The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-06
HIDDEN HOUSE
BY cLARIssA MAcklE.

out III a Dib ntt1i ne uOiit titht anu
now he is out. What is he going to
do with the rest of his life? Bring me
the -and you'll get yours. see?"
The chief smiled and Jack hustled
away to catch the first train for a re-
mote Long Island village, where it
was said Roberts was in hiding.
At Sandyways Jack guardedly ques
toned the host of the solitary hotel
He reasoned that Lawson Roberts
would seek sanctuary under an as
sumed name.
Many strangers in town." repeated
the hotel man, thoughtfully nibbling
a toothpick. Cant say as there are
all the boarders have gone. reckon
you're an agent of some kind-maybe
selling books?"
Jack smiled evasively.
'I'll bet there's one old party you
couldn't sell book to-s,ot II you was
to take off 80 per cent Of the price"
went on the man.
who is he?"
Names Robinson-taken the old
Hidden house-used to be Judge Hid
dens place. Celia Hidden married
Lawson Roberts. the politician; he's
in prison now for crooked dealing.
His wife died ten years ago and the
place belongs to the daughter. It's
never been rented until recently, when
Mrs. Hester Bird rented it, No one
ever heard of her before; and now
her brother, old man Robinson, and
his daughter have arrived. And
they're all as close-mouthed and up
pish as can be; as If Sandyways folks
weren't good enough for them. And
stingy-whew"
We'll, you're not very encouraging,
responded Jack with bored air as he
moved away. But when he was out
OF sight his pace quickened The
first urchin he met directed him to
Hidden house on the outskirts of the
village.
He approached the side entrance to
the gloomy old house, passing small
rustic summerhouse smothered in
woodbine.
tldils odlu d uClCl luiucu fOAICs
Jack halted to confront a wicked
looking shotgun leveled by a sweet
faced, wide-eyed girl boyishly attired
in short khaki skirt and blouse, with
high-laced tan boots on her pretty
feet
His hat came off and his look of
inquiry was mingled with sincere ad.
miration
Perhaps you didn't observe the No
Trespassing' signs" she remarked
coolly
Il didn't" he honestly confessed.
"They are plainly to be seen" she
said significantly. you can read them
as you pass out
Thank you-but want to see some
one"
who are you looking for?" she
asked sharply
"Mr-Roberts, he hazarded.
Her face paled and desperate look
CAME into the sweet eyes that should
never have been troubled by sorrow.
You mean Mr. Robinson ?" ehe
asked.
Il mean Lawson Roberts, he said,
feeling like brute.
The gun dropped suddenly as if her
strength had failed her.
Il might have known it! You want
to interview him, | suppose? He has
paid the price of his sin-let him
alonel" she cried passionately
'My-rny paper" he stammered,
abashed at her emotion.
your paperr she mfmicked. What
is it TO your paper what my father
does now that justice has been salts
fed? No one would listen to him
when he protested his innocence in
those old days" How scornfully she
looked at himl
Hardly that" he said brusquely
He looked sharply down the path. The
bent form OF man was hobbling pain
fully down the walk.
'He is like a child" she said tremu-
lously, He has been shut away from
! the world so long, and now everything
is strange to him. will not have him
bounded by curiosity seekersl | will
kill the first man who tries to inter-
view him! She ended in a fierce
outburst that was strangely unlike
her gentle personality.
81 will go, Miss Roberts" he said
slowly. Some day I'm coming back
again, not as a reporter to interview
| your father. but as friend to help
prove his innocence,"
"Ah, thank you-but stay now and
hear his story of the guilty man" she
cried eagerly.
He shook his head. 81 must throw
/ up my present job before can tackle
another one" he smiled and went
| away
Afterward, when a great criminal
lawyer took up the Roberts case and
proved the innocence OF the old man,
all credit was given to Jack Shirley
! for his strenuous efforts in the case.
and when Jack married Celia Roberts
people said he had his great reward.
The editor OF the Chronicle NUT
tered maledictions on womankind in
general and pretty girls in particular.
Il wondered what queered that