The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-26

avoc sn,r,., an" SUCH q girl. Her
es ~ spafAied back as though the numh
-, III -" SU.u' .ne impossible situation, were
~ part OF joyous adventure.
I've been nearly frozen r. do...
snu 80 | confscated the bear rus y
sue explained. "You promised over tho
pnone to call for me here at < hut
suppose the sudden storm detained w. vo,,
: ho~s ~ss up on the ladder, going over the
DOCKS when it left me in darkness
Inere was nothing else to do 40
sat where l was, reading by the l,ght
OF my torch. Those wonderfu, o,d
DOCKS are interesting enough to msLa
one forget everything. Now" sba and.
90 abruptly. Twill 1t be possible for Nc
to 60 backw - 10
am afraid not yet" John Gor,,en
answered perplexedly.
with a quick motion the girl d,scsrd
ea the fur rug and came nimblv dow
the bookcase ladder.
we VIII light the CRATE, thenr abe
said and put out her hand for q match
AS the fire curled about the ras loos
ne came eagerly toward the warmth
Denolng with wrinkled brows to study
the race Of the girl. Unconscious of
MS puzzled and admiring scrutiny, she
removed her hat, the freight glintin o
upon the soft waves Of her hair. She
seemed to be an unusual young persou
Of decided action.
Now" she said, las we will he
Obliged to remain here for time. we
can talk things over. I've brought q
little lunch" Deity she was arrsnp.
Ing sandwiches upon a box cover
Have one?" she smiled.
John Gordon smiled too. Dreaming
or waking, real or unreal. the dlscour.
aging adventure Of an hour ago had
turned, fairy-like, to one Of pleasure
Thank you,' he replied. "And now
may | ask just how you come to be
here'-he waved an arm about-"here
In the tower room Of this deserted
ghostly old house?"
The girls eyes opened wide. "Why
told you,' she said, II came after
the books"
"Books;' 1t seemed the lawyer could
now only repeat, parrot-like, her words
She nodded impatiently. But had
no idea there were SO many. It will
be impossible to remove them at pres.
ent. You gave me no idea Of thell
number or value over the phone
Whatever'-she gazed dreamily int
the f1re-"possessed Uncle Laidlaw to
leave his books to father and the
house to that rich lawyers mother
Now, If he'd left us the house and the
lawyer the bookshelf, that would
have been more reasonable"
John Gordon leaned forward in sud
den understanding. So this was the
solution Of the problem. He wished
he had finished his reading Of the will
"Your father he began.
"Is an invalid she finished.
1--WE have such tiny apartment II
the city. This country air would have
done him so much good. And the gar
den-oh, what garden l should hav'
made Of 1t in summerw The girl sigh
ed. "When does the lady take pos
session, Mr.. Perkins?" she asked.
John Gordon stared, then silently &C
cepted the real estate agents name
"I-I haven't heard" he replied. III
have to talk things over with vol
later"
"And the books may remain for
timer she asked him.
EYES," he said.
The girl jumped up, going over to th'
window. There's light at last" sh'
cried. "And the storm is going over
Do you think we dare venture yet
Father will be so anxious. He is alon'
until I come. There are just we two.
Half regretfully John Gordon follow
ed to look over her shoulder to wher
the lights now shone below. Can yo'
walk IT.? he asked anxiOusly. Sh
had already started down the stair.
As the key turned rustily In the iron
door lock the two stood for momen
looking into each others eyes. Int
John Gordon's heretofore empty hear
came a feeling Of great and protectiv
tenderness. He held out his arm, an
quietly the girl placed her own with
In It: then downward they starte'
through the drifts.
At the station she gave him her han
in farewell. but he was going into tn
city tonight, he told her. so they tra'
eled together. Next day came lettel
which Miss Laidlaw. with CLOWN
checks, read aloud to her father.
Mr.. Gordon $50 the agent Perkin
wrote) upon being consulted as to 60
disposal Of his property suggested tns
a caretaker be found, with salary
cover expenses. He himself did nc
care to trouble with the estate, so
Mr.. Laidlaw and his daughter wer
willing to accept the position inoei
nitely-
.WilIingr' cried the girl, and joyous
" FASTENED to write their acceptance
.or.<,.,,, ~ n, a nv times through