South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05
His Last Match

The professor had noticed his fell
low travellers but slightly on the trip
to the caves from his hotel at Staun-
ton. He was deep in a description
Of the famous caverns, and making
notes of special features he was
anxious to see.
Another thing, the professor was
not susceptible TO faminine influence.
however prOXimitOus. He had been
guest at the Mountain View hotel
for five weeks, jaunting hither and
yon on his research work, and never
had even the suspicion of romance
crossed his path: but Just as they
reached the end Of the road leading
70 the caves he had closed his note
book, placed il in his inner pocket
and glanced up TO meet the most
interesting eyes he had ever seen,
gazing at him questioningly.
There were two persons before
him-the owner Of the eyes and her
companion, evidently a relative. The
first was about 20, her travelling suit
was a dark brown linen, her hat Of
| close brown straw, her waist OF
pongee, and her eyes and hair were
| brown. Some vagrant lines from
Percy's Reliques crossed the pro
fessor's mind.
oh, nut brown maid, 7 met thee
wandering,
All clad in woodland brown"
Her companion, the professor
noted hastily, was somewhere in the
uncertain years Of spinsterhOod; her
| felt fedora only accentuated her
rather sharp profile and reticent
manner She eyed the professor
with reflective. postponed Judgment
at the same time noting his interest
in the nut brown maid.
At the entrance 20 the caves the
two went ahead, as the professor
scriptions in the guide books for sale
at the door. The old man in charge
answered all his queries mechan-
ically. The day was warm. and
visitors had been numerous Yes.
the caves were many miles long
only n certain portion had been ex-
DlOred. some were lighted by cleo
.ricIty, and some by guide torches.
There was no danger. If YOU were
pretty sure-footed, and didn't go
wandering off by yourself. The
caves were all natural formation,
etc.
The professor received his torch
and tucked il under mis- arm, alb
sent-mindedly. quite as If it had
been n baton. lie ignored the little
box OF safety matches held out by
the man, and made way into The
caves jubilantly.
Far in advance ralGh.ed Mobile
and Miss Annabel 10 aas NOuis g
first trip in racation time; in fact, Il
was her FIRST vear as a teacher, and
now instead OF keeping her mind
firmly on Miss AnHabeis dissertation
on stagmalites and stala cytes, she
vas wondering whether every ons
was interested in such things
whether that nice blond boy with
the eyeglasses who had sat opposite
TO them in the stage, really and truly
enjoyed going through caves on a
midsummer day, when all the
beauty OF the outside world called
70 them. She remembered seeing
him al the hotel near Staunton. and
on several expeditions. on, how tired
she was OF that word. expedition. To
travel, one should have gypsy cart,
and no time schedules.
She hardly caught what Miss An
mabel was saying when all at once
the lights went out and they were
in pitch darkness.
Thank goodness we have our
torches" exclaimed Miss Annabel.
thankfully BE careful where YOU
step. The bottomless lake is just be
vond us-or was II the pool OF the
Gnomcso Do you remember.
Mollie?"