The Meeker herald., 1918-12-14
n NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
= His LAST MATCH .
- BY ISABEL FROST. n
. N N - N NJ N - n - - -

BY ISABEL FROST.

- ~ - - - Ae1~
The professor had noticed his fell
low travellers but slightly on the trip
to the caves from his hotel ut Stnun-
ton. He was deep In description of
the famous caverns. and making notes
of special features he was anxious to
see.
Another thing. the professor was not
susceptible to feminine Influence. how
ever prOximitous. He had been a
guest ut the Mountain View hotel for
five weeks, jaunting hither and yon on
his research work. and never had even
path; but just rs they reached the end
Of the road leading to the caves he had
closed his notebook, placed 1t In his
inner pocket and glanced up to meet
the most interesting eyes he Ind ever
seen. gazing at him questioningly.
There were two persons before him
the owner of the eyes and her com
panion, evidently relative. The first
was about twenty. her travelling suit
was dark brown linen, her hat of
close brown straw, her waist of pom
gee and her eyes and hair were brown.
Her companion. the professor noted
hastily. was somewhere In the uncer-
tain years of spInsterhood.
At the entrance to the caves the two
went ahead. MS the professor fingered,
lured by the printed description In the
guile-books for sale at the door.
The professor received his torch and
tucked 1t under his arm, nbsent-mind
eddy. quite as II 1t had been baton.
He ignored the little box OF safety
matches held out by the man. and
made way into the caves jubilnntly.
Far In advance rambled Mollie and
Miss Annabel. 1t was Mollie's first
trip in vacation time; In fact. 1t was
her first year as teacher. and now
instead of keeping her mind firmly on
Miss Annabers dissertation on stng-
malites and stalactytes, she was won
dering whether every one was inter-
estcd 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
ewes on midsummer day.
She hardly caught what Miss Anna
bel was saying when all ut 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 bottomlcss like is just be-
You'd us-or was 1t the pool of the
Gnomes7 Do you remember, Mollie"
II don't remember anything" re-
piled Mollle desperately. "and haven't
any matches. What do you suppose
has happenedf"
Just then a guides voice sounded
far at the end Of the cavern. Some
thing had happened Mt the power
plnnt. The lights would be turned on
at any instant. Every one was to stny
on the exact spot where they were and
move at their own peril. Even as he
said this there came n splnsh. Not n
loud one, but Just MS II n stone Ind
been tossed into the lake, and then
voice almost within few feet Of
them.
ats all right" said the professor.
''it was my match safe. was nerv-
GUS, and 1t fell from my hands. but
I've one last match left. think we'll
have to risk 1t for our torches"
Haven't you any paper" asked
Miss Annabel sharply. ave could
twist tapers and conserve the light
supply in this way"
The professor shuddered. He had
only his notebook. filed with precious
data for several magazine articles. He
struck the match ms n last hope, and
1t caught the pitch-dIpped tow on the
end of his torch. The flare Of light re-
venled the two on the rocks below him.
The lights failed to go up. md
guides came through the caverns to
lead alt tourists out safely. Miss An
mabel went ahead. while the professor
aided Mollie. At the entrance he held
her hand eagerly.
II think we're stopping at the same
hotel" he said. II nm Professor Win
throp of Hartsdale college, Monticello,
Ia. Might calf"
Miss Annnbel was visibly impressed.
and Mollie disappointed. He had not
looked one bit like professor.
But the professor persevered. and
the morning before they were to have
left for the West Miss Annabel tapped
ut Mollie's door long while, receiving
no answer. She had left note on her
pin cushion that told the whole story.
Dear Miss Annabel-I know you
will blame me horribly, but / couldn't
bear Just to teach school for the next
twenty years as you have done. Phil
and 1 have eloped. I hope you will
have a pleasant trip back home. Low
ingly, MOLLIE."
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
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