Putnam patriot., 1914-12-25

 oat Of me-" declared Yi-"only. have taat fye-pound box of chocolates ready for me"
 You think you are going to win it?' questioned Nellie.
 T know l am going to win it." in- sisted VI. You mustn't think me a bold brassy thing. girls. You see, l am heart free, while you have real iove affair every season Because all men are alike to me. l am not made coy or unnatural when | meet them. Never was under the power of this soft, sinuous influence you call love. SO l face the enemy or the victim. if you like-bravely. 1 shall meet your Mir Linden today, and forthwith l shall try 10 capture him"
 Wis plan was Il simple one, She Lad learned considerable Of the ways and habits of the rich bachelor. of his homo environment aad his daily routine il was T lonely route. rocky aad 0bscufe tdat she took on her way Co bis home.
 The almost unbroken country or rather trail, was rough and rugged Vi experienced more than one uu- graceful and painful tumble She finally reached a point way up the wooded mountain side where 2o-mile landscape spread out before her like a panorama.
 @fle will be here in an hour" solilo- quized the well posted maiden. T had better be ready to receive him"
 Vi knelt beside her machine opened its tool pocket. secured a little wrench, aud proceeded to unscrew sprocket She removed metal pin that held this ;.art of the mechanism in shape. Then rising to her feet she deliberately threw this in among dense nest of shrubbery.
 Now she felieitated herself who can say that 1 am not a poor. unfor- tuuate wayfarer. landed with dis abled bicycle 20 miles from home? He Is coming"
 Yes, away over across the valley. toiling up hard incline was a blue and maroon eolored automobile, Vi Was sure 1t WAS the Linden machine, It held an occupant, it's owner. Vi felt confident. She placed her bicycle in a wrecked looking condition under tree near at hand and seated herself on rock at the roadside. She would put OH her most doleful expression and then laugh outright. realizing the role she thought clever she was about to play
 Vi glanced at her watch She esti- mated that it would be about half an hour before the automobile would reach the spot She smiled as she viewed just sufficient dust on her neat jacket to indicate a fall She was sure she could without practicing portray the frightened. timid maiden. ma rooned in an unfriendly heath and ap- pealing to manliness and chiyalry for assistance.
 Mercy"
 It was all of a sudden. 5 minutes later. that Vi uttered the sharp, fear compelling cry. Something all unfore- seen had arisen to disturb her we'll seasoned plans One of those sud den furious storm outbursts that wreaked vital fury on the district had come up The wind was a hurricane, the pouring torrent drenched her. while she, brave as she believed her self, shrank from ehe binding glare and the harsh reverberating crashes of thunder
 Thus it was that, breasting the tenn pest valorously. but with due caution on that dangerous roadway. Mir. Lin den drew his machine to a violent halt at the sight of white faced terrified girl forgetful of all her dark plot, pleading only for eompanionship and protection.
 She indeed quavered forth frag- ments of sentences concerning a l stranded bicycle, but ineoherently. Never did a moro courteous gentle man assist an afrighted maiden from an overpowering dilemma. l We must proceed rapidly" he said, as she crouched down beside him in ! the cushioned seat. T suppose you i belong townwards. but the nearest 1 shelter is my lodge"
 They made for 1t. The storm fn- creased in violence. the mountain tops i were wrtathed in fog aud darkness.