The Delta independent., 1915-03-12

Miss Bird who had the choice of the
opposing line, and she had her love
sick SWANS beside her. All were good
spoilers, but she was always the last
of the two lines to go down. Her
mother had said of her:
Nobody can say whom Bird will
fall in love with and marry. but you
can make up your mind it'll have to
be somebody who can spell her down"
BY and by the hard words came, and
the lines began to thin and shorten up.
Until ne caught Miss Bird looking at
him defiantly, Mr.. Campbell had
wished he had kept out of it. There
was direct challenge in her eyes and
pose that awoke a feeling of antagon-
ism and he determined that the VIC
tory should be his.
In time they were the last two up.
OF course the hopes and sympathies
of the people were with the girl Even
in her alertness she caught whispered
words behind her which she was to
recall later on. For a long ten min
utes it was nip and tuck. as Deacon
Green expressed it, and the young
man had won the victory. There were
no signs of detection on her part, but
the victor held out his hand with
smile and said:
You did nobly. Let me say to you
/ that am one of a firm publishing
dictionary, and no word goes into it
until l have spelled it,
Il am glad that had such a worthy
antagonist" she pleasantly replied.
The next morning there was great
excitement in Freedom. Mr.. Camp
bell was missing. He had not re.
/ turned to the inn after the spelling
school. He had not left town in any
vehicle. He had not taken any of his
effects with him. Would he take the
highway thus on foot? He had been
seen leaving the schoolhouse, but after
that all traces were lost
/ The constable got busy, and with
| him score of people. 1t could not be
| that any accident had happened, and
/ telephone messages to the nearest vii
l lagos failed to ascertain that the miss
4 ing man had arrived there or been
/ seen upon the highways.
All day the hunt and the talk went
on and it was far into evening that
| Miss Bird remembered the whispered
words behind her: If he spells her
down it must come tonight. Is every
thing ready?"
Roy Campbell had mysteriously dis
/ appeared. Her would-be lovers must
have had a hand in it, for they were
all sitting together. There was no
lake or river into which they might
plunge him. If they had menaced him
into leaving the village, he would not
leave without calling at the hotel.
What then? 1t must be case of kid
naping, though that seemed too bold
an offense for the young men to com
nit
If it was case of kidnapping.
where was the victim being held?
Mr.. Davis was a quiet, even-tem-
pered man. Not once a year did he
get angry at anything, and he had
never been known to strike man a
blow. 1t was to be expected. there
fore. that he would be bewildered
when the daughter came to his bed
side at midnight and awoke him
Father. you are to get up and come
with me-"
Where? What?"
81 think l know where Mr.. Camp
bell is
Good Lord,"
Ten minutes later. when he had
Joined her downstairs, she said: It
believe the young men have kidnapped
Mr.. Campbell and are holding him in
the old cider mill. We are going to
see
Il will get the constable" he re-
piled.
We do not want him with US. We
I are gpiDg m u-i,baut
we find Mr.. Campbell in there alone
he will be bound. and We can release
him. If the young men are there you
are to sail in and knock their heads
on"
But I'm no fighter" he protested
But you've got to be or I'll deny
you as father!"
The young men had made prisoner
of Roy Campbell and borne him on
to the old cider mill. thinking to drive
him away from the village by threats.
When he defied thcm-when he was
missed and a search began. they knew
not what to do except to bind and
guard him until some plan was foruu-
lated. They were all there, seeking to
bribe and renewing their threats.
Hit every one of them, and hit
hard" the girl whispered in her faith
er's ear as they listened at the dilapi-
dated old door.
Mr.. Davis spat on his hands, kicked
the door down and sailed in. And
none escaped him. The town of Free
dom has never learned the full particu-
lars OF that adventure. and never will.
Ii has to be content with the marriage
that took place year later.