Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-01-13
CHAPTER TX.
an
The Window.

Though they left New York not long
after three in the afternoon, twilight
was fast ebbing into night when Ember
gave the motor it's head. It's head
lights Glove a path through darkness,
like a splendid sword; on either hand
woodlands and desolate clearings
blurred into dark and rushing walls
only the wonderful wilderness of stars
remained imperturbable.
Whitaker, braced against the jolting,
snatched begrudged mouthfuls of air
strong of the sea. He had no very def
mite idea of their whereabouts, having
neglected through sheer Indifference to
question Ember, but he knew that they
we're drawing minute by minute closer
TO the Atlantic.
After some time the car slowed to
q palpitant pause. Ember jumped out
TO open a barred gate, then, returning,
swung the car into a clear but narrow
woodland road. Mine own domain y
he informed Whitaker with q laugh
"Now we're shut of the world en-
tirely."
Whitaker bent forward, inquiring
~Where are WEI"
almost there. Patience"
Whitaker reckoned idly that they
must have threaded a good two miles
Of woodland, when at length the car
emerged upon clearing and immedi-
ately turned aside to the open doorway
Of a miniature garage.
The forest hemmed the clearing on
three sides; on the fourth lay water
a hundred yards distant the lighted
windows of One-StOry structure shone
pleasantly through a scattering planta.
ton of pine
Linking arms the better to guide his
guest, Ember drew him toward the
lights.
Bungalow" he explained, senten.
tious, flourishing his free hand; "her.
mitage-retreat."
Paradise" Whitaker summed up. in
the same manner. mo neighbors?"
"Oh"-Ember motioned to his left as
they faced the water-''there's a mar.
ried establishment over there some.
where, but we don't bother enc another
Fellow by the name of Fiske. under,
stand the place is shut up-Fiske not
coming down this year"
$50 much the better. I've been want
Ing just this all summer, without real
fling it."
Welcome, then, to Half-a-Loaf
lodge!'
They entered a long and deep liv-
Ing room with walls of peeled logs and,
at one end, a stone fireplace wherein
a wood fire blazed heartily. At com
Portable distance from the hearth
stood table bright with linen, silver
ana crystal-cOvers for two. The rear
wall was broken by three doors, in
one Of which rotund Chinaman
beamed oleaginously. Ember hailed
him by the title of Sum Fat, ex-
planning that it wasn't his name, but
claiming for it the virtue of exquisite
felicity.
My servant in town, here man
OF au-work; I've had him for years
faithful and Indispensable. :"
Toward the end Of an excellent din.
aer, Whitaker caught himself nodding
ana blinking with drowsiness. EN-
Ger took laughing compassion upon
nm and led him forthwith to a bed
room furnished with the rigid simplic-
lly or a summer camp. Then he slept
round the clock. The shrill. impera-
I'VE rattle Of a telephone bell reused
MN. AS he dressed he could hear the
voice of Ember in the living room talk
ing over the telephone. Presently there
came tap at his door. and lis host
entered.
Up eh?" he said cheerfully. twas
AFRAID I'd have TO wake you" His
smile vanished beneath the clouds of
an impatient frown. '"This is the devil
OF note; I've got to leave YOU"
What's the trouble?"
That's what I'm called upon to find
out A friend of mines In a tight
pace and I've got to go and help pull
nm through. He just called me up
ana can't refuse. D'you mind being
ieIt alone for a day or soT'
certainly not-only I'm sorry"
No more than l. But III try to get
'ack tomorrow. If DON'T. the next
1ay-or as soon as 1 possibly can,
Aean|hile, please consider yourself
i'Fa and master here. SYM Fat viii
ia6e good care of y.Nu. Anything you
want Just ask aim. Now I've got to
set into wateryroofs-it's raining Ike
al s@l-out, out l can't wait for a let
ny
~ the time Whitaker was ready for
oIef'hlast his host had spIashed OF to
his motor So.
he wihd, freshening and driving
's'1 respectable Y miniature rollers