The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-02-23
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HIS LAST MATCH :
nnann1AD10n
D. IsAseL FRosT.

low travellers but slightly on the Trip
TO the caves from his botei at Staun.
ton. He was deep in . description Of
the famous caverns. and making notes
Of special features he was anxious to
so.
Another thing. the professor was not
susceptible to feminine influence. bow
ever proxfmitous. He had been
guest ut the Mountain View hotel for
i've weeks. jaunting hither and yon on
his research work. and never had even
the suspicion Of romance crossed his
path but just ~ they reached the end
Of the road leading to the caves be had
closed his notebook. placed It in his
inner pocket and glanced up to meet
the most Interesting eyes he had ever
seen. gazing at him Questioninxly.
There were two persons before him
The owner Of the eyes and her com
panion. evidently . relative. The nrst
was about twenty. her travelling suit
was q 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, - the professor fingered.
iured BY the printed description In the
suide-books for sale at the door.
The professor received his torch and
tucked 1t under his arm. abSent-mind-
eddy. quite ~ II It had been . baton.
He ignored the little box Of safety
matches held out BY the man. and
made way into the caves brilliantly.
Far In advance rambIed Mollie and
Miss Annabel. II was Aollie's nfst
trip In vacation time; In fact. II was
her nrst year ~ q teacher. and now
Instead Of keeping her mind firmly on
Miss Annabel's dissertation on stag
malites and stalactytes, she was won
dering whether every one was inter
ested 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
caves on q midsummer day.
She hardly caught what Miss Anna
bel was saying when all at once the
lights went out and they were In pitch
darkness.
Thank goodness We have our
torchesi" exclaimed Miss Annabel
thankfully. BE careful where You
step. The bottomless lake IL juAt be-
yond us-or was II the pool Of the
GnomeA1 Do you remember. AoiherT
II don't remember anything" re-
piled NoIlie desperately. "and haven't
any matches. What Do you suppose
has happenedr
Just then qeuide's vusSs so1nded
far at the end Of the cavern. Some
thing had happened at the power
plant. The lights would b turned on
at any instant. Every one was to stay
on the exact spot where they were and
move at their own peril. Even ~ he
said this there came q splash. Not
loud one. but just a. II q stone had
been tossed into the lake. and then q
voice almost within q few feet Of
them.
"ItA all right" said the professor.
ut was my match safe. I was nerv-
Gus. and II fell from my hands. but
I've one last match left. think wen
have to risk II for our torches"
Haven't you any paperr' asked
Miss Annsbel sharply. I'VE could
twist tapers and conserve the light
supply In this way"
The professor shuddered. He had
only his notebook. filled with precious
data for several magazine articles. He
struck the match a. . last hope. and
II caught the pitch-dipped tow on tho
end Of his torch. The fare Of light re-
vealed the two on the rocks below him.
The lights failed to 20 up. and
guides came through the caverns to
lead all 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 am Professor Win
throp Of Hartsdale college. Monticello.
Ia. Might caiir'
Miss Annabel was visib,y impressed.
and Mollie disappointed. He had not
looked one bit like q professor.
But the professor persevered. and
the morning before they were to have
left for the West Miss Annsbel tapped
at Mollie's door q long while. receiving
no answer. She had left q note on her
pin cushion that told the whole story.
"Dcar Miss Annabel-I know you
will blame me horribly, but couldn't
hear inst to tench school for the neYt
twenty years as you have done. Phil
and have eloped. I hope you will
have q pleasant trip back home. Low.
lnsly, MOLLIE.~
Copyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per 6yndicate,)