Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-23

girl as she lifted up the oars. She did
not speak. He wondered who she might
be. He marveled at the sensational
/ appearance, one after the other, Of
two seeming nomads.
/ The girl sought and threaded the
May stretch Of water. skilled argo-
naut. Finally, In the midst Of dis
NAL waste, they approached kind Of
en- island. At Its center was what was
left Of an old hut that had half burned
down. The girl drove the boat into
shallow water.
wont you please go ashore and see
II anyone is In the house to take care
Of mel" she spoke. low and pleadlngly,
and Ronald readily lent himself to the
proposal.
He found nobody and nothing In the
old wreck of domicile. Coming out,
he rather stared Twenty feet from
the edge Of the island was the boat.
The girl had thrown his game bag
ashore. Whereas she had been the
seeming child OF pain and helplessness
a. few minutes since, now she was
smiling. There was an elnsh, haunting
expression In her bright eyes, She
waved her hand airily In : bantering
Eashion. 'N @i.'tf rf's=
"You'il have fixin's for your comfort
In little while" she. said. Don't try
TO get away, or you'll drown. You'll
have to stay here for two Oh. three
days" ~ - : 'F,
s"whyr' shouted back the discohfit-
ed Ronald. - x$.'r -. 3. = Sssnrt.
-Oh. Just---because. came the equiv,
ocal reply, and with a few .deft strokes
Of the oar the boat shot out Of sight. -.
II was three hours later when 1t re-
turned. There was proof positive now
that the pretended sptained ankle was
fiction. for.s airy and nImbie. as a.
nymph, the girl sprang ashore. nrst
throwing there rude wicker basket.
~rve brought you some food and
matches and two blankets she audal
ciously informed Ronald. 1T Il rainsl
you can 60 into the house. Wen keep
you comfortable. You won't be kept
here over three days"
"But don't want to be kept here at
all demurred Ronald.
you've got to-" disputed the man
datory little vixen. ~, 3
Suppose take your boat and say
nor challenged Ronald.
swell, dad Is over In a clump of
rushes In his boat, not hundred yards
over beyond here, and he'll sure shoot
II you try to leave"
"Humphl What are you people,
banditsT -~-- s~s<t,--,-s'
They say so-and worse-over at
Elburne."
The girl appeared next morning,
bringing more food. She fingered for
over an hour. There was a certain
witchery about her that attracted Rom
old. Once she asked him:
What Is that badge you wear-I
sheriff. constabler s..se.s
ooh. no. Just a reporters badge
explained Ronald. - ~ -
"Why. then. maybe dads wroHgr<1
Ronald heard her murmur, thought
fully. az.
"You can leave here tomorrow" the
girl advised him two days following,
and. during the interim, Ronald had
become interested In his artiess, but
vigilant jailer.
II am glad Of that" said Ronald.
'but wish I understood the mystery
Of you people keeping me here In this
strange way"
''Oh.- think You guess" intimated
his companion. 80
Il DON'T" declared Ronald, positive
ly 'S~~ss1ees,.s.ssaastssE7a s5+l,s-~--.,.s.
II like you" she spoke. after looking
him squarely In the eyes, as II striving
to read his secret thoughts. Maybe
we've done you wrong. dad and I, but |
he's bound not to be caught"
"Caughtf" echoed Ronald, vaguely. |
That's II. he saw that badge OF |
yours and thought you were an officer, |
and we've kept You here till he can find
a new hiding place. Don't you really |
know about dadr' -
"Nothing but what you tell me-"
ayerred Ronald. -
Then she told him that her father /
was John Deane. and she was Gilmore.
They were poor. humble folk and had
lived In Elburne. There was a mys- :
terious murder. Her, father. Innocent.
was accused. He had ded. she with,
him. 4
"John Deane1" repeated Ronald ex-
cftedIy. springing to his feet. He ran !,
inside the old ruin. He returned.
bringing a newspaper. which he had !,
read and reread to while the time
away during his captivity.
"Whyw he cried. "Here Is an article
telling Of the discovery Of the real |.
murderer and they have been search 4
Ing everywhere for your innocent fa-
ther."
So II was, and the Deanes were In /
duced to return to Elburne with Ro-