The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-12

7 VI
He followed the tracks to the door
of the big bungalow like structure that
was the main camp, and saw that the
tracks seemed to go straight in.
Merriman groaned as he thought OF
what would confront him when he
opened tie door-everything l., dis
order and almost everything that was
valuable at all missing.
He opened the door and steppet in
Just what he expected! Things
were even more upset than they vera
the last time.
'I'n fire that Acton, and. by George,
| I'll stay here all next winteri It's
blooming shame!" he exclaimed saw
agely.
Angry and disguised he threw off
his coat and hat and began an at
tempt to bring some kind of order
out of chaos. The dust rose and min
gled with the sweat on his face He
rubbed the mixture off with still dir
tier hands.
81 look like Sam Hill, but I'm 60
| ing to make this place look like home
and find out what has been taken,' he
grunted as he passed mirror.
Suddenly a shadow filled the room.
He turned.
| In the doorway, stood a girl, straight
as a reed and graceful as fawn on
the verge of flight. Merriman's quick
but astonished eyes rested a moment
| only on the general outline she made
| in the frame of the door. His eyes
went to her face and he saw-he was
looking into the blue end of an auto
matte reyolveri
"I don't wonder you are astonished,
you dreadful thief" clear, sweet, blu.
very steady voice enunciated slowly.
Put on your coat and come with me.
1 guess we've got you this time
Then Merriman remembered that a
man with his mouth wide open is not
at his best, and he Immediately closed
1 liz ,,-I dn6 17fr
as thief, but who she was he had not
the slightest idea.
Suddenly it occurred to him that
! here was a chance for adventure-an
adventure with a fair young goddess
of the north woods. He would follow
the lure, no matter where it led him.
He began to draw on his coat,
studying her meanwhile on the pretext
| of being afraid of what she might do
with the blue automatic.
Her eyes were bright and steady,
albeit her face was trifle pale. Into
of color as she observed his evident
respect for her preparedness.
Now put your hands above your
head and come outi" she ordered.
Merriman. enjoying the sensation of
obeying such a voice, even in such
trying situation, did as she directed.
Now go down to the dock. Get
into that canoe. Take the bow-with
your back toward mel" she COM
manded.
He followed her directions implic-
lily.
The canoe left the shore. and under
the impulse of a pair of vigorous
young arms began to pick up speed.
II wonder where I'm headed for
now" thought Merriman. II wonder
this early. Well, here goes. I'm al
ready beginning to be glad I'm liv-
ing"
He looked back at her once and saw
a vision of a full-throated, rosy girl,
arms round yet muscular, driving the
paddle like an Indian expert, the au-
tomato within easy grasp in the
/ pocket of her jacket.
A mile or so down the river, she
turned the canoe, and, padding it
backward to the shore. jumped out
and ordered him to do likewise. 7
A path ran from the bank back, and
not far away Merriman could see the
faint outlines of a shack. The adven-
| ture was opening into a new phase,
and he began to think seriously of
what was up.
At her orders, he proceeded toward
| the shack, and as they drew nearer
she whistled shrilly ana called, Faith
erl 1 have him."
Then Merriman received his second
distinct shock of that eventful after
noon. In the doorway of the shack
| appeared the wasted, bent figure of
his old guide, Acton. who swayed and
grasped the door as he recognized his
young employer.
Girl, girl, what have you done?
This is Mr.. Merriman!" he almost
| shrieked.
She moved slowly forward, her face
grown pale, her eyes wide open. Then,
as Merriman turned from greeting his
stricken guide and held out his hand
to her, she drew back hastily and her
hands went to her face to hide her dis
tress.
Its all right" he assured her.
I'm glad to find my camp so well
guarded. I ought to apologize to you
for deceiving you, but 1 was tremen-
dously astonished when you appeared.
Besides. 1 welcomed the chance of
new adventure. I'm tired of the city,
and that's one reason why 1 came
| here so early"
Later, while he and his old guide
were smoking before the cheerful fire
place, and his fair captor was cook
ing the supper, Merriman heard the
solution of the mystery.
She was Acton's daughter. She had
| grown up in a village on the coast
and recently had studied to become
a nurse. When her father fell ill, she
had come back to the camp to take
care of him She had found that his
anxiety for the safety of the camp
weighed heavily on his mind and she
had volunteered to go up each day
and see that everything was all right
One thing still puzzled Merriman,
and he asked the girl why the place
was so upset.
She hesitated and blushed as she
answered, well, when 1 first went
there it was-so-so-"
81 understand" Marriman laughed.
'It needed good spring cleaning!
agree with you. Now, 1 want both
of you to go with me to the camp
Jeb, this has been your home for a
good many years, but want you to
leave it; you need somebody to look
out for you, and I must say 1 am in
the same fix Will you take charge
of us?" He turned to the girl.
| She laughed confusedly. LAS long
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