The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-10


n ARBARA sALTER was not a cow
ard but. when she read In the
morning paper that desperate
gang Of thieves had been infesttng tho
neighboTing towns and might be head
ed for Jonesboro she felt an uncon.
trollable sinking OF heart. DR.. Salter
had gone to the medical convention
in distant city with no premonition
that his motherless daughter would
be left alone by scheming servants,
who saw chance ut hand for an ex.
ira holiday; yet, when he found he
would be detained day Or two long
err than he had expected he wired his
office assistant, Richard Gilbert 10
that effect and added a request that
he look after Barbara during his alb
sence.
.wnl II" exclaimed the assistant;
will II"
Richard too had read OF the near
ness OF the thieves. He wished he
might defy convention and stay at
the Salter homo until the doctor re-
turned, but he suspected he might
have to defy other things than con-
yention, were he to suggest such a
proceedings.
He had long loved Barbara with a
mans first strong love, but somehow
Barbara always contrtved TO accept
his overtures as coming from boy
not a man-and treated them accord
ingly. Therefore he welcomed any
commission which included his super
Tor officers daughter, hoping thus to
be received more seriously, and lost
no time in hurrying to the Salter
home.
"Hello there, Dicky boyl" greeted
Barbara cheerly. II suppose you
feel very important now that dads
away"
mot particularly, but your father
did wire me a very important COM
mission this morning. He wants me
to look after you, and as read about
the burglar scare in the paper 1
thought I'd come"
"What could you-a mere boy-do"
interrupted Barbara, laughing hearth
ly. "They'u make mincemeat Of the
two Of us"
Barbara dear, I'm not boy any
more. I'm man and I've got heart
full of love for-for woman-for you.
Won't YOU be serious and listen to
me lOT luSL d uOlhoAb!
no, won't; and won't have any
4. boy making love to me so early in
the morning either. Don't talk non
sense, Dickey."
But Dickey was hurt more deeply
than usual because he had counted
ON the wire from DR.. Salter as the
opening wedge for which he had long
been waiting. 81 s.
of there's nothing can do for you
I'll 20 along. I've good many calls
to make now that your Father Ss
away"
"W.eI-l-you might come over and
spend the evening, If you promise not
to talk nonsense and to go home the
moment I tell you to-"
"No, thank you. If you want to
boss anybody around, call on some OF
your men friends!"
Good old Dickeyi She watched him
walking proudly down the street and
her laughing eyes softened. Dtckey
was beginning to look awfully grown
mn In his smart tweed suit-she was
forced to admit it. That afternoon
she met Dollie Phenton.
"oh, hello. BabI Dick Gilbert called
on grandmother this morning. We
thought she'd fuss because 1t wasn't
your father; but Dick quite won the
old ladys heart. She declared he'd
make a wonderful husband for some
nice girl. And do you know Bah, I've
q great mind to set cap for him my
self"
Barbara's heart gave an unfamiliar
twinge as Dollie ratified on, but she
answered in as bantering tone as
she could muster.
"Dolliezhow silly-he's only, a boy"
"Boy nothing! He's Older Ihan
either you or l."
After leaving Dollie the thought
came that she would miss Dick terri
bly, II any other girl should happen to
appropriate him. There were many
things he had done for her ever since
he had been In her fathers office,
which he couldn't or wouldn't do
should she belong to another. She
wdshed she hadn't laughed at him
wished he were going to spend the
evening with her. Next sense OF
loneliness crept over her and tear
or two found Its way down her pretty
cheek.
She read very late that night, and
when she finally crept into bed slept
but ntfully. It was in the wee small
hours that q vague foreboding aroused
he, from light slumber and as she
sat up in bed, every sense instantly
alert. From porch below came
confused sound, which to Barbara
meant but one thing-the burglars
had struck Jonesboro!
She sat staring straight before her
IN the dark, drew her filmy lingerie
closer about her and desperately await
cd her impending doom. But nothing
hcppened. The night wind sighed
softly through the naples. a cricket
chirped intermittently and after what
seemed a lifetime Of suspense, q cock
signaled the approach OF morning.
With the numblng fear still upon
her She got up and dressed, crept eau
ticusly downstairs, opened the front
door very ghgerly-just crack at
first, and then exclaimed with breath
of rehef
.DickyI"
Good morning, fair lady. You see
-er-I Just couldn't help thinking OF
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