The Lamar register., 1916-03-01

his unnatural frame OF mind. nurtured
for over twenty-four hours, he struck
out for a distant light beyond a rocky
reach of land.
His progress led him to an old stone
building built out from kind OF blum.
Apparently 1t had been used as
tool house at some time or other. Its
door was open, light showed beyond
a long hall. 1t was dismal, forbidding-
looking. but Martin was glad to get
out Of the chilling blast
He looked around him in a puzzled
way as lie stood in the room where the
light was. In one corner of the I'M
furnished room was motley heap of
harnesses. wagon robes and such ae-
coutrements. In another all kinds OF
garden tools showed. He was trying
to figure out what kind OF a strange
place he had stumbled upon, when
three men came in from the front.
"Ahal what's this?" spoke their
leader. and his beetling brows knit
the more darkly as he made out the in
truder.
All three OF the men began to en-
circle Martin with sinister, suspicious
faces. Before he could resist he was
seized and pulled into an adjoining
room a door was.opened 1t showed
steps leading into the cellar OF the
structure. Martin was pushed fOrciby
down the stairs. lie picked himself
up, bruised and alarmed. 1t was dark
and damp all about him. Four un-
broken walls of rock held him close
prisoner.
The door above was relocked, barred
and he heard a chain jangle, as 1t still
further enforced the strength of the
barrier. II was evident that he had
unwisely wandered into the secret den
of a gang OF farm thieves. They prob
ably believed him to be a spy. a de-
tective Perhaps even now they were
discussing his death as the only action
that could prevent their betrayal and
disruption!
II was hours later when two OF his
captors descended the stairs and con
fronted him. One bore a lantern For
nearly an hour they questioned him.
See here" spoke one of them
you've put your foot in 1t and must
pay the penalty We don't doubt your
story, but we can't set you free You
have guessed Alright what we are. In
two weeks we are going to abandon
this place. Until then you'll have to
put up with the best we can give you"
The best was an old mattress. two
coarse meals a day, candle every
two days. and solitude. What rare
contrasts with the free and easy life
Of his past the suffering exile realized
in that fetid under room. he shuddered
to tell later!
Bruce Martin had time for reflection
He began to value Cherry. and even
her eccentric father. He soberly went
over his many past shortcomings. His
defiance. his carping nature. his high
and lofty false dignity-gone, all gone!
Oh, that day of freedom-it came at
lastl He ran, he leaped. he drank in
the sweet, fresh air with the glad
laugh OF a boy. He appeared at the
Dortle home that evening. after such
renovation that he felt like a new
being.
And there was Cherry, I'll with griev-
ing. and the old man actually cried
over himi Warm hearts. true hearts
how precious!
Where had he been? Lamely he
spoke of an involuntary detention.
Business" had to be attended to. He
never told of his real awakening and
renovation.
And after he had kissed Cherry good
night, Bruce Martin stole across the
front garden. uprooted the weeping
tree and flung it into the first ditch
he came to.
III bring the biggest. finest rose
bush can find TO take its place" he
declared. I'm sure of them. No more
gruesome weepers in my life-roses,
all smiles, all sunshine. all sweet
nessl"
Reused Judge From Slumber.