The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-02-19
~ 70 "a e Hsl Eal Esa Ea ~ El Ra ~ VlI

purpose was formed, she had followed
it out. The managing editor had been
first to suggest it.
"Why don't you" he had said, "seef
out some noted author and ask tria
at Illustrating his work? You are too
good for a syndicate"
And aglow with enthusiasm, Janice
had picked out the author-victim ant
hastened on his trail. A mere motto
in the society column of the mornini
paper, directed her to the isolated spol
whore she had been wont to go for ma
ture study during an earlier and more
prosperous time.
"Don MacDougall," the noted Scotcl
author, so the paper said, "had retired
to his bungalow in Wayne county, to de
vote himself to his forthcoming book.
The bungalow in wayne county, Janice
well knew.
Janice picked up her suitcase ane
ploddcd to tie rear where showed thf
dim light Of lantern attached to
rough sleigh wagon, upon which I;
cloaked figure was loading certain
broad boxes.
"Are you going mp hill?" Janice ask
ed him.
Without ceasing his work the mar
gruflly answered in the affirmative.
Il expected to find the village bus,
the girl went on. at isn't here. Could
you carry up my sultcase|
For a moment he paused. "Goins
to walk up yourself?" he asked.
Janice laughed. "Why rather thar
try that" she said, I'D ride up will
you.p
The man was not encouraging
"Theres no seat in the Sleigh" he OBJ
jected. II have to drive standing up
Such surly dlsobligement could bt
settled but one way. Lightly Janice
followed her suitcase into the wagon
'Itwill sit on gthis box" she said.
81 will pay you for your trouble,
she added.
"S-all right" the driver mumbled
Before her old-tlme boarding place
be drew rein at her direction, Janice
pointed to the suitcase Garry it IL
the hall, please" she said, and pressed
a coin into his palm.
Early upon the following morning
she was up and on her way to the glis
tening wood.
Janice's hands were too cold to make
more than rough outline of her study
but she stood silently committing its
beauty to memory. Presently through
a break in the trees came her drivers
tall figure. He wore red sweater apd
his face showed a days growth OF
beard in his arms he carried some
logs.
Morning" he nodded, aRd stood de
liberately looking at the sketch in he
hand. pretty" he said at last.
Janice smiled, SWELL" she agreed
1T will be-"
A sudden light flashed into hi
sombre eyes. "You do this CftenY h,
asked.
The girl nodded. 81 make my livinl
that way" she said.
do you know anything of Mr.. Mae
Dougal the author?" she asked. Il
carrying things back and forth from
the station have you met him at an!
timer"
The man answered slowly. 81 was
carrying his books and his typewriter
up there last night" he replied, "anC
these logs are for his fireplace
perhaps you can tell me, then" she
went on, "when 1 should be most, like
ly to find him at home. l wish TO see
him--on business"
"BusinessY the man repeated; his
tone was perplexed- "He writes books,
while you" he pointed to the sketch
draw those"
Janice nodded; musingly she spoke
as though answering her own thought:
Gle requires pictures for his books,
and +" she threw out her arms to
the fir trees, 81 understand nature as
he loves it."
The man said quickly: "MacDougal
will be at home at three this after
noon." He hesitated. "Now, If you'd
care to ride back" And once again
Janice rode through the wintry land
scape this time with a fur robe for a
cushion. II was In subdued exotic
ment that she raised, that afternoon.
the knocker of the white bungalow
door This quest meant so much to her.
Excitement gave place TO surprise as
the sleigh-driver's face appeared at
the door. Yet could this correctly
garbed and deferential person be her
companion of last nights adventure?"
''E wish to see Mr.. MacDougal," she
faltered.
The man bowed. AT your service"
he said.
Then at her wondering gaze he
smiled a transforming smile. Il use
my own sleigh to take care of my own
belongings" he said. NOW. If you
svill let me look at those drawings,
And this was the beginning of the
Romance. which eliminated in tie mar
sage 0f Don MacDougal and his Elue-