The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-02-21
CUpID'S new WEAPON
BY LOIS GRAFTON.

rocky cliffs, across tracts of shale ana
through deep valleys. Hedgeman. the
leader who knew the country we'll.
went ahead; then came the venture
some spirits, ready to take risks or
slides and places on narrow Lodges.
where pieces of rock might have fallen
away since the last ranger passed on
his lonely patrol.
But the mountain ponies were sure
| footed-too sure-footed. for they went
close to the edge sometimes. The
horse the girl rode insisted on walking
as far away from the cliff as possible.
The man kept his eye on the girl.
Most of the time her left foot was dan
Cling over space, but she gave no
sign that she was afraid.
When night came they camped In
valley. and after supper most of the
weary souls crawled into bed. A few
still fingered, however, around the
great fire. The man and the girl sat
apart talking.
"You are not afraid Of anything, are
your" he said.
Sue IduSu6u. OOOuucSSs yCo-CRA-
ders and mice, measles and burglars"
81 doubt It'll"
what did l do to make you think
was-brave?"
"Most girls would have screamed or
tainted when that horse went so close
to the edge"
"And ! kept quiet. That was only
the instinct of self-preservation. /
didn't want to scare him."
"That isn't true. I'm afraid. l insist
on giving you the palm Of courage"
"And | insist that | am as much of
a coward as anybody"
what are you afraid of. then?"
81 told you-burglars for one thing"
"And?"
"You for another"
"Me?"
"Yes. You insist on dragging my
failings out into daylight and analyz-
ing them. | suppose you'll soon dis
cover that I'm fond of vegetable soup
and hate to use semicolons, and that |
incidentally these riding boots have
rubbed my stockings into tatters."
I'D forgotten. You must be dead
tired" He got up instantly and helped
her to her feet. go to bed now and
be fresh for new worlds tomorrow"
He pressed her hand warmly and
was gone.
They were together a great deal
after that; they rode side by side when
possible, sat together at meals, and
had splendid campfire talks. He in
sisted on calling her brave as each day
brought new risks which she took
without flnching.
The trip came to an end; the man
took train for Seattle, the girl went
east, and the party scattered in all
directions.
The girls family had not come home
rom Canada and she undertook the
opening of the townhouse.
She had long, quiet evenings alone
ifter busy days, and she lived over
Ter wonderful time in the mountains.
There were camera views to go over, (
some of the man. He's so different :
rom most men," she unused. $50 big
Hes been all over the world, he says.
suppose he builds bridges and tun- G
lels mountains and constructs dams y
md aqueducts. for he would never be :
to spend his time doing little +
hngs."
One evening. after looking through /
er travel book again. she decided to i
o to bed. Hulda. the cook. had gone s
D her room on the third floor, and she r
ias alone. She made round of the O
oolns, fastened windows, swapping on D
,cks and turning out lights.
Then she returned to the library to n
witch off the table light before going \
pstairs. n
And there stood a man with black o
TASK over his face and an automatic b
eady for action. O
"Oh !" said the girl. standing quite h
ILL., b
Keep quiet" said the intruder, land
won't hurt you" CO
And the girl kept very quiet; in il
nth. she slipped in "a heap to the la
Dor. for she had tainted. d
I'm a fool ~ A mans voice was tt
e first thing she heard when her il
nseS came back. She was on a couch =
I'd Hulda was rubbing her face and =
lnds She thought she knew the
ice.
The girl sat up. "You!" she cried.
"Yes, y said the man grimly the
an with whom she had travelled over
0 miles of mountains.
And here I've been thinking you did
:, wonderful things to help the world.
d you're a-a-"
"A burglar? No. I'm not really.
stem. just got back from the West
1ay-this evening-and couldn't go
clio I'll I hna tod I,