The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-05-09
THE LITTLE HOUSE
BY JACK lAWTON.

Icopyrisht, 1918. Western Newspaper Union.J
Richard Ellis viewed from the hill
the miles he would have to walk in or
der to dine at his boarding place in
the village below. When his work OF
road construction should be In prog
ress he would have to consider some
means of transition the present state
of the land made this difficult.
Like a white square on the hillside
stood a cottage: he remembered hav-
ing passed 1t on his upward way. What
n strange, detached home. It must be
far from neighboring habltation. Per-
haps 1t might be possible to procure
n light luncheon there. The door,
when he reached the house, stood
open, disclosing to the farthest corner
one wide room. 1t was remarkable
room for an humble country cottage.
While the floor was scrubbed guiltless
Of varn!sh, the walls were lined with
shelves OF books.
A pictorial calendar. with a verse
for each day, drew his attention; Gu
riously, the verses were printed in Ger
man. Upon the window seat, among
Its artistic cushions, were scattered
various maps and drawings.
T!len between two bookcases opened
what he had fancied to be an outer
door. and girl appeared from the In
terlor. A glorious creature she was,
small, yet with an unmistakable air
Of dignity
II am civil engineer-Rlchard FL
lis" he explained; 1--WE are going to
put through a road. My boarding
place In the village seemed too far
away at dinner time, AMI ! hoped to
get glass of milk and some bread at
farmhouse, but" he smiled engag-
ingly. 81 find this Is decidedly not a
farmhouse"
The girl gravely considered. "Still,"
she said, 1--WE may be able to provide
you with cup of coffee" She moved
| indifferently toward the prepared ta-
Bile. snake yourself at home" she
| invited.
In strange dlfidence, the usually
confident engineer obeyed. When, with
her regal air, the girl had prepared his
Sllt Nflll but iutp Aht fNANh.
1t was'all pleasantly mysterious. El-
lis enjoyed the perfect salad, and won
dered who the deuce his queenly
! hostess might be. The matter of re-
muneration troubled him; he could i'm
aglne her scorn at the suggestion OF
payment. Yet he felt like an inter-
loper calmly parteking of her food.
The girl promptly relieved him on
this score. ~ asked you to stay" she
said. as he appeared upon the porch,
"in order to gain information about the
new road. Please explain to me con-
cisely, lust how and where 1t Is go
Ing"
The engineer stared In astonishment.
Her question had the sound Of COM
mand.
"It Is not customary" he began
hesitatingly, and for the first time the
girl laughed.
"No? she questioned, as steadily
she faced him. "Then. Mr.. Ellis, en-
gineer," she challenged, "stop in again.
say tomorrow, and you shall see your
wonderful plans, as they are not now,
but as they will be when completed"
81 do not understand you" Ellis re-
peated slowly. With strange reluc-
tance he turned to depart.
The girl pointed to the village below.
"Down there" she said, mockingly,
"they will tell you all about me-"
1t was impossible to concentrate
upon the duty of the afternoon because
Of her haunting personality.
"Who lives there?" he asked OF
Sammie, associate engineer.
''The lady Of mystery" Sammle an
swered. "Why. haven't you heardi
She comes galloping into town on a
black horse. with n great dog in tow
They have 1t figured out here that she's
In the employ of the German govern
mcnt, mapping ont the country and al
that. Look out for the black eyes
Dickle, or she'll have you hypnotized.'
To Richards memory came quickly
the girls boasted knowledge of his
work. her own avowal that she hat
entertained him in order to gain infor
nation.
81 came" he greeted, 'to have yor
fulfill your promise concerning my out
line of work."
In her own pretty, serious way, thu
girl bowed, and placed in his hands thu
completed blueprint map of the road.
"But, how?" he asked perpleXedly.
, Again the girl laughed, and droppin,
her manner of reserve, seated hersel
on the step at his side.
"What am now" she asked naively
, "a defaulter In hiding, German
.. spy, or just disappointed In love
They have had me all three at the vi
lage."
: Ellis gazed tensely into the blac
eyes. "What are your" he asked
. "That is what I wanted TO know my
self"
J. II shall only dlsappoint you," tn
Q girl replied. ut is so simple. NJ
+ father is Lewis Kahn, chief engines