Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24
Drawings by M. Tore Hood

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around her lowered the lofty peaks of the highest
Rockies here shrouded in snowwhite cloud vels there
basking in richest sunlight 1t many weeks before
the avalanche of summer tourists would turn that peace
full valley and the trails that led far the depths of
the mountains into chattering, vapid pandemonium.
She the only guest at the little Swiss chalet that
nestled among the trees on knoll that rose just the
other side of the rustic bridge which she stood Save
for the house servants there seemed to be other
hangers-on 1t isolation with the edge just properly
removed for who or less dependent upon
the 1eshpots for creature comfort.
Suddenly she was startled by the sound of a heavy
object falling the bridge behind her. With thoughts
of bears and other wild animals springng into her mind,
she whrled about, expecting to face-she knew not
acty what But nothing met her gaze save the screen
of the trees with the chalet nesting among them until
her fell to the bridge which she Stood There lay
monkey wrench of goodly size. AS, she stopped to
pick up swift glance around showed not only that
not soul anywhere IN sight, but that nowhere was
there growth of trees shrubs, of forest
debris enough to give ambush to possible assail-
ant.
Puzzled and in spite Of herself, vaguely uneasy, if not
exactly alarmed she started slowly for the chalet.
Scarcely had she reached the end of bridge when her
ears caught something whirring through the air be-
hind her, and she faced about expecting to catch her
foe red handed oil dropped almost at her teet the
vscd yellow stuff squirting out upon the tips OF her tan
shoes
1t positively uncanny, especially as another and
more searching scrutiny of her surroundings showed her
that there possible place of concealment from
which the wrench and olcan ght have been thrown.
She felt little chill of apprehension and pausing only
long enough to pick up the ocan, she quickened her
steps and just about to turn into the trail leading
straight up the hill to the chalet when to her shapened
hearing there came the sound of a call.
FINE, little thread of call it was, and quite
canny in its timbre its suggestion of peculiar aloof
the mystery of the tools she held in her hands
Yet she halted resoutey, her scanning the valley
in widening circles. Again came the hail, still
threadlke, yet sounding clearer and and the
truthful chroncer must confess that as she listened
Miss Playfair the fastidous, the darling of society
continents stood there agape like the goose
girl Again the call, and this time she positively
jumped
Look aoft.7
Mechanically her eyes lifted to the great mass of
Mount Freehold then travelled slowly from peak to
peak of the great mountains that inclosed the valley
mo, no!' the voice called Straight up!"
Scarcely believing her she nevertheless threw her
head sharply back and then fairly staggered at the
sight that met her eyeS,-an aerOplane poised high
above her. its single occupant waving his hand energetic
ally at her.
a want to come down. he said through megaphone.
"Pease catch hold of the rope when it within
reach and pull me down..
In Mortified amaze, Katherine Payfar Rugged the
wrench and the dripping oilcan to her breast and da
zedy watched the aeroplane slowly crcled about,
gradually dropping lower, and then it finally came
to rest about two hundred feet above her, its driver
began to let out rope hand over hand Had her lie
depended upon it. she could not have moved and even
when the rope began to swing close to her head, she
made no move to grasp 1t.
Il want to come down, said the man again. Catch
hold of that rope won't you please and pull me down.
Still Katherine Playfar stood motioness
whats the matter? Can't you hear?" said the man,
of evaporation beginning appear in his voice.
"Yes-yes-I hear, Katherine managed finally
gasp her voice sounding queery she tried to direct
it above.
Then why don't you do as ASK said the man.
"Because-because-"
"Oh, red-handed poppycock!" exclaimed the man.
"Don be Boston Just take hold of that rope and pull
me down.
"But-but-I'm not strong enough said Katherine.
"How do you know" said the man. "You haven't
tried to see whether not you could do it
As Katherine tantalizingy superior smile widen
his mouth, her accustomed assurance returned with
rush Carefully setting down the Oilcan and wrench