The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-05-25

left of an old hut that had half burned
down The girl drove the boat into
shallow water.
won't you please go ashore and see
If anyone is in the house to take care
of me?" she spoke, low and pleadingly.
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 elfish, haunting
expression in her bright eyes. She
waved her hand airily in a bantering
fashion
You'll 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 or three
days."
"Why?" shouted back the discomfit-
ed Ronald.
"Oh, just-because," came the equiv
ocnl reply, and with few deft strokes
of the oar the boat shot out of sight.
1t was three hours later when it re-
turned. There was proof positive now
that the pretended sprained ankle was
fiction, for, airy and nimble as a
nymph, the girl sprang ashore, first
throwing there rude wicker basket.
1--WE brought you some food and
matches and two blankets" she auda-
ciously informed Ronald. IF it rains
you can go into the house. Well 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.
Suppose I take your boat and say
noY challenged Ronald.
"Well, dad is over in clump of
PUSHES in his boat, not hundred yards
over beyond here, and he'll sure shoot
If you try to leave"
"Humph! What are you people
bandits?'
"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 Ron
old Once she asked him:
what is that badge you wear
sheriff? constable?"
ooh, no. Just a reporters badge,
explained Ronald.
"Why, then, maybe dads wrong y
Ronald heard her murmuf, thought
fully.
"YOu can leave here tomorrow" the
girl advised him two days following
and, during the interim, Ronald haC
become interested in his artless, but
vigilant jailer.
II am glad of that" said Ronald
"but l wish l understood the mystery
of you people keeping me here in thi'
strange way"
"Oh, l think you guess" intimatet
his companion.
81 DON'T" declared Ronald, positive
ly
~ like you" she spoke, after looking
him squarely in the eyes, as If striving
Q to read his secret thoughts. 'Mayb
we've done you a wrong, dad and /, blu
he's bound not to be caught
L. "Caught?" echoed Ronald, vaguely
e That's it. He saw that badge o
st yours and thought you were an officer
g and we've kept you here till he can fin
'e new hiding place. Don't you reall
lie know about dadw
y Nothing but what you tell me,
al averred Ronald.
Then she told him that her fathe
e, They were poor, humble folk and ha
u lived in Elburne. There was a mys
1t terious murder. Her father, innocen
s. was accused. He had fed, she wit
i'd him.
is John Deane?" repeated Ronald e,
W citedly, springing to his feet. He ia
" inside the old ruin. He returned
I'd bringing newspaper which he ha
* read and reread to while the tim
as away during his captivity.
n "Whyl' he cried, "Here is an articl
Id telling Of the discovery of the res
Of murderer and they have been searcl
ed ing everywhere for your innocent fl
of ther."
So it was and the Deanes were il
lg duced to return to Elburne with r,
u maid, and his interest In Gilmore gre
to a deeper sentiment as the days wei
d. on.
he "You have come into my life to sta
J. begin to realize" he told her one da
,r. land she had.
ed Air Tools Effect Saving.
III Six dollars instead Of twenty-fol