The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-12-21
HIDDEN BUNGALOW
BY AGNES c. BRoeAN.

NCvpSiAkhAt AS1tf newspaper UniDn.1 /
At the crossroads Celia paused, try
Ing to peer through the snowy blur,
to the village below. The storm had |
been unexpected, she had started out
In sunshine, hoping to visit friend at
the top of the HILL and now, before her
journeys end, the sky darkened, while
whirling ice flakes cut her cheeks. The
next farmhouse, she remembered, was
now as impossible to reach as the vii
lage; then came a recollection of a
summer-home bungalow, which must
be some place nearby. Though its
occupants had returned to the city, she
would be able to find shelter in the pro-
tected corners of the yeranda. So Celia
pulled the scarlet tam over her crink-
ling hair and pushed on through the
whistling wind. Yes, there was the
house buried in an enveloping cloud of
snow and something moved at it's gate
way.
Celia laughed relievedly to find the
something great dog. Boisterous in
welcome he darted toward her. I'm
hesitatingly her hand reached for the
dogs collar and she led him yielding
through the hedge. She was glad as
she huddled in the doorway that the
animal was there to shield her. Then
with lurch the great dog jumped
against the door.
you foolish thing" Celia chided, cit
won't open"-but it did. Bewildered
the girl suddenly stood in a living
room, and more amazing still, a fire
cracked on the hearth.
"What is it Don?" a mans surprised
voice asked of the dog, and from out
the shadows appeared mans figure.
81 beg your pardon" stammered the
girl, II did not know the bungalow was
occupied. was lost in the storm"
The mans voice was pleasing. "Will
you make yourself comfortable here
by the fire?" he invited
Celia hesitated but moment, glanc-
ing at the increasing storm-refusai
seemed foolish.
.'The bungalow was unoccupied," the
man told her, until last evening.
came out here upon an impulse
Celia cast glance at the mans fine
features. Then, at his suggestion, she
placed the red tam and her cloak to.
dry before the fire. As darkness grew,
he arose to light shaded lamp. "You
see," he remarked, 81 have made prep
aration for days of solitude"
"That was strange impulse of
yours" she said as silence grew be
tween them-"coming out here at this
time of the year. / remember your
face. You used to pass our home last
summer in a car, with an older gen
tleman.''
The man nodded. my father" he
answered briefly.
AS departure grew hopeless, the man
brought forth an impromptu meal,
serving the girl as, impersonally as
though supper in a bachelors showed
in Bungalow was an ordinary occur
renee. And, Celia ensconced before
the fire, found the hour one of pleas
ant adventure Surreptitiously she
watched the mans face, with eyes so
keenly grave, and the eyes lost their
anxious light when they rested on the
girls sweet face. At last he came back
from an examination of the weather.
'You may have to stay here for some
time" he said. ST am going to ven
ture out to try to find a conveyance for
you"
With reluctance she followed him to
the door. "Oh, please y she begged,
as an icy blast caught her, breath,
"don't try it yet" but with strong
quick hand clasp, the man had gone.
Celia. left alone, reached for the
morning paper lying before the couch,
then for an instant, her heart seemed
to stop beating, when it raced on
again, she found herself looking into
the pictured face of the man who had
befriended her. Beneath the picture
were the words:
'Defaulter, supposed to be in hiding.
Below was an account of a shortage in
one of the city banks, for which the
pictured man was held responsible.
"John Gordon the elder" the paper
stated assistant to his son, the cash
Ter, left Immediately for trip to Cali
fornia after John Gordon, Jr.'s mys-
terious disappearance. He refused to
discuss the matter"
"Oh it cannot be-" whispered Celia ;
beneath the cushion of the couch pa
per cracked. Unconsciously she drew
it forth. then deliberately read its mes
sage: "Dear Jack" said the note,
'sorry to leave you to straighten things
out, but / had to have money; deal
went wrong. Know you'll fix things
some way. Dad"
With pink spots on either cheek, the
girl Jumped to face two men, who I'M,
announced entered the room.
acHere's the dog" said one. where's
Jack Gordonw
"Pretty criminal" laughed the other
ending away in his own summer
home.'
HE is not criminal" the girl cried
hotly. "He's just brave man, taking
blame on himself to shield an old ia
Their; read that, you detectives"