The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-08-03
Her PRISONER
BY AGNES G. eRooAN.
Copyright. 1918. by Western Newspaper Union,

When Aunt Hyacinth answered an
advertisement, renting for the summer
furnished country home, Caro- had re-
belled mt the prospect. But her re-
bellion had ended as usual In an I'M
selfish desire to make the best of the
situation. The house was somewhat
out of repair. the ngent acknowledged.
The owner, who was now in California,
would return soon, to prepare 1t for
occupancy.
Aunt Hyncinth, whom obstacles but
made enger, determined to move in mt
once. ave will live out of doors for
the most part" she said. "You and
Nora will go out the day before and
see that the house Is aired. abhor
stuffy atmosphere"
So 1t was decreed The ngcnt meet
ing Caro- and the faithful Nora at the
station. was communicative. USED to
be the finest place In town" he said,
pointing to the rambling old house In
its garden. "'Gridlcys' have lived
there from away back. This last, judi
son GrIdlcy. lets the old place, furnl-
ture and all. while he travels about the
country. Keeps n bungalow for his
own convenience near by, with two old
family servants us cnretakers. Some
say It's Jud's way of making home
for them. Jud's bnch. you know;
never seems much to notice the wom-
en-. Well, II you need anything done
about the house, cnll mp No. 153-that's
Gridley's bungalow telephone number.
Old Jabesh and his wife'll 20 over and
help you"
Caro's eyes opened wide Mt the
grandeur of the mahogany. while her
pretty brows drew together Mt the
dustIness of the heavy drapcrics.
"Lots Of work for you, Nora" she
said.
It was pleasant to lie In the great
four-poster bed, the sweet scents of the
garden coming through her open win
dow, and moonlight filtering over all.
What queer little balcony that was
outside her window, the pillars of the
lower vcranda supporting It, She
wished That she had Investigated its
wlndings before lying down to sleep.
When Aunt Hynclnth came, they would
sit out there on such moonllt even
tation. an eerIc creeping sound came
to the girls acutely conscious ears. II
was as though some intruder We're try
Ing to climb the pillars of the balcony.
Her hcnrt pounding wildly. she
managed to draw kimono from the
bedpost md find with feeling feet her
slippers, Just ms n mans capped head
appeared Enthusiastically above the bal.
cOny railing.
She edged nlong the floor In the
darkness. MS the man boldly stepped
over the rail. At sight Of her open
window he paused ms though surprised,
then evidently decided to enter the
house that wny. but the locked window
screen caused him to change his pur-
pose, and he turned, apparently sure
that the house was deserted. movln.
to an unscreened window farther on.
Caro-. listening with tnut nerves. dis
tinctly heard him enter thus the hall.
For moment she fnncicd the man
waiting In silence to make certain of
his ground; then he had passed her
door.
Upon the outside of that same bed
room door she had noticed n key I'm
its lock. She would fly across the pas
sage. turn the key and make the man
prisoner. The high window to that
room faced no balcony; escape would
he impossible. She was nolselcssly
opening her own room door MS she
formed her plan. Afterward she would
telephone for help. The light from
the open door flooded the hall. she
Ind Just time to glimpse mans star
ing face beneath rough caps brlm,
as the door slammed md locked him
In. The rest WINS easy. "Cnll No. l53."
the agent Ind said. II was the only
number Caro- knew. She was surprised
mt the promptness of the response.
"Burglnr?" questioned mans
voice. "oh! guess not; but I'll be
right over"
at wns GrIdlcy's old cnretakcr," she
surmlsctb
In her new-found courage she had
quite forgotten the sleeping Nora, and
1t was Caro- herself who opened the
door to admit the clustering servant.
Don't ye worry about me not bein'
able .ts manage any crook" he told
her, md waved overwhelmingly muir
demonstrating bludgcon. an here.
CHI" he Numbered and unlocked her
captive's prison.
Trembling. Caro- drew back against
the panels of the hall. Then the care
takers quick laugh was followed by n
mnnly voice of pleasing quality.
$50 you have come to rescue inc.