The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-04-02
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THE LITTLE HOUSE
BY JACK LAWToN.
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road construction SHOULD he in prog
rcss he would have to consider some
means of transition the present stat .
of the land made this difficult.
Like a white square on the hillside
stood cottage; he remembered hay
ing passed it on his upward way, What
Il strange, detached home 1t must be,
far from neighboring habitatlon. Per-
hapS II might be possible TO procure
a light luncheon there. The door
when he reached the house, stood
open, disclosing TO the farthest corner
one wide ROOM IT was a remarkable
room for an humble country cottage
While the floor was scrubbed gulltless
of varnish the walls were lined with
shelves of books.
A pictorial calendar, with q verse
for each dNy, drew his attention; GU
riously. The verses were printed in Ger
man. Upon the window seat, among
its artistic cushions, were scattered
various maps and drawings.
Then between two bookcases opened
what he had fancied to he an outer
door aud q girl appeared from the in
terror. A glorions creature size was
small, yet with an unmistalIablc mir
Of dignity
''I am a civil engineer--IIichard FL
lis" he explained: tive are going 10
put through roud, My boarding
place in The village seemed too far
away al dinner tlmc, and I hoped to
get glass of milk and some bread ut
q farmhouse. but." he smiled cngaG-
iugly. 81 find thia is decidedly not
farmhouse"
The girl groyclyl considered. "stll,"
she said. "vc maH be able to provide
YOU with a cup of%onco.' She moved
indifforenlv toward The prepared to-
bic "NIase yourself at home" SHE
invited.
In strange diaidenee, the usually
confident engineer obcyed. Whcn. with
her regal air the girl had prepared his
coffee. she went ont into the porch.
i was al pleasantly mysterious Fl
/ lis enjoyed the perfect salad, and Won
dercd who the deuce his queenly
hostess might he. The matter Of re-
muncration troubled him. he could i'm
aglne her scoru at the suggestion Of
payment. Vet he felt like an inter-
lopcr calmly paraking Of her food.
The girl promptly relieved him on
this score. 81 asked YOU to stay she
said as he appeared upon the porch,
ain order to gain information about the
new road. Please explain to me con-
cisely just hoy and where il is go-
ing"
The engineer stared in astonishment.
Her question had the sound of a COM
mand.
at is not customary" he began
hesitatlngIy, and for the first time the
girl laughed.
"No?" she questioned. as steadily
she faced him. "Thcn. Mr.. Ellis, en-
gineer" she challenged, "stop in again,
say tomorrow, and you shall see your
wonderful plans, as they are not now.
but as they will be when completed"
"I do not understand you" Ellis re-
peated slowly. With strange reluc-
tance he turned to depart.
The girl pointed to the village below.
''Down there" she said, mockingly
''they will tell you all about me-"
II was impossible to concentrate
upon the duty Of the afternoon because
of her haunting personality.
"Who lives therc?' he asked Of
! Sammie, associate engineer
1.-THE lady of mystery" Sammie an
swered. "Why, haven't you heard?
/ She comes galloping into town on a
black horse, with a great dog in tow.
! They have it figured out here that she's
/ in the employ of the German govern
ment. m%pping out the country aud all
that. Look out for the black eyes,
Dicllie, or she'll have YOU hypnotized.'
TO Richards memory came quickly
the girls boasted knowledge of his
work. her own ayowal that she had
entertained him in order to gain ipfor-
nation.
81 came" he greeted "to have YOU
fulfill your promise concerning my out
line of work"
In her own pretty, serious way. the
! girl bowed, aud placed in his hands the
completed blueprint map of the road.
"But. how?" he asked pcrplexedly.
Again the girl laughed, and dropping
her manner Of reserve, seated herself
on the step at his side.
"What am ] now" she asked naiveiy,
"a defaulter in hiding, a German
spy. or Just disappointed in love?
Thcy have had me all three at the VIII
lagc."
Ellis gazed tensely into the black
eyes. "lNhat are your" he asked.
"That is what I wanted to know my
self"
q shall only disappoint you" the
girl replied. st is SO simple, Ny
father is Lewis Kain. chief engineer.
When learned that he must be away
from home long, begged to come with
him and keep house He sent on our
man 10 fix un this shack, and then was
called away the very night Of our ar
rival. There was no reason why J
should not wait IN this peaceful spot,
his return. NY dog is a fine body
guard. I helped father with these
maps and prints-we two are great
chums. That's all" she ended. and
arose abruptly
"Then I shall see YOU againw cried
Riobo-d T'1lfe his x-ofqe rinriDu with 4