The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-10-23


Dale Morton felt that he had don
a good months work and had earne
few days vacation He had bee
sent on a mission of looking up tn
rights Of his employer, a city mer
chant, to an estate. In his pocket wa
mass Of notes and copies Of docu
ments sufficient to prove Handsome
addition to the already opulent re
sources Of John Wylie. There was {
small outside interest. Morton hat
the name Of Its possessor. The hunt
ing up Of this person could come later
he decided.
1t was at the pleasant little town Of
Grassmere that he got OF the train
put up at its hotel and settled dowr
to few days sojourn. The next day
affected his destiny more than he had
ever anticipated and held him at Grass
mere for over a week. Morton was
idling at a spot Of GOODNESS and shade
at the riverside at the edge of a pretty
stretch of the woods next day, when q
Juvenile howl arrested his attention
"Oh, it's broke! Oh, Cousin Kate
Ny slingshot is all gone to pieces p
and a tearful-faced boy came into
view.
What's the trouble, sonny?" In
Quired Morton, and the lad held up a
wreck represented by two tattered
suspender ends, crotched stick and
q dangling strip of leather.
Don't cry" advised Morton sooth-
ingly. Maybe 1t can be fixed"
1t was many a year since Morton
had possessed a Ike boyish contriv-
ance, but he set his inventive genius
at work. The crotched stick was in
tact and his wallet was surrounded by
two heavy elastic bands. In jiffy
he had adjusted these to the stick, the
piece Of leather was set In place, and
the boy fairly danced with delight as
he was handed the finished article.
"Oh, amt it just dandy" he exu-
berated. 'Why, it beats Nat Rood's
sling all to nothing!"
II hope you won't use 1t to annoy
the birds?' observed Morton.
"Oh, no, sir-never that Just for
targets. Sister-look, just look !"
The lad was twenty feet away dig
ging for munitions in heap Of peb-
bles. The girl drew back shyly and
started after him. 1t was brief cas-
ual conversation and he was sorry
when they reached house at the edge
Of the wood and he raised his hat In
adieu.
Morton took the self-same ramble
the following day, to come upon his
young friend with a paper target
tackled to a tree upon which he was
trying his skill. Morton tried few
chance shots himself. Then he caught
sight of fitting form in the garden
of the house and the boy called out
"Oh, Cousin Catherine! Here is the
same gentleman who was so kind to
me yesterday. Maybe he'd like a bou'
quet Of our flowers"
IF you care for them at all, will
be glad to give you our choicest" she |
said. coming to the fence.
Dale Morton went back to his hotel
with a nosegay made up of the pretti-
est flowers In Hates garden. He had
among the roses and lilies for
a full hour. and had come away deem
Ing his pretty hostess veritable
queen Of loveliness and grace.
THE mischief" he CALCULATED as he
reached his room at the hotel and
stood rooted with dismay. During his
absence some one had entered the
room and had gone away with his
wallet, carelessly left on bureau. 1t
little money, but 1t held the
papers he had been at such pains and
expense to secure and he felt the loss
Of them to be serious matter.
Morton at once wrote to his en-
oloyer, telling Of the theft and asking
'or Instructions. He hoped that the
,ame might involve new going over
he ground he had already covered, for
hat would keep him in the district at +
east where he would be in proximity
II his peerless Kate. 1t would take at
east two days to receive reply to
lis letter. He made new slingshot
md took 1t to Ned The following eve
ling he strolled past the house that
leld his divinity. Just as he passed /
he gate, excited and white-faced, Ned t
anne rushing around the corner Of the
louse. 7
"Oh. sayT he gasped, I've killed :
omebody The folks are all away 9
nd as l was crossing the lot to go +
yer to Nat Rood's house, saw man t
rying up one of our side windows. i il
red with my slingshot to hit the side b
( the house to scare him away. The t
tone must have hit him instead, for
e fell fiat"
.'We must look into this" said Nor +
IN and entered the yard A man with r
lood triekling down his face was d
indy staggering TO his feet. He had a
cted the thief and looked one. Nor g
IN led him to the street just as vii II
Ige Waterman came along. 1t was II
,rtunate action, for, upon searching q.
,e man, Morton's wallet and the -