Gilpin observer., 1916-03-09
cHApERoA FOR KATE
BY ELLIS GRAY.

ron, Dut this particular chaperOn need
ed Kate to prove that she was indeed
chaperon.
Il couldn't possibly go to the camp
by myself. Kate" she said, but it
seems to me it would look quito all
right for US both to go, and I'll be
chaperon."
What will be?" asked Kate eau.
tiously. She sat before the dressing
table. carefully tapping her freckles
with a nice little pad of absorbent cot
ton dipped in witch-hazel and peroxide.
Things were awfully slow at the hotel.
One had to find some diversion for idle
moments.
Mrs. Cranston wrote letters. Not at
a desk, but curled up in the wide
winged armchair, wrapped in a gray
kimono lined with pumpkin-colored
silk. Kate, with her smooth, dark hair
combed sleekly back and her large, un-
compromising gray eyes, always felt a
thrill of expectancy when her cousin
went forth after adventure. After four
years of wealthy widowhood, she really
seemed almost to listen for fate to call
her to a new romance.
"A good excuse, dear. And l sha'nt
tell you even his name, my lonely lord
of the highlands. Isn't that a good
name for him? Well ride up the noun
tain tomorrow and pretend that you
are studying research work or that
we've lost our way"
Whats his profession?" Kate never
asked what a man looked like or how
much he was worth. 1t was what he
aimed at that interested her mostly.
why. don't know exactly. know
he's consulting engineer, don't you
know. They send him out first to
look over a big project and estimate
on it. l heard they were going to bur-
row through Bald Eagle knob-the
railroad people. mean"
Bald Eagle. Isn't 1t the other noun
tain over this way? Colonel Ames says
if the road goes that way it ruins
Amesville, and he's sunk every last
cent into meeting the company's de-
mands. Why, Win, they promised him
it was going this way before he built
that big concrete bridge"
did they. really? Kate, you don't
know beans about commercial diplo-
macy. The land along the Bald Knob
ridge belongs to Senator Rhoades, and
he's interested in the railroad It
doesn't matter about your nice colonel
one bit"
But won't it cost a lot more to
build it that other way? Any real en-
gineer would see that. l don't see how
they would send out anybody twenty
four"
She stopped short, staring in front
Of her with sudden understanding.
IN bet two cents it's Dandy
Rhoades!"
DO you know him?" Winifred's eye
brows raised in quick surprise. But
Kate was standing up with widespread
arms like a spread eagle.
do know him? Know blessed old
Dandy? Rather. He's the senator's
nephew. but his nose is straight and
SO are his views on life. I'll 60 with
you now, Win"
So it happened that the following
day there rode into the camp up in the
spruce woods two visitors, and Dandy
Rhoades, flushed and bit self-con.
scious, welcomed them
Dandy. l wanted to come to you
direct about this railroad surveying"
Kate said. And Win was kind enough
to act as chaperon."
Kate seated herself on big log with
Dandy beside her. deeply interested,
one foot resting on the log, and the
chaperon wandered over to the engi.
neer's plank table under the tent fly.
And somehow, Kate found out that elo-
quence flowed her way. Oh. how she
pleaded the colonei's cause. II was
the cause Of right and fairness, too,
not only to him. but to the railroad.
Cant you see It, Dandy?" she
finished. And Dandy could and did.
Uncle Curtis hasn't put It to me
raw like that. It's left for me to hand
In my report as think best. He prob
ably thought I'd see what It meant to
him to have It run this route, but III
move camp tomorrow to Amesville ON
the other mountain. didn't know
Ars. Cranston was your cousin. used
to sit and talk to her because she 70
minded me Of you. And she laughs
like you. too. J suppose she thinks
was . special typo Of moonsick cali
We ought to explain"
III We do. ::'ou'll have to write to
mother. too" Kate looked mp at him
thoughtfully. do you think It's time,
Dandy! How are the prospectsi
Won't your uncle throw you out II
you turn down his railroad schemef'
III he doeA I'll 20 to the railroad
and explain tho whole thing and show
them how much saved them on the
DEAL" Dandy laughed. Didn't you
even tell Mrs. Cranston We were en-.
gaged?"
Kate shook her head. who's she
talking to now over there by tho
table?"