The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-03-29

Lima S
Fortune
c.
Blu GEORGE ELMER COBB
osOss0EOS40sSa-osS
Copyright, 1917. by w. G. Chapman.)

in surprise. Then her face flushed and
manifest embarrassment was visible
in her pretty, innocent face.
81 thank you, but-yes, if you
please" she said and wondered at her
own temerity.
Lima was carrying two baskets and
one was unusually heavy. 1t was COW
cred with a screening, newspaper fold
ed neatly, Mr.. Dale Armstrong would
have probably wondered if he had
guessed what it hid. He wondered
at It's weight as he relieved her Of the
basket. Lima was able to carry the
basket on her other arm very COM
fOrtably.
II think know who you are" spoke
her escort. II have heard Miss Barton
speak of you"
''Yes, Nellie is my cousin" replied
Lima. "We don't see much of one an
other, though. She is away good
deal and"
Lima paused there and with tact Mr..
Armstrong changed the subject. He
understood without an explanation.
Miss Nellie Barton was the daughter
of family of wealth. The Walters
folk We're not blessed with social adj
vantages. He chatted about the birds,
the flowers, the lake, the woods and
Lima was relieved and interested. Then
where the road turned and in sight
of a rude old hut, she put out her
hand timidly.
Il can take the basket now, if you
please" she said gratefully and the
young man scanned the depths of her
eyes with a realization that they were
true, tender eyes, the glowing glimpse
of which he did not soon forget.
He lifted his hat and strOlled slow
antly, too, for the lovely girl
seemed a natural part of the sweet,
fresh vernal frame about them. He
was broker from the city, a close
friend of Ned Barton, brother of Mel
lie, and he had been guest at the
Barton palatial home for a week. Pur-
poSely invited or not, Miss Barton had
set her snares to capture him, as was
her rule with manageable young men
of social prestige and money. Arm
strong admired her, for she was regal
ly beautiful, but he was conscious of
her wiles. There had been a surfeit
of her apparent wiles, and the contrast
between the proud beauty and the lit
tie wildwood flower he had just left
was intense and soul-stirring.
81 say, Armstrong, flirting?" hailed
q free and easy voice and Ned Bar
ton came into view, his fishing rod
across his shoulder. "Wasn't that Lima
Walters?"
"Your cousin, she said," replied
Armstrong. TELL me about her. I'm
interested"
''Then don't let Nellie know it !" adj
vised haphazard Ned. Truth Is, Mel
lie cuts her. You see, the Walters
people are the poor branch of the fam
lily and Nellie rather keeps the rela-
tionship in obscurity. Not but what
Lima is a genuine trump. She's the
bravest little scout ever knew. Works
for her folks day and night and is
happy and smiling over it. Poor Lima
for she's every inch lady. Carry
ing something to Uncle Peter, war
rant"
"And who is Uncle Peter?" inquired
Armstrong.
"Oh, sort of an outcast, hermit
now. Poor, old, crossgrained. He once
could have bought up the whole town,
but he got speculation in his blood
and it led him to ruin. Pity you didn't
have him for client in those old gol-
den days of his, to steer him up against
real securities that paid real dividends.
One day there was an explosion that
startled the town. His last dollar had
taken wings in the wake of a fading
gold mining scheme that swallowed up
something like five millions. Then he
shut himself up in that wretched old
shack down the road and lives to him
self"
"And Lima that is, Miss Walters"
Intercepted Armstrong.
"Oh, I suppose she has pitied his
loneliness. 1 hear he is growing fraii
and weak. The Walters people haven't
much to spare, but what they have
Lima is probably sharing with him. I've
met her Juggling a basket of coal down
there several times. Fancy Nellie do
ing that for him!"
All of which made q due impression
on Dale Armstrong, for he was big
hearted, true-souled fellow. There was
a new arrival at the Barton place that
afternoon-a girl chum of Nellie and
her brother. Nellie proceeded to play
this young gentleman against Arm
strong to urge up his jealousy and at
tention. Armstrong saw through the
flimsy scheme and was, in fact. glad to
be relieved from so much of the COM
pany of the shallow coquette.
He kept a lookout for Lima, but he
did not meet her for several days. Be
fore he did, there was another link
added to the circumStantial chain of
incidents appertaining to his formal
acQuaintanceShip with Lima. He was
passing the old hut one afternoon when
there came q feeble hail. Armstrong
made out figure seated in an arm
chair just within the doorway. He
knew it must be Uncle Peter and adj
vanced quite readily. for Lima was in
his mind.
did you call me, sir?" he inquired.
II did, if you are Mr.. Armstrong"