Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-12-18

up grandly," spoke Mr.. Robert Har-
ris to his young law partner, Leslie
Travers.
Il am obliged to you,' said the lat
ter, ''but it won't do"
why, there are only three of my
five daughters left at home now" OBJ
served Mr.. Harris with a jocular smile.
Bound to give me dig on my al
legged evasion of the gentler seX!' re-
sponded Travers "All that is a fiction,
and besides l know of no brighter,
kinder friends than you and your fam
lily, but my physician has mapped out
six months course for me, has dis
covered an ideal environment and |
shall have to act under his direction"
''Well, get cured; that is all | want"
spoke Mr.. Harris kindly.
He thought the world Of his young
partner, who had been his student and
assistant for five years and had then
brilliantly won the most important
legal battle of the year. It had been at
great cost, however TraverS had
always been a close student and he had
thrown his full natural intentneSS If 20
the great case The reaction had come,
his nerves had broken down, and to re-
build them he must entirely abandon
work. There was hopeful anticipation
in his face as he took a train for a
town two hundred miles from the city,
after shipping thither trunks and va
riety of certain appurtenances requi-
site for long bachelor experience. He
put up at the hotel at Brompton and
the next morning was called on by
town functionary.
81 have my instructions to install
you in your position as warden of the
forest preserve" said the official. "YOur
duties will not be very exciting, al
though your environment will be print
tive"
In the officials automobile Travers
was driven along a country road to
the edge of a stretch Of timber cover
ing several hundred acres. At one cor
ner was a large sign reading: "Forest
Preserve-B. 9S." Here there was a
small hut composed of rough boards,
ordinary stove pipe.
"Not a very inviting bungalow"
smiled the official.
"But precisely what l expected and
want" declared Travers. eff you will
arrange to have what / have had
shipped from the city sent down here I
will install myself forthwith. The two
rooms in this little shelter house will
precisely suit my requirements. / can
get provisions at the settlement, and |
am sure l shall enjoy the rough and
ready life"
The novelty of his environment had
a salutary effect upon Travers. His
duty comprised patrol of the reserve
several times day, a final one at
night, and the direction of two laborers
who trimmed the trees and cut down
the dead ones.
1t was toward the end of his first
months sojourn that Travers met with
a series of incidents which ultimately
changed the entire trend of his career.
Twice he had seen a bent form, that
of an old man, about the center of the
timber, who had mysteriously disap-
peared before he could come upon him,
and one night girlish figure fitted by
him like the wind. Two evenings later,
while he was seated reading in his
little hut there came tap at the win
dow. Travers opened it to confront a
young girl of about seventeen, deeply
agitated.
ooh, sir!" she quavered, eff you
know anything about sickness or have
any medicine with you. beg of you to
come with me without delay"
"What is the trouble, miss?" ques-
toned Travers, attracted and interest
ed by the pleading face and marked
distress exhibited.
"It is my father; fear he will die.
Oh, sir, come! come! 1t is not far"
Travers snatched up a case Of his
own medicine and hurried outside. He
was puzzled as his girl guide led him
lulO Tic very ucplllS VI ll1c IcoCl VIC. IAo
she came to a ravine chOked up with
fallen trees she took his hand, led him
through a maze he had never pene-
trated and into a shelter, secret
and half comfortable, where lay an old
man on bed of dried grass.
Travers worked over the old man I'M
til he had quite revived him. He won
dered how long these refugees had
been thus in hiding and questioned his
right to allow them on the reserve.
The next day, however, he learned
their sad story, and thenceforward
was their friend and companion.
Darius West had a claim against a
valuable piece of property, had quar-
relied with other contestants, and in
the heat of just battle had severely
injured one of them. They had taken
advantage of this to get out warrant
for his arrest. He had hurried to hid
ing, for once in their hands he feared
they would prosecute him to the limit
Looking into those affairs as an ex-
pert lawyer, Leslie Travers took up the