The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-12-08


days, before his trouble, before Judge
Wharton over there turned us away"
She indicated the towers Of a man
sion lifting from a grove half a mile
distant.
Father was keeper there. The judge
and his family were away narrated
Rhoda. zone evening the housekeep-
er was taken suddenly sick and father
ran all the way to the village to fetch
a doctor. While he was gone some
one broke into the library and stole a
lot of the judges papers and some
jewelry and money. They got away
across the river in a skif. When the
judge got back he blamed father for
disobeying orders and leaving the
place unguarded, though the doctor
said the h%ousekeeper might have died
if he had not come quick. Well, the
judge discharged father from a posi-
ton he had faithfully filed for I'VE
ten years and we were adrift."
"Was much of value takenT"
The judge says he didn't care for
the money and jewelry, but there was
a little tin box filed with records and
papers of no use to others, but of inn
mense value to him. He has had de-
tectlves out and has offered five thou
sand dollars for the return of the pa
pers, but he has never heard from
them"
There was a lapse of silence, for
Rhoda had dragged a log to the shore
MS a seat for Roland and had arranged
pole, line and bait with sportsmanlike
%expertness for her novice guest.
There were nibbles and catches and
at the end Of two hours the fish basket
was pretty well filled. Suddenly, as
Roland pulled hard on his line, Rhoda
exclaimed:
"0h, you must have a big onel" and.
as the rod bent, amid her excitement
she put out her hand to aid him.
1 "Why, what is It l have hshed up
anyway" queried Roland.
t Slowly, attached to the hook
= dangling and swaying, a small meta
box came into view, the hook loope,
s its wire handle. There it was suspend
! ed, swinging shorewards, landed.
e ooh, it's the boxw almost shrlekei
q Rhoda, wild with excitement.
e "What box?" asked Roland.
d "Oh, 1 know it isl I've seen 1t be
fore" futtered Rhoda. 'It's the on
l. that was stolen from the judge, tn
one l told you about"
"You don't mean the one they offe
that big reward for2"
It "Yes, 1 dol See" and Rhoda, de
l. taching the box from the hook, Shove
ie where its lock was broken. 9Th
Y, thieves probably saw no value to tn
ID papers and dropped the box ia th
ie river. Yes, the papers are inside
lie continued Rhoda, land oh, Mr.. York
lg just think you'll get that five tho
sand dollars reward"
IL "Why should II" challenged Rolan
r. "You brought me here, you helped pu
1t In"
} "And father may get his positiC
back, now the papers are found" e
& ulted Rhoda. "Oh, you've broug
, nothing but good luck to usp
, The gratitude, the artlessness, t
: devotion of the sweet girl oyercar
Roland. He took her hand and kiss
it like some knight paying his devol
. to a noble lady. Rhoda flushed al
Quivered.
: II shall not go away tomorro
; Rhoda," spoke the artist.
81 nm so glad.p
"And l think l had better see Il
Judge Wharton about the papers
once"
q "What did the judge say?" eager
inquired Rhoda, when Roland rejOin
her an hour later.
& "He says that your father can
7 turn to his life position-he insists
dividing the reward between you a
myself. RhOda, darling" and Rola
took her hand and drew her towal
a him, 81 love the roses here, and
. pretty brooks, and the grand
trees, and-you, Rhoda, most of q
Shall 1 stay2"
No verbal reply was needed. 5
! had nestled down into his bra
strong arms, joy, devotion, happln
In har lovnIv foca