River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-24


teries, interesting. For what purpose
had it been built and why this isola-
ton? 1t was too fimsy for reser-
voir and too expensive for the wild
freak of a crank.
A nearer view increased his curios-
ity. In the projection of the roof over
the curving sides he found fresh food
for inquiry. AS he examined it in the
walk he made around the whole struc-
ture, he came to a place where some
thing like hinge became visible and
further on another. The roof was not
simply a roof; it was also lid cap
able of being raised for the air and
light which the lack of windows ne
cessitated. This was an odd discov-
cry indeed, giving to the uncanny
structure the appearance Of huge
box, the cover of which could be
raised or lowered at pleasure. And
again he asked himself for what 1t
could be intended? Nothing in his
experience supplied him with an an
Swer.
A team was approaching. He could
hear the heavy tread of horses work
ing their laborious way through trees
whose obstructing branches swished
before and behind them. They were
bringing IN load for this shed, whose
uses he would consequently soon un-
derstand Grateful for his good luck
for his was a curiosity which
could not stand defeat-he took a few
steps into the wood, and from the
vantage point of concealing cluster
of bushes, fixed his eyes Upon the
hollow
Something blue moved there, and in
another moment, to his great amaze
ment, there stepped into view the spir-
tied form of Doris Scott, who if he
had given the matter a thought he
would have supposed to be sitting just
then by the bedside of her patient. a
half mile back on the road.
She was dressed for the woods in a
blue skirt and jacket and moved like
a leader in front of heavily laden
wagon now coming to a standstill be-
fore the closely shut shed-if such we
may call it.
II have key" so she called out to
the driver who had paused for or
ders. when / swing the doors wide.
drive straight in"
Sweetwater took a look at the wag-
on. 1t was piled high with large wood
en- boxes on more than one of which
he could see scrawled the words: o.
Brotherson, Derby, Pa.
This explained her presence, but
the boxes told nothing. They were of
all sizes and shapes, and some of
them so large that the assistance of
another man was needed to handle
them. Sweetwater was about to of
fer his services when q second man
appeared from somewhere in the rear,
and the detectives attention being
thus released from the load out of
which he could make nothing, he al
lowed it to concentrate upon the
young girl who had it in charge and
who, for many reasons, was the one
person of supreme importance to him.
She had swung open the two wide
doors, and now stood waiting for
horse and wagon to enter. With
locks flying free-she wore no bon
net-she presented a picture of ever
increasing interest to Sweetwater
Truly she was a very beautiful girl,
buoyant, healthy and sweet; as unlike
as possible his preconceived notions
of Miss Challoner''s humble little pro-
tege. Her brown hair, of rich chest
nut hue, was in itself a wonder.
Sweetwater watched her with admi-
ration as she superintendent the un-
loading of the wagon and the disposal
of the various boxes on the floor with
in; but as nothing she said during
the process was calculated to afford
the least enlightenment in regard to
their contents, he presently wearied
of his inaction and turned back tow
ards the highway, comforting himself
with the reflection that in few short
hours he would have her to himself
when nothing but a blunder on his
part should hinder him from sounding
her young mind and getting such an
swers to his questions as the affair
in which he was simply interested, de-
manded.