The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-26
CANFIELD'S ADVENTURE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

the other side thin column of smoke.
His breath came in quick gasps, sig
nifying that he had been sprinting for
some distance
THANK goodness" he wheeZed. "Tll
get the fisherman to help me hunt"
But on the other side of the tent he
found, instead of an old salt, a girl
frying bacon in a long-handled skillet.
Il beg your pardon" gasped Can
field, "but did you see an elephant
go along this way?"
The girl turned and regarded him
seriously Il don't remember" she
answered. "Pe<haps did. may have.
but you see, so many elephants go by
early in the morning that 1 really don't
notice them particularly. Was your
elephant any special kind-pink or
striped or something like that?'
Garfield laughed and the girl, put
ting down her pan, laughed too.
Really I've never heard of anything
so funny. How on earth did you hap
pen to lose an elephant? How, in the
first place, did you happen to have him
at all?'
Just because I'm silly ass! Van
kleek and 1 were motoring through a
village near here and it happened to
be circus day. 1t seems business had
been bad and while we were having
lunch at the hotel we heard that the
whole outfit was being sold by the
| sheriff. Van Kleek and I hurried
over and he dared me to buy the trick
elephant. l got him for twenty-five dol
lars. And then seize imp out of Hades
put another notion into Vans head.
I'll bet you five thousand dollars said
he, that you're not game to ride the
rest of the way on this peanut-eating
beast into the borough of Manhattan
and up Fifth avenue to-" Garfield
stopped in confusion.
"To where?" she demanded.
ITO friend of mine" he finished
evasively.
May | help you hunt?'
!, Nothing I'd like better" His face
lighted up instantly.
Suddenly he gave a whoop. "Look
here, quick. Here are his tracks,
q
Up this way. Let's hurryi''
They followed the trail up the beach,
then across q grassy swamp to a grove
of young saplings.
Il believe hear him." he whispered.
There was crashing among the trees.
Mercy, I'm getting terribly fright
ened. l wish l hadn't come"
4 He reached for her hand and held on
to it. Now listen. He won't hurt us
, if We just keep still. He's used to
people. Picks 'em up and carries them
, all around in the circus. If he spies
Us let him alone and see what he'll
do"
Sure enough the elephant came their
\ way. The girl gripped Canfields hand
Y hard, but she didn't make a sound. The
! animal, seeing them, cantered up and
stopped. Then gently he wrapped his
q trunk around Canfeld's companions
Y lifted her over his head and set her
! carefully in the gilded box on his back
Then Garfield, too, felt himself lifted
h off his feet and the next instant he was
d beside the girl.
h We'll, this is what I call homelike,' -
q exclaimed Garfield. IF we'd only
brought some of that bacon. I'm hun.
# cry as Il bear"
o Where do you suppose he's going?'
y cried the girl, for the elephant hao
D. started off toward the road at gentle
h lope.
N Let US hope to the Bronx Zoo. An,
W place toward civilization and food
is lie had forgotten that he was to pre-
re sent himself at the door of a certain
lady. He turned and took a good lool
at at the girl beside him, slim and grace
full in a blue sweater suit, her ligh
" brown hair blowing in little curls
around her ears and forehead, and the
p flush of exercise and excitement il
SO her cheeks. She was very, very pretty
Ills hand still tingled where she hat
I'd touched it. She raised her eyes sud
/: denly as if to speak, then, seeing hi
st own upon her, she dropped them
er flushed a deep red and was silent.
n What We're you going to say?" h
We asked.
s. I'll tell you some time again. 70
= are gong TO De very, very angr
ah when l tell you, so I'd rather post
is pone it,
Promise to tell me some time"
Ell Yes. Look. Here's car"
IL Van Kleek! And somebody witt
him!'
IS The car stopped and, strange to say
the elephant stopped, TOO. Van kleek'
III companion got out and slipped chai
ri on the elephants legs.
us Hello, Rusty, old boy!" said tn
en- man.
ne Thank heaven, you're safe" Gale
VII Van Kleek. Il worried over that foe
III bet till l couldn't sleep. Come on dow
Gu out of that. You've Won! Let hi
owner take him, for goodness sake.
Then Garfield heard the girl Civ
a queer little click with her tongu
an The elephant reached up with hi
,