The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-10
AClose Secret
A SHORT STORY

a CouutTy nome WOulun Is Dc oC-
lightful to get out into the woods
now for a few days to enjoy the au-
tumn foliageg'
81 love the fall, too,' said Arthur
When l was a boy I used to think
my October visits at Red Roof. Uncle
Horace's country place, the most fun
of any, But Uncle Horace and Aunt
Della don't stay late in the country
any more
Wouldn't it be delightful ] sug-
gested, IF we could go out to Red
Roof over Sunday? Betty and Uncle
Bob could chaperon US and we could
have two or three days picnic. But
old people are so fussy about their
possessions that suppose your un-
Gle wouldn't trust you with the
placer
"Of course he'd trust me- declared
Arthur Uncle Horace isn't the least
bit fussy- He's as jolly an old boy as
ever lived
Well. then shall we get up the
party for next Sunday" I asked.
Wed better take advantage of this
fine weather.
So we Immediately began to make
our plans. You'd better invite some
man in addition to Uncle Bob" I ad-
vised. because I suppose the water
has been disconnected and there will
be lot of pumping to do and heaps
of wood to bring in for the open fires.
If there's a large enough party no
one will have to work very hard"
What a wonderful little manager
you are. Luciie." exclaimed Arthur SO
admiringly that ] felt encouraged to
suggest other arrangements
SOME TROUBLES
When We all arrived at Red Roof
the following Friday afternoon 1 felt
that I had forgotten nothing that
would add to our comfort But Sat
urday morning the men had to walk
three miles to the village for kero-
sene. sugar and flour, which we were
lacking. 1 had naturally supposed
that such staple articles would be in
the house. l had on my white Scotch
bonnet ready to go with them, when
Uncle Bob remarked that he thought
it would be too lonely for Betty at
Red Roof with us all away.
She isn't good for six mile tramp
on country roads," he said So, OF
course. I had to give up the walk. II
seems to me / am always having to
give up things for Betty.
She took a magazine and curled up
before the fire. After a while, when
she had fallen asleep. I stole out and
went down to the lake shore and got
into one of the canoes the men had
launched. 1 thought it would be fun
to go over to the island to gather
some of the fringed gentians that
Arthur had told US used to grow there
when he was boy.
searched through the island woods
until | was tired without finding any
gentians, and when I went back to
get my canoe / was greatly surprised
not to find IT. At first / was somewhat
shore and discovered a canoe in a lit
tie sheltered cove quite a distance
from the place where I thought / re-
membered leaving it. When I got back
to Red Roof 1 found the men in the
kitchen making a lark of preparing
the noon dinner.
You girls came back too soon." said
George Requier, as I appeared. I'VE
intended to surprise you with a three
course meal"
But where's Betty" I asked.
why, wasn't she with you?" asked
Uncle Bob.
mo. I left her mapping on the
couch. She must have gone for lit
tie walk in the woods"
well, I wish she was here" said
Uncle Bob.
Don't worry. She'll get back soon.
of course" I reassured him.
Betty did not come, and Uncle Bob
grove so distressed that he would not
eat dinner, but went into the woods
to look for her. or course. George
and Arthur felt that they must join
the search. and as / didn't like being
left alone I went with Arthur. When
we all got back to the cottage after a
long search Betty was still missing.
Uncle Bob decided to go to the Nearest
farmhouse and telephone to the VIII
lage TO ask IL anything had been seen
of her there.
Wait" said Arthur, "I Zee that one
of the canoes is gone. Perhaps she's
on the lake
We all dashed down to the shore,
and, to our relief, we saw some one
on the island waving something white.
Uncle Bob jumped into canoe and
was Off in an instant.
HAD A CHILL
When he returned with Betty he
said that she had a chill and he
thought II would be wise to go back
to town on the evening train.
After Betty went to her room Uncle
Bob told us that when she couldn't
find her own canoe on the shore
where she had left 1t she searched
about and discovered another canoe
floating some distance out. So she
waded into the icy water In hope
less effort to get the boat "Of
course, she was chilled to the bone
said Uncle Bob, "and she's been alone
on the island for hours, frightened
lest we shouldn't find her before
dark
When I protested that it was too
bad to break up our little house
party-for. of course, ] couldn't stay
without them-Uncle Bob drew me
aside and told me that he did not
think It becoming in me to object
to any plans for Betty's comfort or