The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-11-19

search the whole landscape far and
near for traces of human beings. But
the woods were so dense that it was
like looking for a needle in hay
stack. What he hoped to see, and
what he did presently see, was
smoke, a pale amethystine column of
1t rising near the base Of one of the
mountains. To find the fire, or the
remains of ii, from which that smoke
was rising would not be very diff
cult. He took its bearings very
carefully. 1t was directly between
him and the smallest of three
barren cliffs which formed the first
upthrust of the mountain, and as
he judged about half a mile this
side of the cliff. At the base Of that
cliff was a rattlesnake den, and Tom
my was in the habit of giving it a
pretty wide berth, for the snakes
sometimes wandered long distances
from their favorite ledges in search
of food and water, and a good woods
man like Tommy preferred that they
should do their hunting in peace.
Just like a man who would bring
caulhower into the woods to camp in
snake country" he thought; wonder
if. / can pick one up with these
glasses"
He focused his glasses on the base
of the cliff and amused himself for
some time In trying to discern a
snake. But either the distance was
! too great or there was none in evil
dence, and he was about to give up
when suddenly man walked casually
into the field Of his vision--and out
OF it,
WELL I'm jiggered," said Tommy
Il haven't found a snake, but I've
found the next best thing Now what
the devil is Professor Stilliter doing
in this part of the world?"
Again he lifSed the glasses and
again saw the professor. He appeared
to be polishing something on the
sleeve of his Norfolk jacket. Now
and then the something flashed bril-.
liantly in the sunlight. II might have
been a pocket mirror, or a great dia.
mond. Whatever it was, Professor
Stilliter presently dropped it into his
pocket, forced his way into a dense
clump of bushes at the very base OF
the cliff and disappeared
But Tommy was not to investigate
those bushes at the foot of the cliff
He was within quarter of mile
of them, walking swiftly and quietly
along an old lumber trail, when sud.
denly his quick ear caught sound
of footsteps and at the same moment
his quick eyes caught a glimpse of
something white that moved. He
stepped quickly into a thicket of al
ders, crouched low and to all intents
and purposes was blotted out of ex'
istenCe
Along the trail, his heavy baby face
streaming with sweat. came Professor
Stillter leading by the hand a slim
and lovely girl who carried her head
like a princess She was dressed in
n white garment that fell in unbroken
folds from her shoulders to her feet,
like n Roman toga. On her bare feet
she wore thin sandals, on her bare
head a circlet of gold in which jewels
flashed Her mouth had an express
sion of celestial gentleness and
smoothness, but her eyes, half shield,
ed by their lids and lashes, were with.
out expression. She seemed to Tom
my like a girl. not of this earth, walk.
ing in her sleep. He had never seen
a face so beautiful, so sweet or so
touchingly innocent.
Having passed Tommy's hiding
place, Professor Stilliter turned from
the trail and led the heavenly vision
TO sort of natural seat that over
looked a quiet pool from which Tom
my had often taken trout.
She sat reflected in the pool, and
looking straight ahead of her, and not
seeing-if you know what l mean.
Professor Stilliter had let so her hand
and was tiptoeing off. abandoning her
apparently. but when he had gone
little way he turned and made curl
Gus passes in the air with his hands,
and spoke suddenly in voice of COM
mand. the one word. Wake"
Expression and light came into the
great eyes. and she looked about her
with a kind Of startled delight. Tom
NY fer some reason or other was
trembling from head 10 foot
\ stick cracked. She turned her
head toward the sound bIt Professor
SGlliter had made good Is tiPtcei
retreat. Fs vas TO '1- --rr 'l si.ht.
Then Tommy, sill trembling With