The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-28
A MONTH TOO EARLY
BY DEAN cARRuTAERs.


Cicely Meredith re-read the letter
from the manager OF the Pebble Beach
hotel 1t Informed her that her appli-
cation for a position as hotel stenog-
rapher had been accepted and that the
salary would be sixty dollars month
with board.
Please report for duty May 49,
ended.
The Pebbleton station was perched
on rise OF ground and from 1t road
slanted down to the sea. There was
a board walk along the beach and
several great caravansaries lifted their
bulk above the high-water mark.
Il want to go to the Pebble Beach
hotel" explained Cicely to the station
master Isn't there stage or cab
to take me there?"
He shook his head
You can walk 1t easy, miss It's
that last hotel on your right There.
hear that thunder. You better wait
here or run"
''I'll rum" said Cicely as she scurried
down the road
She hated thunderstorms and SO she
fed before this one like thing pos
sessed OF great fear. 1t was with
shortened breath and throbbing heart
that she reached the last hotel and
ran up on the broad piazza.
A Jagged fash of lightning streaked
the gray sky to the horizon.
Mercy" painted cicely, her hand
on the front door knob But 1t refused
to yield to her touch, SO she hurried
around to the western wing of the
hotel and discovered another door.
The door was slightly ajar and she
pushed 1t wide and then closed it.
She found herself in a small Office,
desolate and untenanted. The closed
desks and the safe were covered with
last years dust There was curious
feeling OF loneliness about the place
that frightened her.
rs anyone here?" asked Cicely.
But another crash of thunder shook
the building, "Oh. DEAR" she cried,
In a panic of fear; what shall do?"
While she quivered there, she heard
another sound--a sound Of footsteps
echoing through empty rooms.
She opened one Of the desk draw
ers and groped In its dark interior.
Her fingers closed on something cold
and hard II was a revolver. A feel
ing OF security stiffened her courage.
And then the door opened and closed
again and another presence entered
the hall.
The man stared at her In open-eyed
amazement He was young and trim
with dark, clean-cut face. fine eyes
and humorous mouth.
Tn shoot" che threatened in a
small voice. ..4. .st
please don't" he said lightly.
Then she added menacingly. tits
loaded"
Then don't point II at me- he said
sternly. Don't be frightened. be-
lieve you're the very person I'm look
ing for Are you Miss Meredith
Yes" said Cicely, lowering the gun
my fathers been away from his Of
fee for week and just returned this
morning. On looking over his mail
he found your letter saying that you
would report for duty here on the 18th
of May. You are month ahead OF
time and SO father sent me down post
haste to bring you back The car
penters and cleaners are in charge al
present and some of them are rather
rough characters. We were worried
about you"
But" protested Cicely, ''Mr. Charl
sons letter distinctly stated May is
Mother and wondered about It," She
took the letter from her bag and gave
II to him.
ITS one on dad all right" he
grinned. "He meant June Is. When
l couldn't fnd you supposed you'd
discovered your mistake and gone
home. l was going around by the sta
tion to inquire. | came down in my
motor Where were you hiding?"
Cicely explained her adventures dur
ing the last hour and then together
they left the hotel. young Charlsor
locking the door carefully after them
At the foot of the steps great mo
tor car was purring. You will allow
me to drive you back to town." he
asked.
Il really should take a train," ex
planned Cicely. We have given VI
our fiat and mother is staying at m,
grandmother's in Underwood"
Underwood? oh. that's on thu
north side about opposite Pebbleton
Well take the crossisland road ant
make it in couple Of hours"
During that two hours ride across
the rain-drenched island he told hel
that he expected to spend the summer
in Europe. After that he was to TAKE
his fathers place as manager of th'
Pebble Beach In summertime and o
their Florida hotel in winter
He left her at her grandmother
gate, and with pressure of the hant
he was gone. He motored over oc
casionally to give Cicely news of th'
progress OF repairs at Pebbleton an'
one day he said he had decided to &C
as clerk at the Pebble Beach tha
summer
"But thought you were going 4