The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-06-11
HIDDEN BUNGALOW
BY AGNES q. 6RoGAN.

At the crOSS-rOaus Celih p~uSSNt ~
ing to peer through the snowy !
to he village below. The storm nad
been unexpected, she had started u
in sunshine, hoping to visit a friend at
the top of the hill, and now, before ner
Journeys end. the sky darkened. while
whirijng ice flakes cut her cheeks. The
next farmhouse. she remembered, was
now as impossible to reach as the VII
la0e. then came a recollection of a
summer-home bungalow, which must
be some place nearby. Though Its
occupants had returned TO the city, she
would be able to find shelter in the pro-
tected corners of the veranda. SO Celia
nulled the scarlet tam over her crink-
ling hair and pushed on through the
whistling wind. Yes, there was the
house buried in an enveloping cloud Of
snow and something moved at its gate,
way.
Celia laughed relievedly to find the
something a great dog. Boisterous In
welcome he darted toward her. Un-
hesitatingly her hand reached for the
dogs collar and she led him yielding
through the hedge. She was glad as
she huddled In the doorway that the
animal was there to shield her. Then
with a lurch the great dog jumped
against the door.
~You foolish thing" Celia chided, at
won't open"-but 1T did. Bewildered
the girl suddenly stood in a living
n.l ~a~un nnan1fnn Cffn a fro
cracked on the hearth.
what is 1t DonT" a mans surprised
voice asked of the dog, and from out
the shadows appeared a mans figure.
81 beg you pardon" stammered the
girl, Il did not know the bungalow was
occupied. l was lost In the storm"
The mans voice was pleasing. "Will
you make yourself comfortable here
by the fre7" he invited
Celia hesitated but a moment, glanc-
ing at the increasing storm-refusal
seemed foolish.
"The bungalow was ~unoccupied," the
man told her, until last evening. l
came out here upon an impulse"
Celia cast a glance at the mans fine
features. Then. at his suggestion, she
placed the red tam and her cloak to
dry before the fire. AS darkness grew,
he arose to light a shaded lamp. "YOu
see" he remarked, 81 have made prep
arat1on for days of solitude"
'That was a strange impulse Of
yours" she said as silence grew be-
tween them-"coming out here at this
time of the year. / remember your
face. You used to pass u home last
summer In a car, with an older gen.
tleman."
The man nodded. "My father" he
answered briefly.
AS departure grew hopeless, the man
brought forth an impromptu meal,
serving the girl as impersonally as
though supper In a bachelors showed
in bugalow was an ordinary occur
renee. And Celia eAsconced before
the fire, found the hour one of pleas
ant adventure. Surreptitiously she
watched the mans face, with eyes so
anxious light when they rested on the
girls sweet face. At last he came back
from IN examination of the weather.
you may have to stay here for some
time" he said. IT am going to VEN
ture out to try to find a conveyance for
you" 4
With reluctance she followed him TO
the door. "Oh, please !" she begged.
as an icy blast caught her breath,
don't try 1t yet" but with a strong
quick hand clasp, the man had gone.
Celia. left alone, reached for the
morning paper lying before the couch.
then for an instant, her heart seemed
to stop beating, when it raced on
again. she found herself looking into
the pictured face Of the man who had
befrfended her. Beneath the picture
were the words:
-Defaulter, supposed to be In hiding"
Below was an account of a shortage In
pictured. man was held responsible.
John Gordon the elder" the paper
stated. assistant to his son., the cash
Ter. left Immediately for a trip to Cali
fornia after John Gordon, Jr.'s mys-
terious disappearance. He refused to
discuss the matter"
"Oh IL cannot be" whispered Celia /;
beneath the cushion of the couch a pa
per cracked. Unconsciously she drew
It forth, then deliberately read its mes
sage: ~Dear Jack" said the note,
"sorry to leave you to straighten things
out, but l had to have money deal
went wrong. Know you'll AK things
some way. Dad" .
With pink spots on either cheek, the
girl Jumped to face two men, who un-
announced entered the room.
Here's the dog" said one. "Where's
Jack Gordon7" !
Pretty criminal" laughed the other.
hiding away in his own summer
home"
He Is not a criminal" the girl cried
hotly. He's just a brave man, taking
blame on himself to shield an old IA