Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1919-09-26
HIS DISCOVERY
BY JACK LAYTON.

car at the loneliest point of the road.
He had hoped to reach his hotel before
the clouds burst. Now, he decided to
abandon the rain-soaked runabOut and
seek shelter in the old vacated house
glimpsed through surrounding trees.
He made a dash for it and was re-
warded by dry space on the veIanda.
Through a French window he could
see low ceilinged room. He put his
hand to the window sash and it
slipped upward at his touch.
EnSconced in the reclining chair,
he lit cigar, drew a newspaper from
his pocket, and proceeded to make
the best of the situation. The storm
not relenting in force, the busy man
of affairs lay and dreamed as he was
not permitted to dream in the life
which hurried. And the dream car
ried him back to boyhood days to a
low-ceilinged room with freight flick
ering against it's panels, a room peo-
pied with those who were gone.
He remembered, too, a youthful
dream, of q woman to be, who should
fill his mothers place and make for
him the sort of home his father knew.
Hotel apartments satisfied his home
need or he had thought the want sat-
isfed, until storm clouds had driven
him to this haven, and the enforced in
action in the silent room brought back
to him strangely his memories.
He decided to remain longer. Time
could not make the situation worse, it
might make it better. So he folded his
paper and lighted a second cigar,
musing over brief article he had read
concerning a set of desperate pOachers
who were supposed to be located some
where. in this vicinity. Their secret
place of residence was said to be
stacked with stolen spOils. Sheriff and
troopers had been unsuccessful in
their capture, and the amazing thing
about it all was the fact that their
reconnoitering scout was a woman.
An innocent appearing girl, the article
said, "entirely allaying suspicion"
Brant thought he would like to meet
this girl; he thought that he would
enjoy a part in bringing the creature
to Justice And as he reflected, a
seeming panel in the wall slipped back
before his eyes and in the reflected
light from a further room he saw a
girl framed in the opening.
The first thing that he noticed about
the girl was that she deliberately
aimed a revolver in his direction, and
the second thing was her rare beauty.
The startling part of the adventure to
him was the fact that the girl was re-
msrlably like the woman Of his
dreams, like the ideal woman in his
picture of home. The woman pointed
a revolver now at his heart.
II had made up my mind to ask you
to go quickly" she said, "but it may
be safer to keep you here, you might
come back again at a time when l AIN
not prepared. There is a windOWless
closet at your right; step in there d.
rectly, please, so that I may lock the
door"
He was, in her eyes, OF course, an
agent to bring her companions to JUS
tice. AS he looked again into the
girls purpUseful eyes. Brant cOnsid-
cred it best to pretend prompt obedi-
ence to her command. If, in some
way he might outwit her, he would
be able to find the solution of the diff
fcuity.
After that one glance he was,
strangely enough, not eager to bring
the girl to punishment. She was, he
reflected savagely, but a tool in the
81 IN VIII
mated her. Then with sudden daring
Brant rushed across the floor in the
darkness and caught the girl off
guard, dsshing the pistol from her
nerveless hand. Firmly he held her
in his arms, until in the Pickering light
from the farther room he saw terror
gather and grow in her eyes, then with
low, sobbing breath, the girl tainted
against his own fast throbbing heart.
When he carried her through the
door panel into the lighted room he
found there a sort Of compact living
apartment, kitchen utensils, an oil
stove, a dresser, a cot bed. And near
the widest window some half finished
sketches, paint brushes close by. The
lovely girl at last opened her trembling
eyelids.
II know" she breathed, you are
one Of those horrible poachers-hid-
der ne0r here. read it in the paper.
got out my revolver when saw you
come through the window. Then /
Thought I'd better take the advantage.
But I've never fired-a-revolver-
I w'a& afraid. I'm not as brave as !
thought II you will go away-quickly,
TIL pToln'Se-not to give information"
"Great Scott!" cried Brant. I'm
not poacher--girl. I'm the man who
OWLS this house-used to live here
whe" / was kid. Can't bear to sell
tie old place, always hoping to have
1t fixed up some day-for my home
Bui now did you happen to be here"
he paused perpleHedly.