Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-10-15
CHAPTER I-continued.

The elder sister did not care to In
still into the heart of her charge the
fear which was in her own.
who knows but there may be good
news in the envelope? Dads always
doing something like that New
Year'si"
The collie. released from the kitchen.
came bounding in. In his exuberance
he knocked over a cloisonne vase. Both
girls were glad to welcome this di.
version. They rose simultaneously
and gave chase. The dog headed for
the outdoor studio, where they caught
him and made believe they were pun
ishing him.
Quietly the watcher entered through
the window, alert and tense. He flew
to the desk. found the envelope,
steamed 1t open at the kettle. extract
ed the sealed envelope and Colonel
Hare's note. He smiled as he read
the latter and changed his plans COM
pletely. He would not play messen-
ger; he would use a lure instead With
his ear strained for sounds. he wrote
and substituted a note. This houri Of
Sa'adi would not pause to note the
the subject would enchain her
thoughts. 1t was all accomplished in
the space OF a few minutes. Smiling.
he passed out into the fast settling
twilight.
They were shipping a lion to San
Francisco. and the roaring and con.
fusion were all very satisfactory to the
trespasser.
Midnight. From afar came the mel
low notes of the bells In the ancient
Spanish mission. The old year was
dead. the new year was born. carrying
with 1t the unchanging sound of hap
piness and misery, or promises made
and promises broken. of good and evil
The packet" cried Winnie
Kathlyn recognized in that call that
Winnie was only child. All the re-
sponsibility lay upon her shoulders
She ripped the cover from the packet
and read the note.
"Kathlyn: If not heard from I'm held
captive in Alfalfa. Sealed document
can save me. Bring 1t yourself to Al
iaha by first steamer. FATHER"
Il knew it." said Kathlyn. calmly
The f:ar in her heart had. as the
brow. man had anticipated. blinded
her 10 the fact that this was not her
fatt-er's characteristic blunt scrawl.
"Oh. Kit. Kit"
Hush. Winnie! | must go, and go
alone. Where's the evening paper?
All, here It is. Let me see what boat
leaves San Francisco tomorrow. The
Empress of India, 6 a. m. ] must make
that. Now. you're your fathers daugh.
ter. too Winnie. You must stay be-
hind and be brave and wait. shall
come back. shall find father. II
have to rouse all India. Now. to pack"
When they arrived at the station the
passenger train had just drawn out.
For a while Kathlyn felt beaten. She
would be compelled to wait another
week. 1t was disheartening.
why not try the freight, them"
cried Winnie.
you little angel! never thought
of that,"
But the crew would not hear of It.
1t was absolutely against the COM
pany's rules. Kathlyn could have
cried.
TT isn't money. miss. it's the rules"
said the conductor, kindly. Il can't
do It,"
Kathlyn turned in despair toward
the station. 1t was then she saw the
boxed lion on the platform. She re-
turned to the conductor of the freight.
"why isn't that lion shipped?"
I'VE can't carry lion without an
attendant. Miss. You ought to know
that
Very we'll" replied Kathlyn. She
smiled at the conductor confidently.
It'll travel as the lions attendant. You
certainly cannot object to that"
II guess you've got me-" admitted
the conductor. But where the dickens
will we put the cat? Every car is
closed and locked, and there is not
an empty?'
You can easily get the lion in the
caboose. I'll see that he doesn't
bother any one"
Lions in the caboose is a new one
on me. Well. you know your dads
business better than do. Look alive.
boya. and get that angora aboard. This
is Miss Hare herself, and she'll take
charge"
Kit, XIII"
"Winnie."
20, I'll be brave. I've Just got to he.
lBut I've never been left alone before"
The two girls embraced and Winnie
went sobbing back to the maid who
waited on the platform.
What happened in that particular
caboose has long since been newspa-
per history. The crew will go on tell
ing It till 1t becomes as fabulous as
.one of Slndbad's yarns. How the lion
escaped. how the fearless young WON
IN captured II along, hnaided, may be
s,,-~ - 'Ne nles NJ all metropolitan