The Winslow mail., 1913-06-14

t10 AdlSSu HeI. one let her foot
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 minute
She stood leaning against him, her
full, ripe lips teasiugly near. For a
moment as he looked into her faith
omless eyes, Bedight felt the weak
ness of man for woman coming over
him. To combat it, he moved farther
away, supporting her at arms length.
at would be we'll to leave me at the
cottage and go back for help. Look
inside, please, While I lean against
this BIRCH" she directed.
There's probably burglar in the
woodbox or a man under the bed
he said laughingly, as he started
toward the cottage.
The mayor stood for moment
upon the threshold and then entered
AS his form disappeared within, there
appeared around the corner OF the
cabin mantle game warden of
Lakeville. In twinkling he had
slammed shut the door and thrown
a great bar across it 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
zane, 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 a
! queer sinking of certain hopes that
heretofore had buoyed up heart
yearning to take high hurdles. No
a woman may keep 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 mayer. said before
| his sense of the ludicrous returned.
Then, in full possession of the humor
of the situation, he sat down OH 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 is in pub
lie, where. it is always good taste to
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 of their first
meeting, that worthy did not desire
to take further chances.
"But if Miss Vining planned the
trap, why did not the warden bring
enough help with him to arrest me?"
This was the question the mayor
asked himseIf--and gave it 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
Ave 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
iails than those possessed by the or
binary hamlet in the north country
He was securely conined-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, 'Im up on the
roof playing solitaire"
''Will you tell me which of the
girls was with you last night?" de
manded Miss vtning. "If SO, 1 will
let you OUT
ooh, 1 like it in here replied the
mayor, enthusiastically. 'It's a nice,
quiet place, no hooks to bait, no
mound builders to excavate, no run,
away horses to catch, no balsam to
pick, nothing TO do but relax and
think of the perfi6y of ones fellows
| feminine gender"
I'm glad you like it." responded
| the ''iudoe" with q wholesome flavor