Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-06-11
OldLady
Number
LOUISE FORSSLUND
Author OF
"Ths Story Of Sarah"
"Ths Ship Of Dreams"
Copyright BY The Century Co.
CHAPTER xvlll-ContInued.

CHAPTER Continued.
"Ah, yew young rascal" cried Sam
uel. "Yew're the Teller that eat up
all my winter cabbages."
At this uncanny reading OF his
mind Mr.. Cottontail darted of into
the woods again to seek out his mate
and inform her that their guilt had
been discovered.
Finally, Samuel came to the break
In the woodland, an open field OF rye,
green as springtime grass, and his
own exquisitely neat abode beckon-
ing across the gray rail fence to him.
How pretty Blossy's geraniums
looked in the eitting-room windows!
Even at this distance, too, he could
see that she had not forgotten to wa
ter his pet abutilon and begonias. How
welcome in the midst Of this furry Of
snow-how welcome to his eye was
that smoke coming out of the Chin
neys! All the distress Of his trip away
from home seemed worth while now
for the Joy of coming back.
rail and turned into the path which led
to his back door. he was straining his
ears for the sound of Blossy's voice
gossiping with Angy. Not hearing It..
he hurried the faster.
The kitchen door was locked. The
key was not under the mat; it was not
In the safe on the porch, behind the
stone pickle-pot. He tried the door
again, and then peered in at the win
dow.
Not even the cat could be discerned.
The kitchen was set in order, the
breakfast dishes put away, and there
was no sign of any baking or prepare
tons for dinner.
He knocked, Knocked loudly. Nc
answer. He went to side door, tc
the front entrance, and found the
whole house locked, and no key to bs
discovered. It was still early in ths
morning, earlier than Blossy woult
have been likely to set out upon al
errand or to spend the day; and then
too, she was not one to risk he
health In such chilly, damp weather
with every sign Of heavy storm.
Samuel became alarmed. He callet
sharply, "Blossy!" No answer. mis-
Rose!" No answer. "Ezra!" Ant
still no sound In reply.
His alarm Increased. He went t,
the barn; that was locked and Ezr'
nowhere in sight. BY standing on tip
toe, however, and peeping through ,
crack In the boards. he found that hi
horse and the two-seated surrey wer
missing.
WAL. never" srumbled Samuel
conscious once more Of all his physica
discomforts. 1.-The minute my back
turned. they go a-gallivantin'. l be
yer" he added after q moment
thought, Il bet yer it's that air Ang,
Rose. She's got ter git an CAD ever,
second same as Abe, an my poor VIII
has been drug along with her"
There was nothing left for him +
do but seek refuge In his shop an
await their return. Like nearly ever
other bayman, he had a one-roor
shanty. which he called the shop.
and where he played at building boat
and weaving nets, and making oar
and tongs.
This structure stood to the north q
the house, and fortunately had an oil
discarded kitchen stove In 1t. Their
II the wanderers had not taken thu
key also, he could build fire. an
stretch out before 1t on bundle q
sail-cloth.
He gave start Of surprise, how
ever. as he approached the place: fo
surely that was smoke coming out {
the chimney
Ezra must have gone out with th
horse, and Blossy must be entertainin
Angy In some outlandish way d,
manded by the idiosyncrasies Of th
Rose temperament
Samuel flung open the door. an
strobe In; but only to pause ON Ii
threshold. struck dumb. Blossy wa
not there, Angy was not there, M
anyone belonging to the Household
But sitting on that very bundle
canvas, stretching his lean hands ov,
the stove. with Samuel's cat on b
lap, was the "Old Hoss"-Abraha
Rosel
CHAPTER XIX.