The Snowflake herald., 1919-08-29

when Robert Wayne was amid pow
and grief over the recent death
wy oborished wife and anxiety as to
trture of his daughter Viola. a
'nI of sixteen. he received word that
s' bod been left so acres of land near
~ ,To,ton by a distant relative, and
brigbtened up with new courage
and hope. -, -. ,o,ua5
con and considered it the great
lot pot boon fortune could bestow upon
me" ...oa v,o,o
.yan have had to work so hard and
long in the city here. Oh, father
,S,nk think. If 1t is not already a
.'oa % little farm, we can make it one,
nd ,nd can help You get real living,
With birds and flowers and everything
beautiful about us.
ives" replied Mr.. Wayne, new am
,i+ion kindIing in his eyes. 1--WE will
make the wilderness blossom ike the
rose"
Robert Wayne went to visit his
nri2ed acquisition, to have his high
rairits considerably dampened. Wal
tnn was a small, quiet village, and the
eo acres were located just beyond its
limits The major portion of IT had
boon limestone quarry, which had
boen excavated to the depth Of over
a hundred feet to provide county
with roadbed material. 1t had been
abandoned and nearly filled up with
water,
Mr. Wayne found that only 20 acres
of the tract could be made available.
There had been a frame structure at
tbe edge of the quarry. A helper was
hired TO dismantle it. the material re-
moved and a habitable shelter con-
structed that would answer until a
real house could be built.
If Viola was disappointed she never
Indicated it. She came into the rude
shack with a CHEEKY: "Oh, father!
we'll make a mansion of it before we
get through"
A new element, and a displeasing
one, came into their lives with the APP
pearance Of a young man who per-
sstently forced his attentions upon
Viola. This was Martin Freer. who
lived a mile distant. He and his fam
ny had regulations none too savory as
to honesty and industry, and there
were sundry hints that 1t was a puz-
ze how Freer had so much money TO
throw away. while he never seemed
to do any work
q don't like this young fellow. VI
ola" Mr.. Wayne said. 81 hope you
will not encourage his visits"
q have tried to make him under
stand that his calls are not welcome"
replied Viola.
Freer was an audacious, and at
times offensive, person, with a force
full, aggressive way about him that
carried him through in most instances.
He had the sense to discern, however,
that he had created an antipathy
against himself in Mr.. Wayne, and
that Viola was cold and repellant. He
boosted Of very rich uncle abroad,
who sent him fabulous sums monthly.
Il believe the old quarry is haunt
ed" Mr.. Wayne told Viola one day.
Last night was the fourth or fifth
time | have been awakened by queer
sounds in its direction. Strange calls.
and heavy rolling. and then splashing
echoes." But both forgot about this
amid the pressure of their home du-
ues' About this time new element
came into the quiet lives Of father and
daughter A pleasant. manly young
lellow' Barton Lee, came to Walton to
pass months vacation, as he gave it
cut. He got acquainted with the
"ayneS and became a welcome Wis
nor much to the discontinue of Mar
'ln Freer One morning early he ap-
peared with a gravity of manner that
al once told Viola that the visit had
a serious motive.
Mr. Wayne" he said, Il have news
u some Importance to communicate
70 you. First, I wish to make the
concession that | am not simple
OurlSt but came down here as rep
'eSentative of the state insurance COM
mission"
lou mean?" asked Mr.. Wayne.
lnat for over year some forty
uu'oAloDlles a month have been stol-
~ y IN the city Many of them have
'appeafed utterly. | received a tip
ruu ~ came down here to watch Martin
.leef' who has been q member Of the
s@"g : VINO have run rhe machines out
old quarry" ny '"s
49,. why what for? Incredible !"
s"sped Mr.. Wayne.
oun was done so that unscrupulous
t~ners t,o could thereby claim full value
i J,n lne insurance companies. Freer
sftr !" Jall' and has confessed. AT least
ot t =, ears lie hidden under the water
u the old quarry
:, barton Lee had completed b,s mis-
missaa n ana departed for the city. Viola
WITH 'a llm greatly. Her heart sang
T ~ Joy when he returned.
- n"Ne made an arranpement with