The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-24
Silent Wheeler was gone from the

Silent Wheeler was gone from ths
porch steps.
Leaving the girl in the rig and pre-
pared for trouble, the boy alightcd
and called through the darkened kit
chen door. But he received no re-
ply.
He found matches in one of his
pockets. He broke one from tbs
card, waited until it had burned al
and then went boldly inside. The
girl saw the reflection of the flame
travel through the lower rooms. Ir
minute he was back.
"There amt anyone here at a.
Miss Wheeler. Your Ma is probably
still off looking for help. Your dad
has probably"
"-gone down to McDermott's once
more. And my name isn't Wheeler
its Vocabulary Wood"
"What do you want to do?"
AS he waited for her to decide, he
suddenly raised his head and listened
whats that?" he demanded sharp
ly.
The girl listened likewise Then hel
delicate lips grew hard,
"That's only Artie He's my bro
Their. He's probably in his upstair
room"
Slug had heard of Silent Wheeler:
crazy son. He did nat refer to hir
again.
"You can't stay here" the Truma
boy declared. "Your stepfathe
might come back and try to pull off
more fireworks. You ought to &c
somewhere's and wait for morning
And I ought to go get Sheriff Crum
petit Old Wheeler belongs in jai
after a night of this. You women
folks can't trust yourselves to hin
again"
az haven't any place I could go!'
the girl broke down. "Not unles'
it was to one Of the neighbors. Anf
there arn't any besides the Osgood;
that we know real we'll"
Slug came across to the rig. He
stood by the rail looking up into ths
pretty features.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked gent
ly.
"Not--muchp'
81 ought to have left Card have
him."
"The dog would have killed him.
"It would have served him right
1t was lucky l come along I wa
just coming back from the dance to
Gilbert Mills"
1t was an inappropriate time 70
him to thrust himself into the situa-
ton with personal explanation. Be
yond this brief declaration he sale
nothing. Only: eff you could ge'
your things, I'd be glad to take yor
down to Pafis-or somewheres. Ant
you could leave a note for your mo
Their tellin' her you was all right anf
lettin' her know the place you'd gone
That is-if you want to go righ'
now"
The girl sat thinking for time.
"It's a good time for me to CO.
she said pathetically at last. "Mothel
will come back all right-and if she
finds my note, it will be better thar
a sad parting bidding me goodbye.
I'll go quickly now--if you'll just take
me to Paris"
The girl swayed as he helped her
to the ground She went inside He
sat down on the porch steps to guard
her from further harn1-and he wait
ed.
At the end of half an hour she re-
appeared. She was dressed in a plair
brown dress, hat with long black
feather. She carried an old-fash-
toned telescope bag.
81 couldn't stay here another hour
after this has happened" she said
"I've made trouble enough here. II
you'll take me- to Paris and can Fl,
it so to get work tomorrow, I'll pay
you back for your trouble and trans
portation. You're Herbert Truman
aren't you? I've heard the girls
the Foxboro Center Academy speaE
of you"
HYes,' he replied.
He assisted her into the bugg5
again. He thumped the big dog te
make him lay over and give room fol
the telescope bag. Then he climbed
in beside the girl and unwound thu
reins from the whip.
"How about the note for your mo