Smyrna times., 1918-05-01
THE LITTLE HOUSE
BY JACK LAWToN.

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 white square on the hillside
stood a cottage; he remembered hav-
ing passed it on his upward way. What
a strange, detached home it must be,
far from neighboring habitatiOE. Per
hapS it might be possible to procure |
a light luncheon there. The door, |
when he reached the house, stood |
open, disclosing to the farthest corner
one wide room. It was a remarkable |
room for an humble country cottage. !
While the floor was scrubbed guiltlPSS |
of varnish, 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.
Then between two bookcases opened
what he had fancied to be an outer
NOOl3 anu Il SAAl ullINbl WI ilOlil llAC III
terror. A glorious creature she was,
small, yet with an unmistakable air
Of dignity
81 am a civil engineer-Richard FL
lis" he explained; ''we are going to
put through a road. My boarding
place in the village seemed too far
away at dinner time, and I hoped to
get a glass of milk and some bread at
a 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 a cup of coffee" She moved
indifferently toward the prepared ia
Bile. "Make yourself at hOme," she
invited.
In strange diffidence, the usually
confident engineer Obeyed. When, with
her regal air, the girl had prepared his
coffee, she went out into the porch.
It was all pleasantly mysterious. FL
lis enjoyed the perfect salad, and won
derPd who the deuce his queenlv
hostess might be. The matter of re-
muneration troubled him; he could i'm
agine her scOrn at the suggestion Of
payment. Yet he felt like an inter-
lOper calmly partaking of her food.
The girl promptly relieved him on
| this score. 81 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, just how and where it is GO
ing"
The engineer stared in astOnishment.
Her question had the sound of a COM
mand.
at 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 viii be when completed"
"I 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 impo Sible to concentrate
upon the duty of the afternoon because
of her haunting personality.
"WhO lives thereY he asked O
Sammie, associate engineer.
"The lady Of mystery" Sammie an
swered. "Why, haven't you heard
She comes gallOping into town on
black horse, with great dog in tow
They have it figured out here that she
in the employ of the German govern
ment, mapping out the country and al
that. Look out for the black eyes
- Dickie, or she'll have you hypnOtized.
To Richards memory came quickl
the girls bOasted knowledge of hi
work, her own avOwal that she ha
entertained him in order to gain info
nation.
ST came" he greeted. "tO have 20
fulfill your promise concerning my ou
line of work"
In her own pretty, serious way, ii
girl bowed, and placed in his hands IL
HOiliIDblkNl iluti ilAL map VI lAAC ACttNt'
"Rut, how?" he asked perplexediy.
Again the girl laughed, and drOppir
her manner Of reserve, seated herse
on the step at his side.
"What am now" she asked naivel
ga defaulter in hiding, Germi
spy, or just disappointed in low
They have had me all three at the V
lage"
Ellis gazed tensely into the bla
eyes. "What are yOu?" he aske
"That is what I wanted to know m
self"
81 shall only disappoint you" t
girl replied. 'It is so simple.
father is Lewis Kain, chief engine
When learned that he must be ow
from home long, begged to come wi
him and keep house. He sent on o
man to fix up this shack, and then W
called away the very night of our
rival. There was no reason why
should not wait in this peaceful sp