
tenl"
Mrs. Hutton heard it, too. "Th-th-
there must be two Of emf stam-
mered Mrs. Hutton. 4 can hear four
f-f-feet just as plalnl"
There certainly were several differ
ent footsteps outside the cottage
slow, careful footsteps.
Il just knew something awful would
happen when Charley went back to
Chicago yesterday" she gasped.
Mrs. Hutton said wildly:
"G-g-get the g.gggunl'
Mrs. Hulton's great-grandfather had
fought in war, so she knew imme-
diately the best method of defense.
Holding the family revolver at arms /
length and with her head turned the
other way, Mrs. Bundy sat down again
and listened. There was nothing to
ae heard. They passed the rest Of the /
night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore. on the /
rustic seat facing tho noon, Laura
spilger and her Young man sat talk +
ing. Their absorption in each other
was so great that they heard nothing
until something strange was thrust F
over Laura's left shoulder. Young
Burmaster made a wild but futile grab
as she leaped In the air.
Landing on the extreme edge Of the
slippery terrace, she tumbled down in
to the tapping waters with a gurgling
splash.
Then as young Burmaster, too, +
sensed tho presence Of something
weird and inexplicable he felt his
scalp twitch IN freezing horror, and
leaped after Laura. Hand IN hand
they arose, dripping, and stood alright
ed in two feet Of water at the shores
edge.
From the Spilger cottage came ques-
rumblings Laura's father was
demanding to know the reason for all /
that uproar. Getting no answer. be-
cause the two in the lake were still
paralyzed yocally. he came forth to
Investigate
What DO you wantg he roared at
something creeping by. 'Tll teach you
TO prowl around my house. consarn
youl" Presently there was a spite
ful pop Of the little spilger boys air
gun.
Then there was silence
Nothing happened The spilgers
and young Burmaater sat UP very late
the mystery.
Ait an imnromptn mass meeting the
nraH .n1rrts.a- A. .o4t........ ...4.f a.