The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-08
CUPID'S new WEAPON
By LOIS GRAFTON.


through deep valleys. Hedgeman, the
leader, who knew the country well,
went ahead. then came the venture
some spirits. ready to take risks OF
slides and places on narrow ledges,
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 dam
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
you?" he said.
She laughed Goodness, yes-spi-
ders and mice, measles and burglars"
Il doubt it"
what did l do to make you think
| l 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. / insist
on giving you the palm Of courage
"And l insist that l am as much of
a coward as anybody"
"What are you afraid of, them"
81 told you-burglars for one thing"
"And?'
You for another"
s'Me?"
Yes. You insist on dragging my
failings out into daylight and analyZ-
ing them. l 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 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 fiinching
The trip came to an end; the man
IL took train for Seattle, the girl went
east, and the party scattered in all
directions.
The girls family had not come home
from Canada and she undertook the
| opening of the townhouse.
She had long, quiet evenings alone
: after busy days, and she lived over
/ her wonderful time in the mountains.
There were camera views to so over,
some of the man. Hes so different
from most men," she unused, $50 big
, He's been all over the world, he says
t ! suppose he builds bridges and tun-
!. nels mountains and constructs dams
] and aqueducts, for he would never be
t content to spend his time doing little
things"
e One evening, after looking through
4 her travel book again, she decided to
e so to bed. Hulda, the cook, had gone
t to her room on the third floor. and she
E was alone. She made round of the
:, rooms, fastened windows. swapping on
t locks and turning out lights.
: Then she returned to the library to
switch off the table light before going
upstairs.
And there stood man with a black
mask over his face and an automatic
ready for action.
| OH" said the girl, standing quite
still.
] Keep quiet said the intruder. "and
won't hurt YOU
And the girl kept very quiet; in
truth, she slipped in a heap to the
: floor, for she had tainted.
n I'm a fool y mans voice was
J the first thing she heard when her
senses came back. She was on couch
and Hulda was rubbing her face and
hands. She thought she knew the
D. voice.
!. The girl sat up. Your she cried.
: Yes, Il" said the man grimly, the
# man with whom she had travelled over
: 800 miles of mountains.
# And here I've been thinking you did
IS big, wonderful things to help the world,
l. :nd you're a-a-"
II "A burglar? No I'm not really
e Listen. just got back from the West
today-this evening-and | couldn't go
Il TO sleep until l had located your house
If 1t was too late to come in, but | just
T. wanted TO know where you lived
n When | was passing / saw a man work
y ing at the side window. so I got the
r corner policeman and we nabbed him
Then | thought of something, Just 2
fool notion Of mine to test Your cour