Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-11-28
The Quest

DnOulQ NATURALLY oAoA y a. NAAA1 0oSNF0NA-
ing Of kindly emotion. But the night
that the McLane's COW lost her happy
home nobody In the summer commun-
fly 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
q 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 .
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 q panic she lum'
bered along through the trees until
she saw O light. "Ahal" said the
COW, home at last"
The light shone from the cottage oc-
cupied By Miss Atkinson, q maiden OF
a considerable number Of years, who
was entertaining at the moment three
other staid and elderly women 1t
bridge.
Just as one of the three had said
disgustedly that she made It spades
Miss Atkinson, who was facing the
porch, gave q bloodcurdling shrek
and her cards Jew all over the room.
"A mani" she Kissed. "There was
q man peerlng In through the porch
screen door! He disappeared when !
jumped"
Her guests tipped over the card Ia
BILE in arising hastily. II there were
providers at this quiet and safe resort
they were Of the indignant opinion
that something ought to be done about
It!
One Of the bravest Of the four ven-
tured 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 little later that the Bundy
cottage was upset Mrs. Bundy had
put the children to bed and was
crocheting while her guest, Mrs. HUI.
ton, was reading aloud q particularly
gruesome detective story. Suddenly
Mrs. Bundy made startled clutch at
Mrs. HuIton's wrist and said: "Lis-s-s-
tent"
Mrs. Hutton heard It, too. "Th-th-
there must be two Of 'em!" stam-
mered Mrs. Hutton. II can hear four
f.f-feet just as plain!"
There certainly were several differ
ent footsteps outside the cottage
slow, careful footsteps.
II just knew something awful would
happen when Charley went back 70
Chicago yesterday" she gasped.
Mrs. Hutton said wildly:
"G-g-get the g-g-ggun!"
Mrs. Hulton's great-grandfather had
fought in q war, 30 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
be heard. They passed the rest Of the
night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore, on the
rustic seat facing the moon, 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
over Laura's left shoulder. Young
Burmaster made q wild but futile grab
as she leaped in the air.
Landing on the extreme edge Of the
slippery terrace, she tumbled down In
to 10 tapping waters with q gurgling
splash.
Then as young Burmaster. too,
sensed the 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-
tionlng rumblIngs. Laura's father was
demanding to know the reason for all
that uproar. Getting no answer, be-
cause the two n the lake wsre stiIl
paralyEed Vocally. he came forth to
investigate.
''what do you wanti" he roared at
something creeping By. 'T'll teach you
to prowl around my house. conSarn
you'll" Presently there was q spite /
full pop Of the little spilger boys air
gun.
Then there was silence.
Nothing happened. The spIlgsrs
and young Burmaster sat up very late
discussing the mystery.