The Twin City star., 1918-10-05

added: wouldn't you like something
to eat?"
Happily she had struck a weak spot
and he gladly accepted the lunch has
ket. He divided everything, giving her
the lions share, which she did not dare
refuse. But If she thought to divert
his mind from the events Of last eve
ming she was mistaken, for he began
again: Last night was on my way
to Oakdale, where I intend, or perhaps
/ should say intended, to spend my va
cation, and my gasoline gave out about
five miles from town. OF course, there
was no one around, so I started to hike
it. l was making pretty good time when
just as reached this place I saw a
man trying to get in by window. I
tried to be hero and the next thing
/ knew I found myself in these duds
and with you pointing gun at me. I
wish you'd explain matters bit"
Anne looked at him. Was he telling
the truth? He certainly looked and
acted as though he was, but somewhere
she had heard of the "diabolical crafti-
ness Of the insane mind" and-she
didn't believe him.
Still trying to humor him, she said:
'I'm very much obliged to you, sir,
and perhaps in little while you can
CO."
'Don't you believe me-" he cried, ex-
asperated. ..s
"Oh. of course" said Anne. ''but
wouldn't you like to stay with me a
little>longer"
"E-er, why certainly. I'd be delight.
ed; but I do wish you'd put that beast
ly gun down. It makes me feel rather
uncomfortable to be staring into the
muzzle of a rifle all the time"
Anne, who was really tired of hold
ing the heavy weapon, let it drop to
her side, but still kept her hand on it.
A silence then fell, and Anne, still
keeping one eye on the road and the
other on her prisoner, thought over
what he had said. Evidently she had
not been dreaming, for he had been in
the fight, but who and where was the
other man? He had said he intended
to spend his vacation at Oakdale, and
Anne found herself thinking how nice
it would be if some one like him, in his
right mind, of course, should come to
the tiny village.
They would meet, they would form a
mutual fondness, they would tramp the
woods, they would row on the lake, and
they would
"Say"-Anne came back to the pres.
ent with thud-'how long are you
going to keep fellow in this coop?"
Anne didn't know what to say. She
was somewhat provoked herself, for 1t
was now long past noon and it was hot
and, moreover, she was very thirsty
She felt and looked as if she wanted
to cry and the lunatic said apologetical.
ly, II hope you'll forgive my rudeness,
but I'm telling the truth, honestly.
and"
But Anne did not hear him, for she
had just spied the old mail carrier rid.
ing by and in another moment Anne
was pouring out her tale. "Oh, Mr..
Johnson, I've got the lunatic here, and
the gun Is so heavy and"
'sLunaticw thundered the prisoner.
$50 that's what you think I amp
'Lunaticw calculated the old man.
"Why, that's Jim Burroughs, who's
bought the old Pendergast place down
in the village. The lunatic was caught
this morning, plumb tuckered out and
in some clothes he'd evidently Dor.
rowed."
Anne stared, then she flushed to the
roots of her hair. "Oh, please try to
forgive me. I didn't know and tried
to believe you weren't the lunatic, hon.
estly I did, but"
"Don't worry" replied the erstwhile
lunatic. II really didn't mind being
prisoner, under the circumstances"
Thus comforted, Anne questioned:
wouldn't you like to come out some
day and get acquainted with me, minus
the gun?"
Jim Burroughs thought that he
would, but at present he thought it ad.
visable to shed the garments so kindly
(O left him by his assailant, and so
with gay smile and a promise to
come again he drove off with the mail
carrier.
The next day he made good his prom.
ise, and soon after Anne's dream was
fulfilled, for they met, they formed q
mutual fondness, they roamed the
woods, they rowed on the lake, and as
all good stories should end-they mar.
ried and lived happily ever after.