The Washburn leader., 1916-12-22
cANFIELD's ADVENTURE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

N6SSSSSSSSS SSSSSSFSFsSSSSSSSS
On rounding curve of the beach
young Garfield spied tent and or
THE other side thin column Of smoke
: His breath came in quick gasps, sig
nifying that he had been sprinting fol
some distance.
''Thank goodness" he wheezed. "Il
get the fisherman to help me hunt. '
But on tie other side of the tent he
found, instead of an old salt, a girl
frying bacon in a long-handled skillet
"I-I beg your pardon" gaspcd Can
field, "but did you see an elephant
30 along this way?"
The girl turned and regarded him
seriously. II don't remember" she
answered. "Perhaps I did. may have
but you see, so many elephants go by
early in the morning that really don't
notice them particularly. Was your
elephant any special kind-pink OF
striped or something like that?"
Garfield laughed and the girl, put
ting down her pan. laughed too.
"Really I've never heard of anything
90 funny. How on earth did you hap
pen to lose an elephant? How, in the
first place, did you happen to have him
ut allf
"Just because I'm silly ass! Van
Kleek and I were motoring through a
village near here and it happened to
be circus day. It seems business had
been bad and while we were having
lunch a. the hotel we heard that the
whole outfit was being sold by. the
sheriff. Van Kleek and I hurried
over and he dared me to buy the trick
elephant. got him for twenty-five dol
lars. And then some imp out Of Hades
put another notion into Vans head.
I'll bet you five thousand dollars said
he, that you're not game to ride the
beast into the borough of Manhattan
and up Fifth avenue to-" Garfield
stopped In confusion.
ITO where?" she demanded.
ITO friend of mine," he finished
evasively.
MAY help you hunt7"
othing I'd like better" His face
ugnted up instantly.
Suddenly he gave a whoop. "Look
Z here, quick! Here are his tracks,
about as big as washtub! Come on!
Up this way. Let's hurry!''
They followed the trail up the beach,
then across grassy swamp to grove
Of young saplings.
II believe hear him." he whispered.
There was crashing among the trees.
mercy, I'm getting terribly fright
ened. Iwish hadn't come"
He reached for her hand and held on
to 1t. "Now listen. He won't hurt us
II we just keep still. He's used to
people. Picks 'em up and carries them
all around in the circus. If he spies
as let him alone and see what he'll
do"
Sure enough the elephant came their
way. The girl gripped Cantield's hand
hard, but she didn't make sound. The
animal, seeing them, cantered up and
stopped. Then gently he wrapped his
trunk around Canfield's companion,
lifted her over his head and set her
carefully in the gilded box on his back.
Then Canfield, too, felt himself lifted
off his feet and the next instant he was
beside the girl.
"Well, this Is what call homelike,"
exclaimed Cuntield. "If we'd only
brought some of that bacon. I'm hun
cry as u bear"
"Where do you suppose he's going?"
cried the girl, for the elephant had
started off toward the road ut a gentle
lope.
Let us hope to the Bronx Zoo. Any
place toward civilization and food"
He had forgotten that he was to pre-
sent himself at the door of u certlin
lady. He turned aud took good look
ut the girl beside him, slim and grace
full in a blue sweater suit, her light
brown hair blowing in little curls
around her ears and forehead, and the
flush of exercise and excitement IN
her cheeks. She was very, very prettyl
His hand still tingled where she had
touched it. She raised her eyes sud-
denly as if to speak, then, seeing his
own upon her, she dropped them,
flushed deep red and was silent.
( "What were you going to say?" he
asked.
"l'll tell you some time again. You
are going to be very, very angry
when I tell you, SO I'd rather post
pone it."
"Promise to tell me some time"
'Yes. Look. Here's a car"
''Van Kleek! And somebody with
Aim!"
The car stopped and, strange to say,
the elephant stopped, too. Van Kleek's
companion got out and Slipped chain
on the elephants legs.
''Hello, Rusty, old boy!" said the
man.
Iss thank heaven, you're SAFE" called
Van Kleek. II worried over that fool
bet till / couldn't sleep. Come on down
5out Of that. You've won! Let his
lewner tdke him. for goodness sake"
Then Garfield heard the girl give
- queer little click with her tongue.
The elephant reached up with his
trunk, took her gently around the body