The Washburn leader., 1913-10-31
THE SCALE
TURNED
By ARTHUR cRIcsBY

By ARTHUR CRGSBY
Edwin Hoxie, an American artist
seeking subjects for his brush In Spain,
left Madrid to 60 to the mountains of
Toledo, some sixty miles from the cap
ital. Arriving at an inn midway be-
: tween the plain and the summit Of the
range, he concluded to make It his
headquarters. going about among the
mountains sketching He arrived in
the evening and concluded to put OF
: any work till the morrow. The inn
being in lonely spot and at the time
apparently no other boarders in the
house, he seated himself on veranda,
where he could overlook the plain far
below. and called for supper.
The cloth was laid by girl in a
short petticoat encircled with stripes
Of various gay colors. beneath which
appeared dainty foot and ankle.
Hoxfe was very young, and youth
10 unthinking. He permitted himself
to gaze too admiringly on the senorita
and did not take the pains not to do so
while she was looking. he spoke some
Spanish and began to chat with her,
but could get nothing except "Yes, Sc
nor" and mo. senor," for she was a
difadent little thing, especially in the
presence of one in the social scale so
far above her.
There were many points in the vicin-
ty where attractive views were to be
obtained. and Hoxie attended to his
work, not thinking about the girl when
doing SO. But in the evening between
supper and. bedtime he needed COM
pany and after supper would invent
ways to keep her with him on the We
:, randa. The inn was kept by her aunt.
and the two women were the only per-
sons in the house besides the few way
farers who stopped there. The aunt
Hoxie addressed as sonora, the girl as
Pepita. which was her name. When
he was no: out sketching he was con-
tinually calling on the one or the other
for .something-either glass Of wine
or a bit of cheese or for Pepita to
bring her guitar and play for him.
. "YOu are troubled about something,
Pepita," he said one evening to the
girl while she waited upon him at sup
per. what is it?"
Nothing, senor." she said.
''Yes. there is something you fear.
. Tell me-"
: ''Well. then. senor. there are bandits
in these. mountains. You should not
go. out sketching."
you must be mistaken. asked
about that before coming here and
was told that would be as safe here
4. as, In Madrid"
This did not appear to relieve the
girls fears. There IL something that
draws man to woman who fears
for him. and Hoxie drew the girl to
:, him and kissed her.
ut Is very lovely for you." be said.
Ito be anxious for my safety. Don't
worry. think I can take care Of
myself"
There was sound in some shrub
berry just beyond the veranda. Pepita
started. gasped and trembled. Hoxie
looked up at her, surprised. and was
about to ask her what had frightened
her when she ran into the house.
The next evening was very warm.
and Hoxie lay smoking in q hammock
in the yard. The moon\ was at the
full and In the rare atmosphere at
such height cast a bright light
Hoxie dosed. Suddenly he reused him
self and looked upon a shadow cast
BY the moon on the ground directly be-
fore him. 1t was the shadow Of man
With arm uplifted. The closed DIST
seemed to grasp something. for there
was protrusion from 1t not clearly
enough shadowed for Hoxie to discern
what Il. was. Hoxie OWNED that Il
vas Z weapon Of some sort. most
probably knife.
Whatever was done must be instan.
taneous. Hoxie's reasoning certainly
was. He reasoned that some one was
about to kill him: that the murder
would be committed silently. The only
method OF escape, seemed to be to call
to some one. This might frigbten or
the murderer. 5sS3s
4 .''Senorai'. hs called without display
ing any alarm ii bic voice.
What do you wish. senor?''
"A glass Of wine"
!. At the l3rst word the shadow with
drew 20 that he did not zee II. His
enemy had sprung back.
!. Never mind" Hoxie said, rising a.
he spohs. y win drink II in the
house, .li IL I. HI ij5 n q \. 54.
A.s55t daring to betray bis knowledge i
~ his danger BY looking back, he
wogked into the house without turning
bis head. He had not seen his enemy
s-only his shadow, Nor did be zee
him later His coolness had saved his /
lifk His enemy quite likely was in
such condition Of mind that word |