The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

was unknown
The stranger after three days of idling casu-
ally asked the way the wild animal farm his old
friend, Col Hare 1t easy enough to find. At the
village inn he treated with tolerant contempt
These brown fellows forever coming and going,
and fro, from the colonels celebrated farm.
At o'clock in the afternoon the 31st day of De-
cember, this East Indian peered cautiously into the
French window of the Hare bungalow The picture he
saw there sent thrill into his hearts She fair
and beautiful houri of aadi. She at desk,
holding long, white envelope in her hand By and by
she put it away, and he particular to note the
drawer in which she placed it. That the dark haired
girl at the tea tabaret equally charming did not stir
the watcher. Dark haired plentiful in his
native land Yonder the girl of the photograph
the likeness of which had fired his heart for many
day. With the patience of the oriental he stood in the
shadow and waited. Sooner later they would leave
the room and later with the deftness OF his
breed he would enter The leopard he had heard about
nowhere TO be
Winnie" said Kathlyn. dread it."
Winnie set down the teacup, her eyes brimming.
What can it all mean? Not a line from father sincs
Colombo, five months gone"
Do you think"
"No, mol" replied Kathlyn, hastily. Father some-
times forgets He may be hunting miles from telegraph
wires and railroads it is only that he should forget
long, Who knows? He may have dropped down into
Borneo He wanted some pythons, so heard him say"
The elder sister did nst into the heart of
her charge the fear which in her
Who knows but there may be good in the
velope? Dads always doing something like that New
Years!"
The collie, released from the Kitchen bounding
In his exuberance he knocked cloisonne
Both girls glad to welcome this diversion. They
simultaneously and chase. The dog headed for the
studio uhor obt do ba
they Furnishing him.
Quietly the watcher through the window,
and tense. He few to the desk, found the envelope
steamed it at the KETTLE extracted the sealed
velope and Col Hare's note He smiled he read the
latter and changed his plans completely He would
play messenger he would lure instead With his
strained for sounds, he substituted
This hour Saadf would pause to note the differ
in writing; the vness OF the subject would enchan
her thoughts 1t all accomplished in the space of
few minutes Smiling, he passed into the fast settling
twilight
They shipping a lion to San Francisco, and the
roaring and confusion all very satisfactory
trespasser.
Midnight. From afar the mellow notes of the
bells in the ancient Spanish mission. The old year
dead, the year born, carrying with it the
changing sound of happiness misery, promises
and promises broken, of good and evil.
"EThe packet" cried Winnie
Kathlyn recognized in that call that Winnie was only
child All the responsibility lay upon her shoulders
She ripped the from the packet and read the
Kahlyn If not heard from I'm held captive in Al
laha Sealed document Bring it yourself
Alaha by first steamer. FATHER"
81 knew it, said Kathlyn, calmly The fear in her
heart had the brown had anticipated Blinded her
the fact that this her fathers characteristic
blunt scrawl
Hush, Winnie! must CO. and go alone Where's
the evening paper? Ah there it is Let me see what
boat leaves San Francisco tomorro. The Empress Of
India, 6 a. m. must take that Now, you're your
fathers daughter too, Winnie You must stay behind
and be brave wait. l shall come back shall find
father if l have to rouse all India. Now, pack
When they arrived the station the passenger train
had just drawn For while Kathlyn felt beaten.
She would be compelled wait another week. 1t was
dsheartening.
Why not try the freight, then. !" cried Winnie
You little ANGEL thought of that
But the crew would not of it. was absolutely
against the companys rules. Kahlyn could have cried
1T isn't money, MISS it's the rules" said the CO.
ductor, kindly. " 1 can't do it,
Kathyn turned in despair toward the station It wa.
then she the boxed lion the platform She r.
turned to the conductor of the freight.
. Why Isn't that lion shpped?"
we can't carry lion without an attendant, miss.
You ought to know that
Very WE'LL" replied Kathlyn. th, smiled at the con-
ductor confidently I'll travel the lions attendant
You certainly cannot object to that"
II guess you've got me-" admitted the Conductor But
where the dickens will put the cat? Every car i
closed and locked, and there is IN empty"
You can easily get the lion in the caboose I'll see
that he doesn't bother any onep
Lions in the caboose is a new one on me- We'll. You
know your dads business better than do Look alivA
boys and get that angoa aboard This Miss Hare her
SELF and she'll take charge"
Kit Kit?'
"Winne!"
o. III be brave I've just got to bs, But I've never
been left alone before"
The two girls embraced, and Winnie went sobbin,
back to the maid who waited the platform
wnat happened IN that particular caboose has long
since been newspaper history The crew i'll 90 on telling
as feb q 4