The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-29

Mountain
The StOry of Its Power of
Attraction
By CLARISSA MACKIE

for long time before he reached out
and held it up to his companions eyes
What did tell you, Baker?" he ask
ed quietly.
Baker rubbed his red hair perplexed
ly. 1T certainly does act cantanker-
ous," he admitted. If any one should
ask me I'd say that there was a very
powerful magnet close by; but, as for
making me believe that Magnet noun
tain is really and truly magnetic, ii
can't be done"
What is the matter with my com
pass and your watch?" demanded
Linn.
Don't bother me with batty ques-
tions:;" answered Baker loftily. Per
NIT me to pursue my study of the
classics in peace" And he folded back
the pages Of his paper backed detective
story. propped his elbows ON the ground
near the bright freight and read alb
sorbedly.
Linn laughed and stretched his long
limbs.
"Surely McOlin must have had some
authority for his statement that there
existed in this vicinity a mountain
with strong magnetic powers" he
unused, turning over the pages OF DR..
McOlin's "Wanderings In Out of the
Way Places Here he speaks of the
peculiar behavior OF his delicate in
struments and of his visit to the noun
tain and how his suspicious were con
firmed. He sends his book to his pub
fishers in New York and thenceforth
drops out of sight entirely. No one
knows what has become of Sandy Nc
Olin. | wonder"
Baker looked up and grinned.
"Still wondering about the noun
tain?" he gibed.
They call it Magnet mountain, :"
contended Linn, scowing earnestly.
They named me Percy Rollo Baker.
but do | look like it," demanded the
strong featured giant sarcastically.
Linn stretched himself again. arose
and sauntered out from the trees into
the moonlight.
I'm going for walk" he called
back.
Don't get too near the mountain
sang Baker. his nose deep in the book.
Across the open patch OF moonlight
and into the narrow trail that wound
through the spruces on the hillside
Linn Ellison found himself undergoing
strange sensations. A new and pow
erful vitality seemed TO possess him as
he mounted upward. AT the top Of the
bill he paused for Il moment. looking
up att the majestic grandeur Of the
snow capped peak Of Magnet noun.
tain. Bathcd in moonlight. the peak
gllstencd like polished silver. and some
where below. among the black pines
that clothed the sides. there cleaned
yellow light.
Il wonder" muttered Linn again.
Now he plunged down the trail and
crossed Il little valley, to climb steadily
up the opposite slope toward the silver
peak Of Magnet mountain.
He lost sight of the yellow light i'm
medlately. and his way up the noun
tain lei through untracked forests of
pine and fir and spruce. His feet slip
ped OH the fallen needles, and in his
nOstrils was the sweet pungency of
balsamic odors. He was painting Il lit
tie when he paused to rest. Throwing
himself down under the low spreading
branches Of n giant spruce. he gave
himself up to the WEAKNESS that Op-
pressed his eyelids.
He slept.
Linn Ellison awoke with q start to
find thar the moonlight had invaded
his resting place. He sat up and look
ed dazedly ut the apparition that fit
ted across the space and lowered in
the shadows.
1t was girl clad in short skirted
khaki costume. Her little feet. in high
tan boots. were plainly visible. while
her face was in deep shadow. but Linn
saw that she was slender. 1.-THE and
graceful and that her slim fingers were
clasped about the barrel of shotgun.
There was tantaliZing uncertainty
about the face that could not be seen.
"Who is there" he asked sharply.
A quick little sigh answered him, fol
lowed by sweet. quavering voice:
WHO are you? Oh, who are you?"
she inquired.
Then you are alive after all" ex-
claimed Linn joyously. for no reason
that he could explain. upon my
word. ] thought you were ghostv
"Who are you?" repeated the girl
more steadily, as II treasured 10y the
sound of his voice. Please tell me
what you are doing here"
IL am here for the shooting. Surely,
this isn't private property"
"Oh. no. Only | needed help, and
wondered IL You could be trusted"
She came forward then. and the moon
light revealed the secret OF her face.
Linn Ellison stared speechlessly at
her.
II need help" she repeated. with
culver i'm her voice.
Forgive me-" cried Linn. 81 can be
trusted, be assured of that. What can
I do"
"My father is III. We have little
camp up yonder, and ! need brandy
and medicines for him. There Is no
one to send. and ! cannot go alone"
IL have small medicine case in my
pocket" was Inns prompt reply.
Take me TO your father, and I will do