The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-11-08
CHAPTER TX.
IN
The Window.

gave the motor its head. It's head
lights Glove It path through darkness,
like n splendid sword: on either hand
woodlands and desnlate clearingS
blurred into dark and rushing walls;
only the wonderful wilderness Of stars
remained imperturbabIe.
Whitaker. bI'aced against the jOlting,
Snatchcd bpgrudgcd moutEfuIs Of sir
strong of the sea. He had 10 very def
mite idea Of their whereabouts, having
neglected through sheer Indifference TO
question Embcr. but he knew that they
were drawing ininute by minute closer
to the Atlantic.
After some time the car slowed to
a palpitunt pause. Ember jumped out
to open q barred gate then, returning,
swung the car into a clear but narrow
woodland road. Mine own domain"
he informed Whitaker with laugh.
Now we're shut of the world en-
tireIy."
Whitaker bent forward, inquiring;
"Whcrc are wa?"
almost there Patience"
Whitaker reckOned idly that they
must have threaded good two miles
of woodland, when at length the car
emerged upon Il clearing and immedi-
ately turned aside to the open doorway
of miniature garage.
The forest hemmed the clearing on
three sides; on the fourth lay water.
4 hundred yards distant the lighted
Tf r. S,ty mr. Lhn
pleasantly through a scattering planta-
ton OF pine.
Linking arms the better to guide his
guest, Ember drew him toward the
lights.
Bungalow" he explained, senten-
tious fourishing his free hand; her
mitage-retreat."
Paradise" Whitaker summed up, in
the same manner. mo neighbOrs"
"Oh''-Ember motioned to his left as
they faced the water-''there's a mar
ried establishment over there some
where, but we don't bother one another.
Fellow by the name of FiSke. l under
stand the place is shut up-Fiske not
coming down this year
$50 much the better Eve been want
ing just this all summer, without real
izing it.
"Welcome, then, to Half-a-Loaf
lodge!"
They entered a long and deep liv-
ing room with walls of peeled logs and,
at one end, stone fireplace wherein
Il wool fire blazed heartily. At COM
Portable distance from the hearth
stood u table bright with linen. silver
and crystal-cOvers for two. The rear
wall was broken by three doors, in
one of which rOtund Chinaman
beamed oleaginously Ember hailed
him by the title of Sum Fat, ex-
planning that it wasn't his name, but
claiming for it the virtue of exquisite
felicity.
My servant in town, here man
Of-all-work; I've had him for years );
faithful and Indispensable.
Toward the end of an excellent din
ner, Whitaker caught himself nodding
and blinking With drowsiness. EN-
Der took laughing compassion upon
him and led him forthwith to a bed
room furnished with the rigid simpIic-
ity of Il summer camp. Then he slept
round the clock. The ShriIl. impera-
tive rattle of Il telephone bell reused
him. AS he dressed he could hear the
voice of Ember in the living room talk
ing over the telephone Presently there
came Il tap at his door. and his host
entered.
Up, eh?' he said cheerfully. Il was
afraid I'd have to wake you" His
smile vanished beneath the clouds of
or impatient frown This is the devil
of a note: Eve got to leave you"
whats the trouble?"
That's what I'm called upon to find
out A friend of mines in Il tight
place, &sii 5'v5 got 10 so and help pull
him through. He just called me up
and l can't refuse. D'you mind being
left alone for 4 day or so?"
Certainly not-only I'm sorry
NO more than l. But I'll try to get
back tomorrow. If / don't, the next
day-or as soon as l possibly can.
Meanwhile please consider yourself
lord and ma Ster here. sum Fat will
cake good care of you. Anything you
want, just ask him. Now I've got to
get into waterproofs-it'S raining like
all get-out, but l can't wait for let
up"
BY the time Whitaker was ready for
breakfast his host had splashed off to
his motor car.
The wind. freShening and driving
very respectable if miniature rollers
against the beach, came in heavy gusts.
alternating with periods of steady.
strong blowing. At times the shining
lances of the rain seemed to drive
almost horizontally. Whitaker poked
his head into the kitchen In that i'm
maculate place. from which every
hint of breakfast had disappeared as
if by magic. Sum Fat was religiouslv
cleaning his teeth-for the third time
that morning, to Whitaker's certain
knowledge.
When he had finished, Whitaker put
a question:
'.Sum Fat, which way does the wind
blow, do you know?"