Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-02-26

sick swains 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 he caught Miss Bird looking at
him defiantly, Mr.. Campbell had
wished he had kept out Of 1t. There
was direct challenge in her eyes and
pose that awoke feeling of antagon-
ism and he determined that the VIC
tory should be his.
In time they were the last two up.
or course the hopes and sympathies
Of the people we're with the girl. Even
in her alertness she caught whispered
words behind her which she was to
recall later on. For long ten min
utes 1t was nip and tuck, as Deacon
Green expressed 1t, 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 q
smile and said:
you did nobly. Let me say to you
that am one Of firm publishing q
dictionary, and no word goes into 1t
until have spelled it."
81 am glad that had such 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
lagos failed to ascertain that the miss
ing man had arrived there or beer
seen upon the highways.
All day the hunt and the talk wen
on and 1t was far into evening tina
; Miss Bird remembered the whispered
words behind her: IF he spells he
down 1t must come tonight. Is every
thing ready?"
Roy Campbell had mysteriously dis
appeared. Her would-be lovers mus
have had hand in it, for they wer
all sitting together. There was n
lake or river into which they nigh
] plunge him. If they had menaced hir
! into leaving the village, he would nc
5 leave without calling at the hote
}. What then? 1t must be case Of kit
8 naping, though that seemed too Dol
t an offense for the young men to con
8 NIT.
q II 1t was a case of KIDNAPPING
where was the victim being held?
Mr.. Davis was a quiet, even-ter
Q pered man. Not once a year did
s get angry at anything, and he hs
d never been known to strike a man
blow. It was to be expected, ther
70 fore. that he would be bewildert
70 when the daughter came to his be
d side at midnight and awoke him.
d Father, you are to get up and con
ID with mel"
N Where? What?"
% 81 think | know where Mr.. Cam
a bell is"
" Good Lord!"
ID Ten minutes later. when he b.
ID Joined her downstairs, she said:
believe the young men have kidnap
N Mr.. Campbell and are holding him
er the old cider mill. We are going
r. see."
d. Il will get the constable" he /
IN piled.
IN I'VE do not want him with us. '
r. are going to manage without him.
n we find Mr.. Campbell in there alo
IN he will be bound, and we can relea
OF him. II the young men are there y
are to sail in and knock their hea
Ir. Off"
he "But I'm no fighter" he protested
ay "But you've got to be or I'll de
I'm you as father!"
to The young men had made prison
Of Roy Campbell and borne him
,ly to the old cider mill, thinking to dr.
or him away from the village by threa
ta- When he defied them-when he v
er- missed and search began, they kn
Is. not what to do except to bind Q
a guard him until some plan was forI
art lated. They were all there, seeking
nd bribe and renewing their threats.
on "Hit every one of them. and
ty. hard!" the girl whispered In her fa
ed. er's ear as they listened at the dill
ro- dated old door.
ac. Dir. Davis spat on his hands, kicl
the door down and SAILED in"
,ad none escaped him. The town OF Fl
vas dom has never learned the full part
eat lars Of that adventure, and never v
lib. II has to be content with the marri
on that took place year later.
ma
ers All He Wanted.
ng. Carefully Abelard Wilks scanned