The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-15
UNDER A WAR STAMP
BY ELSIE eRuHL MARTIN.

her father he had passed q pleasant
month abroad, his heart stirred with
in him. They had been nothing more
than friends, but she had made the i'm
preston of his life upon him. A
thought OF how genial and friendly
the father and daughter had been to
him. Of their present distressing con-
dition, of their friendlessness and pow
erty In foreign land, appealed TO the
best instincts of his loyal nature.
They were wealthy people, the Duri-
wages, but Earl as we'll had an abund.
ance of worldly means. He had a
business to attend to, and going
abroad just now meant something Sc
rious for its interests. but he was will.
ing to make the sacrifice.
When Earl reached his office he sat
down to think out his plans for an i'm
mediate departure While he was ar.
ranging in his mind all the details, the
office bow brought in the afternoon
mail. Earl dipped the letters over
car"lessly. Then bis face flushed up
and his eyes took to their depths
rare token Of interest. From post
mark and handwriting he knew at
once the source of one of the letters.
1T is from Elsa-from Miss Duri-
vage!" he breathed eagerly, and
opened It.
! The letter was a brief, ordinary mis-
sive, as II written between acquaint.
ances. II gave an address In the far
away war-beleaguered city. 1t told
of business there going on as usual.
Of no particular effect of the war
There was nothing in the letter that
would not pass the most critical cen
sorship.
There was a postscript to the let
ter and It greatly puzzled Earl. 1t
read: "The war stamp on this letter
is probably quite curiosity in Amer.
lea. You might soak II off, for they
will be scarce after while, and 1t Is
quite a memento to preserve"
"Of course, | will save It," muir
INJURED the ardent Earl thinking Of
the dainty lips that had touched the
insensible piece of paper, and he pro
ceeded to follow instructions.
"Why-there is writing under the
stamp!" exclaimed Earl, and with dis
tending eyes he read the words: I'VE
are penniless and starving"
In a flash Earl Hosmer read the
oracle. The letter had been written
in a noncommittal way that had
passed with the censor. Elsa had
used the war stamp to conceal mes
sage telling Of the real situation In
the district from which she wrotel
| 1t required no further thought fol
J Earl to arrive at speedy decision
The evening train bore him eastward
and two days later he was on thu
ocean, bound for the continental wa
center.
Within two hundred miles OF thu
city that held his beloved, the prog
ress of the ardent Earl was blocked
4 He had with him a large amount II
. ready cash. This had enabled him t
proceed thus far without much dihl
A Guilty. Now a broad stretch OF dis
puted and war-ravaged territory la.
, between him and his prospective des
tination.
y II was through a little child that
long, anxious waiting was brought U
a close Passing a house wrecked b.
E a shell in the little town where h
h was staying. Earl heard a faint wal
( ing voice. He Investigated, to disco'
Il err a little four-year.old girl lying te
q feet down In the dismantled celia
. where she had fallen.
=, Her arm was broken, she was we
nigh exhausted with cold and starvf
ton. He managed to learn from he
where she lived. When he restore
her to her frantic parents he foun
a that she had been missing for tw
70 days.
I. The gratitude Of the poor parent
was genuine. The father CHANGED
mention that he was one OF som
a., fifty wagon men who were to carr
some wounded soldiers TO the cit
u where the Durivages were. He was
y bring up the rear with five days pr
IL visions. II did not take Earl long
r decide that here was his opportunit
n, to reach his beloved.
D. He had an understanding with II
II man. When the caravan set out Ea
Il. was comfortably ensconced In
- shielded corner Of the enclosed WACO
IS How his heart beat with suspeni
and then sorrow as he finally reach'
y his journeys end The Duriyag'
III we're sheltered in a poor howell al
had parted with all they possessed
e, secure the bare necessities of life.
IN The wagon man was to return
III neutral ground with his vehicle, al
I'd Earl and the Durivages were smuggl'
no through in his vehicle.
no ITO think OF that dreadful past
az murmured Elsa, as they set sail fro
az the coast, homeward bound at la
=" "Oh, what a messenger OF Joy al
Nc hope you have been!"
H. A messenger of love as well. II
20, moon was smiling down, the sta
or twinkled, the gentle breeze breath
le, only of peace. He told her all tn
Waa in hia heart and aha kieaad 4