Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-08
A STORY FOR SPARE MOMENTS
The Spelling School

go TO a funeral had the front seats at
these contests
so one invited or suggested but when
the evening came Mr. campbell was there.
Moreover ne was chosen by one Of the sides,
and It was thus that he found himself a
contestant, instead Of n spectator, II was
Miss Bird who had tho choice Of tho oppos-
ing line. and she had her lovc-siclt swains
beside her. All were good spoilers, but she
waa always tho last Of the two lines to go
down Her mother had said Of her:
Nobody can say whom Bird will fall
IN love with and marry, but YOU can make
up your mind it'll have to he somebody who
can spell her down.
BY and by the hard words came, and
the lines began TO thin and shorten up
tniIl he caught Miss Bird looking at him
dehantlE, Mr. Campbell had wished he had
Kept out of IT, There was a direct chaI-
lenge in her eyes and pose that awoke
lceIlnE or aniagonism. and he determined
That the victory should be his
In time they were the last two up. or
course the hopes and sympathies Of the pco-
pic were with the girl Even in mar alert
ness she caught whispered words behind her
which she was to recall later on For n
long ten minutes il was nip and tuck as
Deacon Green expressed it, and then the
Eli, missed her word and the young man
mad won the victory. There were no signs
Of detection on her part, but the victor held
out his hand with smile and said:
"Nou did nObly. Let mo say 10 YOU that
I am one OF firm publishing a dictionary
ana no word goes into it until / have spelled
it,
- am glad that | had such a worthy an
tagoniSt' she pleasantly replied
The next morning there was great OK
citeinent in Freedom Mr Campbell was
missing He had not returned 10 the inn
after tho spelling school He had not loft
town in any vehicle. lie had not talt.n anv
OF his effects with hiw Would he take
the highway .hus on foot? lie had bocn
seen leaving the schoolhousc. but after that
all traces were lost.
The constable got busy, and with hin,
= score Of persons II could not be that
any accident had happened, and toIcphnna
messages 10 the nearest villages failed 10
ascertain that the missing man had ar
rived there or been seen upon the high
ways
All day the hunt and the talk won, y,
and It was far into evening that Miss
Bird remembered the whispered words bc-
| hind her. 'lf he spells her down il t,us,
come tonight Is everything rcady?"
Roy Campbell had mvstcriousIy dlsan-
| pearod, Her wou)d-bc lovers must hayo
| had a hand in II, for they were all sitting
together. There was no lake or river into
| which they might plunge him. II they had
! menaced him into leaving the village no
| would not leave without calling at tho
| hotel What then? II must be n case ~
| kidnapping, though that seemed too hold
an offense for the young men to commit.
II it was n case Of kidnapping. wboro
was the victim being held?
! Mr.. Davis was a quiet eyen-tennnorod
! man Not once a year did he get angry
| at anything, and he had never been known
| to strike man n blow. II was TO no oy
pected' Wherefore, that he would be be-
wildered when the daughter came to his
| bedside at midnight and awoke him
Father, you are to get up and coma
| with me :"
Where? what?"
- think know where Mr.. Campbell is"
"GObd Lord
Ten minutes later, when he had Joined
| her downstairs, she said: "I believe the
young men have kidnapped Mr.. Campbell
and are holding him in the old cider miII
We are going To see"
81 will get the constable" he replled
I'VE do not want him with us We are
going to manage without him II we find
| Mr. Campbell in there alone he viii h1
bound, and we can release him. II the
| young men are there you are to sail I'm and
| knock their heads Off"
"But I'm no fighter" he protested
But you've got TO be or I'll deny you a,
a father.
The young men had made prisoner y,
Roy Campbell and borne him off to the old
cider mill, thinking to drive him ava,
from the, village by threats. When he dc
fed them--whon he was missed and =
search began, they knew not what 10 a,
except to bind and guard him until som,
plan was formulated They were ALI there
seeking to bribe and renewing their threat :
Hit every one Of them. and hit hardp
the girl whispered in her fathers ear a,
they listened at the dilapdated old door
Mr. Davis spat on his hands, kicked IN,
door down and sailed in" and none es
capped him. The town of Freedom hal
never learned the full particulars of tba
adventure, and never will. II has TO b,
content with the marriage that took plac,
year later.
lTHE END