Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-06-09
COPYRIGHT. .s.s. ~ FRANK H. spEARi1ls

scarcely slackening speed, swerved
! through the open gates and the LODGE
keeper lifted his cap as the party
swept past. Something in his salute.
| awoke old memories-could he be the
same who had served her father? she
asked herself. THAT man." she re-
marked to Rhinelander, "looks exact
ly like fathers old keeper"
HE ought to- returned Rhineland-
er, evenly.
"Why 500"
Because he is the same man."
The car drew up before the house
and stopped. what are you going to
do?" asked Helen in an undertone,
make call here?"
YES answered Rhinelander pre-
pairing to get out while footman, rum
ming down the steps, opened the ton
neau door for him. And" he added,
81 want you to come in with me-
Helen's brow furrowed a little in
| perplexity. 'But / don't know these
people" she murmured under her
| breath.
| Rhinelander standing on the ground
while the footman waited at the other
| side of the open tonneau door for
Helen, held out his hand: You'll find
| you're mistaken" he said to Helen
| convincing1y. you know almost every
one here. And even from those you
don't know, can promise you genu-
inc welcome"
Uncle Amos demanded Helen,
hurrying with him UP the flight of
steps that led to the familiar vesti-
bule, and toward which Rhinelander
seemed fastening with unusual en-
| ergy, what do you mean?'
I'll tell you what, Helen, the mo.
ment you cross the Threshold
Her maid was at her elbow and in
the excitement of the little French.
woman, in her sparkling eyes and com.
| pressed lips-Helen read more of the
great secret. She drew deep breath
and standing in the big hall, looked
] around: why" she faltered, every
| thing seems just as l left it. Am
dreaming?" She drew her hand faint
ly across her eyes. What does this
mean? These furnishings - every
thing! Uncle Amos" she cried under
her breath, "who lives here? What is
it? What has happened?"
Helen" he took her two hands into
his own, this is now your home just
as it used to be. And your old friends
are nearly all here to greet you"
A group of servants, men and WON
room. They were familiar faces to the
agitated girl.
Tears welled into her burning eyes
as she looked into the faces smiling
around her.
Annette" said Rhinelander briskly
to the maida miss Holmes wishes te
go to her ROOM"
Like one dazed, Helen turned to
ward the foot Of the stairs but she die
not go up. Instead, she ran impulsive
! ly to Rhinelander, threw her arms
about his neck and kissed him. The
two stood for moment in silence
neither of them equal to speaking.
then Helen turned to Annette who
waited and Rhinelander, blowing his
nose vigorously, walked out into the
garden
Some hours later he and Helen were
on the lawn when Spike came hurry
ing up the drive carrying in his arms
two little dogs. They're for you,
he muttered gruffly to Helen when she
asked about them. II knew what Mr..
Rhinelander was doing all this time,
he said, relaxing into a grin, 'and I
couldn't keep up with his pace in max
ing presents, but I wanted to bring
you something
why, these little dears are royal
gift insisted Helen. Spike, you
ought never to have done such thing.
They're beauties!"
"Oh, no. demurred Spike.
But they are" declared Rhineland.
er. Where did you get them, Spike?'
Spike made light Of the matter.
''They didn't cost much,' he said mod
estly. 81 traded an old kit of burglar
tools for the pair O. them. l thought -
|
the tools again-they were mostly old
models-and you might need the dogs.
That's no joke he insisted, when he
saw how Helen and Rhinelander were
laughing. These dogs are better than
all kinds of burglar alarms. And,'' he
nodded slightly toward Rhinelander,
"as I've been given the job of watch
man on these grounds, I'm thinking
about myself, too. They'd be a big
help to me as we'll as guard for Miss
Helen
Everything that day seemed to come
just right While the three were to-
gether a messenger boy appeared with
a telegram for Helen. She opened 1t
and read:
Miss Helen Holmes,
Signal.