The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-12-11
Long Prairie
By OTILLIA P. PFEIFFER
Copyright, 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)


IF, as you say, your daughter has
been simply trlfling with ny son, she
is heartless hirt" declared Martin
DENLY sternly.
And your son Is a scheming for
tune hunterl" came the wrathful re-
Spouse of Adam Truston.
Hector does not have to be that"
observed his fether. "You make great
claims In yon purse-proud haughti-
ness, but fancy | could discount your
boosted resources doubly. You have
always hated me as a business rival.
You have some wild idea that no one
is good enough for your daughter, I'M
less he Is prince or count at the
least. Go ahead, then. Buy one, II
that Is your ambition, but just as
fully as yourself have no overpow-
ering ambition to be connected with
your family in any way"
"Your son has, but he won't~ OBJ
served Adam Truston spicily.
Hardly, If I can help it. ] have
sent him away to Long Prairie, and a
months sojourn will cure him of this
ridiculous love folly"
Adam Truston did not know where
Long Prairie was, and firmly made up
his mind that neither should Adelia.
He smiled whimsically as he recalled
that he had dispatched his daughter
to an aunt living at Shortville the day
before. After that he boasted to his
familiars as to how he had sat down
hard on those Denbys," but more than
once felt nettled to realize that the
elder DENLY as persistently as him
self opposed the possibility OF the
two young people going together.
II am afraid we have used undue
harshness in dealing with Adelia,"
his wife told him about week later.
81 have received two letters from her,
and both exhibit gloom and unhappi-
ness"
II have arranged to motor down to
Shortville Saturday." announced her
husband. my friend, the banker
there, has commissioned me to pur-
chase some securities for his institu-
ton, and I shall stay over Sunday with
Aunt Selma and Adella."
Truston started out on his trip late
Saturday afternoon, driving his auto
mobile himself. He had never been to
Shortville, except once by train, and
at dusk, as he entered a village garage
well on his route, disturbing discov-
cry troubled him not little. A rain
storm had come up, and he sought
shelter for himself and the automobile
until 1t was over.
'How far Is it to Shortville?" he in
CURED of the garage man.
ask miles. You see, this Is Long
Prairie, named after the long stretch
between the two towns"
Truston was warned that the prai-
RE road was short cut, unpaved,
might be sort of rutty on account of
the rain, and was advised to take
the regular turnpike. Learning, how
ever, that the latter route was indi-
rect and much longer, he determined
to face darkness and uncertainty, and
started out to get to Shortville as
quickly as was possible.
Two miles covered, Truston knew
that he had fallen into a nest of diff
ficultes. In some way he had strayed
from the shallow dirt road and was
humping over clods and stones It had
begun to rain again. He passed no one
on the route, nor any house, and Long
Prairie he found well fitted its name,
and was very long indeed.
Truston tried to locate the wagon
trail again, and made for a glow as of
a camp fire at a little distance He
drove up to It, to find two rough-ap-
pearing fellows resting on the ground
in the glow Of the fire where thlcket
of sapllngs afforded some shelter.
"Can you help me find the road and
direct me to Shortville?" he asked.
"Sure, we can" replied one of the
men, and both approached the auto
mobile. Their shrewd, sinister glance
noting the heavy watch-chain and the
opulent diamond ring he wore. Then
one of them spoke rapidly In low
tone to the other. Truston was sud
denly seized and dragged from the ma
chine. 1t was useless to struggle, for
his assallants were great, husky speci-
mems of the hobo class, and outcry
was useless. They proceeded to de-
spoil Truston of all about him that
was of value, and the portfolio con-
tanning the securities.
"You can walk the rest OF the way"
chuckled one of the men. I'VE need
the auto TO make our getaway.
say"
Whack Out of the dusk into the
fire glare appeared a young man, WELD
ing a heavy walking stick. Whack
Just as stroke one had knocked fiat
down one man, the second performed
the same service for his companion.
Coolly the intruder picked up their
scattered plumber, thrust 1t into the
auto and turned to the amazed victim
of the footpads with the words.
"Now, then, Mr.. Truston, presume
YOU were headed for Shortville. Get
in. I'll take you there"
"But--but-" stammered the rescued
man. "Yon are Roy DENLY And you
have saved me small fortune. And
how came you herev right In the nick
of timer
ooh. | was walking home to Long
Prairie after a call on Adelia," coolly
REPLIED the young man. And, knowing
not which to admire, his audacity or
....c.o and forfttnota rracauao