Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-18
His One
Failing
An Odd Episode In 4 City
Bellies Summer Cam.
paisn In the Woods.

3 paisn In the Woods. !
3 By ELLIOT WALKER )
3 Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
"TIl get Tinker to take you out
guess" said old Sackett "He's just
come In"
lis he a good. safe manT asked Mrs
Cranky.
"Who-Tinker? Safe? Well. he's sup.
posed to be safe-safe as they make
'em round here" responded the hotel
keeper He's been up in the woods
with a party for two weeks-got back
this mornin'. Best guide on the lakes
for q young feller. Quiet. good lookin'
and knows his business-you'n like
him, marin. He'll work around the
house till another party picks him up
maybe a day or two or week
You're lucky to git him-I don't know
as he'll 60 out. He's cranky some
times"
The Cranbys had just come up to the
String lakes. that we'll known chain
where the lower one affords good hotel
accommodations. fair general society
and poor fishing and the upper ones
dwindle into wilderness with its ac'
compartments. according to distance.
1T was too bad that papa had to
get that disgusting telegram which
called him back to nasty old Wall
street Just as he was comfortably set.
tied. How mean and inconsiderate for
those people to fail at such time"
So said Ethel. who, with her mother
and sisters. lamented the trying cir.
cumstances in various degrees Of i'm.
potent wrath.
HE will be back soon. In a week
probably" explained Mrs. Cranky.
Meanwhile we must enjoy ourselves
as best we may. 1t is too bad. though.
What shall we do for amusement? It's
q dull place"
Lets have picnic tomorrow" cried
Harriet. the second shining light In the
galaxy Of daughters. "That'll be fun"
Her eighteen years had not dulled
her appreciation Of the love Of free.
dom. and the woods and waters ap,
pealed to her strongly.
Ruth and Maria. the junior hopefuls,
whose respective ages Of fifteen and
thirteen were as yet undimmed by the
tarnish Of society, gave glad accord t.
the proposition. To them a picnic en-
braced many thoughts Of mild adven'
ture. as we'll as variety Of refresh,
ments. which alone was worthy OF
their approving consideration.
Ethel. whose twenty summers had
brought to her much beauty Of face
and form and u rather undue portion
of masculine alteration, pOohpsohed
the picnic idea at first Finally she
graciously yielded, thereby receiving
much thankful acclamation from Ruth
and Maria.
'I won't row five women. Sackett-
you can put that down." observed MIR.
Tinker when he was approached. I'm
willing to take two. Let 'em have a
couple of boats. and the lnjun can row
one. Five females In boat isn't
safe"
Tinker had considerable fault to find
and he did it loudly. addressing his re,
marks to the hotel man. who was on
hand to see them OF.
why don't you keep your old tubs
in some kind of shape. Sackett? I'm
ashamed to take a lady out in this one
its all fish scalesi" he cried.
Hes q mite sour this morning,
whispered Sackett to Ethel. II don't
mind him. Usually be don't say but
little. Fine lookin' feller when he's
dressed up. Knows a lot too"
The girl was gazing at the active
figure in the boat. swabbing away with
an old rag Of sponge.
II think Ill go in Mr.. Tinker's boat.
she said very audibly.
The man looked up, and theireyes met
"She's a stunnerr' thought Tinker
He looks like nobleman in dis
guise." mused Ethel I'm take Maria
with me-" she called, land then the
children won't get fooling."
The "Injun." who was only tall
tanned Yankee with strongly pro
nounced features, accepted all burdens
meekly and grinned as he started witt
his load.
Where are you goin.' TinkerY' hi
asked as that gentleman drew away
from him.
"Over to Bogey point" answered
Tinker. "Got any terbackerT
"Yepw replied the injun. "Got
whole new plug"
"How long will 1t take to row to tn
point?" asked Ethel.
"Half an hour" was the short an
swer.
The pretty girl in the stern gazet
re6ectively across the lake. She won
dered how much she could accomplish
In half an hour.
She brought her eyes back to tn
face of Tinker. He was looking
straight at her with an expression o
respectful admiration. and his brigh
brown eyes sought hers for momen
and then dropped.
The girl had smiled into them,
quick "I like your smile. and tn
guides cheeks burned through the tar
His features wore an almost childis
look of pleasure and embarrassment.
Ethel smiled softly at some interest
ing thought. Could she have read tn
mind of Tinker she would not hav
smiled.
Trying to firt with the guide. eh!
he was thinking "Well. let her 60 ],
I'll lust lead her on. I'm nothing bu
DOOR, unsophisticated countrymar
but good looking enough for tha
beauty to try to upset. I'll have som
fun out Of II myself. I haven't rowe'
pretty girls around this old pond TO
six years for nothing. She evidently
thinks / never saw a girl before.
guess she is younger than she looks"
Tinker stopped rowing long enoug
to pull of his gray slouch hat ant
drop It at his feet. Then he dippe'
Il lr t.t,<