The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1917-05-24
By
GEORGE; ELMER COBB
copyright, by w. G. Chapman.)


long cherished plan into execution.
''The site is the first consideration,
Florac advised the agent in whose
hands he placed the commission. 1T
must be on an elevated spot, a river
winding like a silver thread in and out
among forests. and hills. The view, my
friend, must be superb. There must be
space of ten acres at least. The
building can come later. Find me my
ideal location and environment at any
cost, not too near to the city, not too
far away. I am not an aristocrat, but
the baronial castle idea prevails with
me-grandeur, exclusiveness, majesty"
"Got just what you want" announced
the glib broker a month later. lever
heard of Hurricane Hill?"
Florac shook his head in negation,
but expectantly.
"You will go wild when you see it,"
predicted the agent, which Florac did.
What he had dreamed Of he at length
viewed-a lofty plateau Of moderate
proportions, surrounded by crags, wa
terways, cascades and clear view of
twenty-five miles in any direction.
Belongs to a man named Trask-
Abel Trask,:" explained the agent. "He
has lived in that old house for nearly
half century. Wife died; he has an
only daughter, times hard and poor,
and she has developed into quite a
singer. 1t nearly breaks the old mans
heart to sell the place, but he is bent
on giving his daughter frst-class mu-
steal education"
"Close with him at once" directed
Florac eagerly. 1.-THE old vine-covered
house is picturesque. It shall remain,
if only for it's antiquity. Those trees
and shrubs must not be disturbed. I
shall build more to the head of the val
ley. All, rare spot, truly! I shall
be very content
But Florac was not content. he took
great pleasure at the first in seeing his
ideas carried out as to the house. Then
there was spell when his interest was
centered on furnishing it.
,"The complete article, just as I
dreamed!' declared Florac with great
satisfaction, but within a month his
lonely environment began to pail on
him.
I'm missing companionship-tha is
it!'' he decided, and forthwith for six
months there was not weekend that
he did not have some one of his former
friends as guests. They were merely
acquaintance, however. They partook
of his meals, they borrowed money Of
him, they were not truly friends.
Florac had engaged a poor old
couple, pioneers in the neighborhood,
to act as caretaker and housekeeper.
They did their duty well. One day
Florac for the first time passed
through the apartment given over ex-
clusively to Mrs. Dodd. His eye
CHANGED to light upon framed photo
graph on the mantel.
is that the young lady once met
here, the daughter Of Mr.. Trask, from
whom I purchased this placer" he
asked.
eyes, sir, that is Miss Eleanor" as
scented the housekeeper. "Oh, sir, she
is a sweet, lovable girl! She nursed
Mr.. Dodd through dangerous illness
and helped us in many ways when we
were poor and out of work."
"Do you ever hear from her now?"
inquired Florac-any new subject to
break the monotony Of his dull exist
ence was of interest. Besides, he had
never entirely forgotten the girl he
had seen but once when he closed the
purchase of Hurricane Hill.
Yes, Mrs. Dcdd had heard that the
Trasks had gone to the city and that
Eleanor was studying music. AS to
her success as professional, however,
she knew little. All, how Mr.. Trask
would delight in seeing the old place!
1t had been to them haven of beauty
and the one great thought Of the old
man had been to be able some time
to build home, such as he and Elean-
or had planned out time and again.
There was the unused end Of the hill
expanse-that would do!
Miss Eleanor told me before she
went away, sir" said Mrs. Dodd, "that
when she had made q fortune with
that sweet voice of hers, she was going
to buy over there and build the home
that was the dream of her dear old
father. Why, lien you'd be neigh
bors!' smiled the voluble gossip, "And
they are the kind to appreciate, can
tell YOU, sir"
Now the dream Of fame and wealth
of the TraSl1s In the city had not come
true. Eleanor had the musical i'm
rise. but her voice had failed her.
h..,, ,!;.d managed to secure an engage