The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-11-08
HER WAY
&$@@@@@@
BY JACK LAYTON.

end OF the 'lightless" village. Nell baf
difficulty in finding her way to the doc,
When she arrived on the evening train
Inc brief visits to grandmother were
IKE coming home-in fact this same
little house was the only home the
girl knew. Years ago she had left II
to make her way in the city, and the
room there, which held her piano
chief asset Of business-could scarcely
ne called home. She was sorry that
grandfather would not be there dur
Ing her one night visit, but he was
due at meeting in the next township.
SO he had, upon her arrival at the sta
ton, intrusted to her care, the davis
proceeds.
Custom had made the old station
agent careless in regard to the han.
ding Of that bag. For years he had
carried it home on certain nights when
he did not care to open the safe. The
girl, however, drew it from her muft
In relief as she entered the CHEEKY
room.
There, grandmother" she said. ''put
the money safely away;" and grand.
mother, ~ had been the custom, slip
ped the leather bags handle over the
back Of q chair.
Supper is waiting, dearie," she said.
There was 50 much to tell after the
sea things had been cleared away,
that q stranger knocking at the front
deor had to repeat his summons sew
eral times before being heard.
Someone asking to spend the night,
probably" grandmother surmised.
"Mr. Southworth sent me-" the
stranger announced and was admit
ted.
AS the girl returned from lighting the
leading to the spare room, her
grandmother fingered apprehensively.
TIN sorry let him stay" she said,
'ehe has such hard kind Of face"
Don't be afraid, Gran" Nell smiled,
I'm not afraid-of anyone"
The man sat glowering into the fire
when the girl entered the sitting room.
'sYou live in this lonely corner of the
worldly" he asked brusquely.
~No," she slowly replied, 'this is one
,f my overnight visits" /
'"The station agent is away, I I'M
Steadily she looked up at the
stranger, her eyes wide and clear as |
/ child's, held his own as though I'M
Wiling. GRANDMOTHER and I should |
nave been quite alone in the darkness
you had not happened along" she
aid, and smiled.
The man drew his lips down grimly. |
What do you know of met" he asked.
7 might be burglar"
tsMr. Southworth sent you" Nell re-
minded him.
The man laughed shortly. $50 I told
'ou; it was lie."
The girls, face paled, and she bent
quickly over the fire. When she looked
% again her rosiness had returned.
Well, you see," she said, as she rose
0 her feet, 81 happen to trust you"
''Why should you?" asked the man.
"Once upon a time" the girl an
"a little lost child held out it's
rms to me, from the midst of a crowd.
;ecause of it's very helplessness it
new that it might trust me-"
The man lit a cigar, with it between
is teeth he spoke slowly. $50 you
eel like that kid? Well. better not
'ust too much these days."
"Tm going to try" Nell replied Sc
ousIy. She looked back at him as
le turned toward the stairs.
The elder woman waited agitatedIy
/ the bedroom.
sDearie," she confessed, give been
, nervous, that / quite forgot the sta
on money. Grandfather always hides
somewhere. After we hear that
an come up to his room, do you
ink we might slip down and get it.
1metimes there are valuable papers
the bag as well, am trembling
re a leaf. I'm sure I don't know
wv I ever came to take a stranger
with your grandfather away"
esFoolish !" comforted the girl, "What
lrm has your stranger guest done
,retofore? When our visitor has safe
retired, I'll run down for the bag
yself."
It had been perhaps Is minutes after
e guest room door had closed loud
and all was still that Nell donned
r blue bathrobe and slippers and
tn tumbled curls framing her love- q
face, crept stealthily down the [
airs. The absence of accustomed
ter lights made the house doubly q
rk. Swiftly she put match to the
ing room gas--then stood blinking
% the staring face of the guest, who,
FAXED and hated, stood in the GEN.
of the room. Nell laughed in evil
Mt relief.
Your she said softly. "then you
d not yet retired?"
The mans stern face did not relax, 81
lther did he speak. The girl passed
the door. 81 wanted to make sure
was locked" she explained. In
TT Is locked" she murmured, sat
ed. Like child she stretched free 1t
ms lazily above her head. "Good
hit" said Nell.
Is though fascinated the man
tched the appraised arms and empty n
1ds; watched the slight figure as the 70