The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-09-25

pied with those who were gone.
He remembered, too, a youthful
dream. Of a woman to be, who should
fill his mothers place and make for
him the sort Of home his father knew.
Hotel apartments satisfied his home
need, or he had thought the want sat
isfied, until storm clouds had driven
him to this haven, and the enforced in
action in the silent room brought back
to him strangely his memories.
He decided to remain longer. Time
could not make the situation worse, it
might make it better. So he folded his
paper and lighted q second cigar,
musing over a brief article he had read
concerning a set of desperate poachers
who were supposed to be located some.
where in this vicinity. Their secret
place Of residence w8s said to be
stacked with stolen spoils. Sheriff and
troopers had been unsuccessful in
their capture, and the amazing thing
about It all was the fact that their
accommodating scout was a woman.
An innocent appearing girl, the article
said, "entirely allaying suspicion"
Brant thought he would like to meet
this girl; he thought that he would
enjoy part in bringing the creature
to justice. And as he reflected,
seeming panel in the wall slipped back
before his eyes and in the reflected
light from a further room he saw a
girl framed in the opening.
The first thing that he noticed about
the girl was that she, deliberately
aimed revolver in his direction, and
the second thing was her rare beauty.
The startling part of the adventure to
him was the fact that the girl was re-
markably like the woman of his
dreams, like the ideal woman in his
picture Of home. The woman pointed
revolver now at bis heart.
II had made up my mind to ask you
to go quickly" she said, ''but it may
De safer to keep you here, you might
come back again at time when am
not prepared. There is a windowless
closet at your right; step in there di-
rectly. please, so that I may lock the
door," ,..
He was, in her eyes, of course, an
agent to bring her companions to JUS
tice. AS he looked again into the
girls purposeful eyes. Brant consid-
cred it best to pretend prompt obedi-
ence to her command. If, in some
way he might outwit her, he would
be able to find the solution of the diff
ficulty.
After that one glance he was,
strangely enough, not eager to bring
the girl to punishment. She was, lie
reflected savagely, but a tool in the
hands Of the desperadoes who DOM
mated her. Then with sudden daring
Brant rushed across the floor in the
darkness and caught the girl off
guard, dashing the pistol from her
nerveless hand. Firmly he held her
in his arms, until in the Pickering light
from the farther room he saw terror
gather and grow in her eyes, then with
a low, sobbing breath, the girl tainted
against his own fast throbbing heart.
When he carried her through the
door panel into the lighted room he
found there sort of compact living
apartment, kitchen utensils, an oil
stove, dresser, a cot bed. And near
the widest window some half finished
sketches, paint brushes close by. The
lovely girl at last opened her trembling
eyelids.
Il know" she breathed, you are
nR y
den near here. read Il in the paper.
got out my revolver when I saw yon
come through the window. Then I
thought I'd better take the advantage.
But I've never fired-a-revolver-
was afraid. I'm not as brave as
thought-if you will go away--quickly,
TIL promise-not to give information"
"Great Scott!" cried Brant. 9TH
not a poacher-girl. I'm the man who
owns this house-used to live here
when was kid. Can't bear to sell
the old place, always hoping to have
it fixed up some day-for my home.
But how did you happen to be here"
he paused perplexedly.
"Why," murmured the lovely girl
the color came flooding back to her
face, II am the poacher, guess, after
all. You see, had put little tent
near by so that might sketch the
garden. The vacant house seemed so
much more secure !, thought it wouldn't
matter if moved in for few days
My sister drives out to spend the
nights with me. She smiled up at him
tiDidly. II can fancy home pictures
of that big room Of yours she said.
And Brant's eyes looking down upon
her softened with the light Of his dis
covary.
so can l." he said gently; $50
can t. @