Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-12-18
A Romance
In CoIors
9><N
tccpyrixht. 1919. by the Western Nsws.
paper unionl
BY VICTOR REDCLIFFE

4
| place to her own home.
| "0h ! think not" was the smiling
reply of the young matron. Mrs. Ran.
som, who was the mother of two chill.
dren whom this new boarder had all
| but adopted so far as kindness and
| lioerality were concerned. con the
/ contrary Mr.. Wharton Is BLUM, free
and open, and acts like man glad IL
get out in the country where he can
do just as he pleaSeS. No, indeed, not
at all mysterious, but l can say
queer"
"In what way, now?' urged Mrs,
Doty who was confirmed gossip.
swell. he spends half Of his time
with the children, romps with them,
takes them on long auto rides, buys
them all kinds of toys and makes kites
for them; in fact he seems extrava.
gsntly fond Of Juvenile company"
Going TO stay long with your
"A week or two vacation he told me
when he first came" replied Mrs. RAN
som, But it has run into his third
week, and he shows no signs Of going
as ye<"
The inqulsltive Mrs. Doty having dis
appointedly exhausted the theme I'M
der discussion, chose new subject
challenging her inquisitiveness.
who are the folks who have taken
the Gale placer she inquired.
Nov, there may be mystery"
spoke Mrs. Ransom sprightly "They
are new people and keep closely to
themselves--a sour-visaged old man.
his spinster sister and. they say, a
niece. haven't seen the girl close at
hand, for. you know, the Gale place is
surrounded by that high-spiked brick
wall, but a glimpse now and then from
our bay window shows that uds niece
Is graceful, and, | think, pretty. She
never leaves the grounds, and one or
the other of the man and woman is
with her whenever she Is in the gar
den"
Just then there sounded out echoes
of joyous, excited shouts and pointing
through the open window space. Mrs.
Ransom said "There is Mr.. Wharton
now" and the neghbor peered curious
ly at the new boarder.
Mrs. Ransom had reason to especially
notice this fact, for the day previous
he had presented one of the children
with large rubber ball tastefully dec
Grated with alternate red and blue
stripes. In game of toss and catch
he had sent 1t spinning over the brick
wall of the Gale place, and that was
the l3st seen Of II, and he consoled the
littld lad to whom he had presented
It with a promise to place IT.
Thut night at dusk Mr.. Wharton had
an animated Juvenile escort as he sent
up the red and blue kite with red
and blue lantern attached to its tail.
AS he guided It aloft the string broke,
and it, too, fell within the extensive
grounds of the Gale place.
"And he did it a-purpose," de-
clared little Benny to his mother
later on. 81 saw him snap the string"
II was two days later that the man
who had taken the Gale place came
over TO the Ransom home and ar
ranged for regular supply Of fresh
eggs. butter. and milk. Their delivery
became the task Of little Benny. The
second evening of this function he
startled his mother and very much in
terested Mr.. Wharton by handing the
latter a folded note.
"The pretty girl over there gave me
the letter." said Benny. "and half
dollar not to tell anything about 1t.
She said / was to give the letter to the
red and blue man and forget all about
H."
"Thats me, and here's dollar to
help you forget It, Benny" observed
Mr.. Wharton, and he hastily perused
the note and went at once to his
room, chuclIling riotously
'MrS. Doty was right--there Is a
mystery here" soiloquized the puz-
zled Mrs. Ransom.
Mr.. Wharton was gone INTO the viii
lage all that evening and Mrs. Ran
som went to bed after his return 10
be awake trying 10 solve the enigma
Of his queer actions. She dOzed, 20
be awakened by soft chuggng sound
coming apparently from the rear Of
the house. and fastened TO window
that overlooked the back garden.
There stood an automobile. red and
blue, and Mr. Wharton was just help
Ing a young lady into it, whom the
driver drew into his arms and kissed
rapturously Away went the machine
Mr.. Wharton, all sin'9s waving his
hand after its inmates suggested a ia
therly blessing
Next morning, when Mrs. Ransom
came downstairs she found her board
er awaiting her, his suitcase al his
side.
"You dear little woman he said.
I'm leaving a neat little bonus In ad-
dltion to my board money, as J have
rot to get back 10 business
"And the young lady sir and the
young man and the automobile" nut-
tered Mrs. Ransom.
son! you saw the elopement, ehi
Well. my son was the young man,
WHOM have assisted IN getting away
with the poor, prosecuted victim OF
relatives interested In her fortune.
Man and wife by this time You see