Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-09-02
Local Color
By AGNES c. BRocAN

Copyright, 1913. by Western Newspaper Union,
1t had been an adventurous after
noon. Betty, after her weeks of quiet
welcomed the change. Few in the little
town were aware that Mrs. Fulsome's
niece on a visit" was in reality the
Elizabeth Blair of new literary fame.
But then, Betty had not mingled with
the society folk on the hill. This was
not the purpose of her stay in the
strangely divided township. She had
come with a view Of gaining local
color and material for her latest serial.
She had been duly warned upon her
arrival against going unattended into
that region known as Stokes Hollow
and divided by running stream from
the arfstocracy of the hilltop.
Aunt Fulsome's house was placed
temporizingly between the two. And
it was the weird desOlation Of Stokes
Hollow, which Immediately won Bet
TVS interest, while the upper man.
sions were to her but tiresomely alike.
Many times she had ventured as close
to the dividing stream as old Nell
would permit herself to be driven.
And from her seat on the mares back,
the unconventional young author could
look across to the shabby buildings
upon the forbidden side.
Her adventure of this afternoon had
been caused by curiosity in that d.
rection. Old Nell, urged to cross the
stream showed her indignant refusal
by an unexpected turn about and run
away, from which Betty HAD been res
cued by an astonishingly handsome,
modish young man, who OPPORTUNITY
appeared from among the bushes upon
the disreputable side of the stream.
Betty, thinking things over palpitat-
ingly. after leaving Nell safe in her
stall, retraced her steps almost to
the former scene of disaster. The
young man who had actually risked
his life to save hers, and TO whom in
her confusion she had neglected to
express appreciation. had vanished
from sight as mysteriOusly as he had
appeared.
Betty had mentally scoffed at "lOve
at first sight" even while she penned
charming tales of its possibilities. But
this handsome young hero had left
her with yearning in her usually
indifferent heart. Wistfully, Eliza
beth Blair lOnged to see him again
and to further know her deliyerer
So Betty, gathering more assurance,
approached the shabby building. It's
air OF grotesqueness delighted her; TO
all appearances here close 10 civiliza-
ton was still one wild, unfrequent
ed spot. The place was evidently de-
serted, 60 she examined the queer
knives on the wall intently. Then
with quick apprehension she turned
fearfully about. Men were coming
through the deep grass toward her,
fierce, strange looking men, murmur-
ing and gesticulating together.
In sudden terror she feared to go
back through the doorway and face
them. Behind her, stretched crude
curtain; tremblingly she withdrew be-
meath its screening folds, finding with
relief an open window nearby. Per-
haps, while the men We're talking, she
might be able to escape thus, unseen.
Then, even as she reached desperate
ly for the window ledge, Betty stood
motiOnless. hands still appraised.
wait" cried the imperative voice,
and in it Betty recognized the haunt
ing tones of her rescuer. f
Whirling she peered through the
crack iii the curtain. Yes, it was he,
clad in those same spOtless white fan
nels, his fine eyes flashing, his heavy
hair rumpled on his forehead. But
as, white faced, he defiantly faced
the three desperadoes, one quickly
drew revolver, deliberately aiming
1t at her herO's head.
With shrek of triumph the three
closed around him. Betty saw his
bravely defiant glance as he faced
them.
$50 you want the reward for our
captureT one said. did you think
we'd let you get out of here alive?"
Courage came suddenly to the hid
ing girl. She must help this man.
for her sake? To escape and bring
aid would be useless. These ferocious.
lawless creatures would by that time
have his life. No, she must act now.
Beyond the curtain hung one of the
guns. If she could rush out and
snatching it, place it in her hero'S
hands
And with the swift silence of a pan
Their. that is just what Betty did
Then GREATNESS she stood staring
from one perplexed face TO another.
Instead of endeavoring to protect him
self with the gun her hero stood look
ing into her face in stupid admiration,
while unmistakable grins spread over
the faces of the desperadoes.
You were not supposed to be In
the picture" said one with laugh
Across the grass came a wrathful
camera man.
"What did you do that for?" he de-
manded. You've spoiled the whole
film"
Slowly the truth came to Betty.
She had idiotically stumbled upon
motion picture in preparation.
"But-the Stokes Outlaws?" she
questioned uncertainty.
oh they are just lot of harm
less, lazy natives. her hero explained,
who were glad TO rent US their quar-
tiers"
Into the eyes of the movie idol"
came an unstudied. eager light.
.'Wili you wait until we go through
this again" he begged Il want-to
see you after"
And Betty waited. Truth is so