Bonners Ferry herald., 1916-07-28
RUNAWAY KATHERINE
In Her Wanderings She Meets
Cupid, Well Disguised but
Efficient.
BY DAN LA GRANGE.

crazy.
She had reached the age of nine
teen without anybody having sus-
pected her of a weak brain. On the
contrary, those who knew her best
said she would make her mark in the
world, girl though she was.
Her parents had planned to go away
for a week, and Miss Katherine was
to boss the manor house during their
absence. A good-by and then the folks
were gone The girl dumped down in
to the hammock and did some think
ing and musing preparatory to going
crazy.
"They get ready and go right off as
if | didn't count for shucks!" she pout-
ed. Then go and be hanged, but
shan't always be here to be snubbed.
Everybody has a good time but me.
Does any one call except on mother?
Has ever young man driving past in
an auto stopped and asked what time
1t was? OF course not! don't amount
to pumpkins, | don'tl"
1t is generally believed that people
go crazy with whoopee, and make
bee line for the kitchen and the butch
er knife, but there are exceptions to
the rule. Miss Katherine raised up
on her elbow and gave the hammock
pillow a swat with her fist.
"I'H run away-thats what l Will
dol"
And she didn't put the matter off
until next Christmas, but walked right
upstairs and looked for the Oldest
things in her wardrobe. She hadn't
planned where she was to go nor what
she should do, but sort of instinct
told her that she should have old
clothes on when she did it.
The cook was singing in the kitchen
and the gardener loafing, and neither
one of them saw the crazy girl as she
passed out of the gate into the road
and down the highway forty rods until
she got the shelter of bit of woods.
There was an auto coming, but it was
yet a quarter of a mile away when
she was sheltered.
So far so good. She had gone crazy
and had made a fair start toward run
ming away and having adventures ga
lore. Where should she run to? With
no money in her purse and very sim
pie role. Suppose it was that of a
hired girl? Shed hire for week and
then skip back home, and there would
be incidents enough to keep her relat-
ing for month
Miss Katherine was about to ap-
rrOao oh fha bi.b bvau and down
This cut her off from the road, and
she went farther into the woods. She
thought there was another highway
back of the woodland, but she did not
come across it in half a miles walk
She was wondering if she should not
suddenly regain her senses and return
to the house when a man stepped from
behind a tree and gave her an awful
fright.
He was a bent and withered ole
man, with hands more like claws, anC
he eyed her in a malevolent way as
they stood for a moment.
I'm looking for the road over here
she almost whispered
"You are liarl" he croaked. p IS
"But there-there is a road?"
you have come to spy on ole
john" he shouted.
81 didn't know you we're here"
"You are lying to me. There's g
reward of a hundred dollars for me
dead or alive"
"But I don't want it." said the gir
in a voice she tried to make wheed
ling. "All l want is to find the road
and go home"
you can't go!"
She sprang away from him and rar
at her best pace, but he had her before
she had gone 100 feet. She screamed
once, but he raised his fist to strike
her. and she was silent. When he
took her by the arm to lead her along
she realized that he had a fierce grip
and though she tried her hardest tC
break away he could easily handle
her. A few rods from where she en-
countered him was a brush shanty
with a small fire smoldering near by
"Sit down." exclaimed the old man.
Miss Katherine drew in her breath
to scream.
"If you do, I'll hit you!" warned
the old man.
The girl had always heard that In
sane people must be humored, ant
finding herself in his power and IL
danger of violence if she provoked
him, she forced a smile and half
laugh and said:
"Oh, well, l don't want to go home
yet anyway, so we won't care abou
the road"
Isn't that a pretty good house TO,
an old man to build?" he asked afte
a grumpy silence.
Indeed, but it is real cute" wal
answered.
And built it in a day"
Then you are smarter than mos
men half your age"
do you know my manner"
mo, l never heard it."
IT'S Cupid"
The words oame out so pat, and tn,