The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-05-14
10000 Ssss9seesg
, THE MYSTERY MANS
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.


mountain; its dense SoitudcS her play
ground. each rough mouniaincrr her
champion.
Laurers gentle mother had been nm
able long to cope with the hard life
to which her young husband brought
hcr--She had left her little mountain
tlowcr," as she called the girl. to his
care and. now, for many years Laurel
had been alone.
Cntaught she grew. her only book,
the ones nature gave her Yet Laurel
was happy, confident in the cnre Of
her kind neighhors. Keeping house in
the little cottage of her parents Dave
the toughest and kindeSt of the men
her father had known. guided in a
careful way Laurel's speech Dave. in
times past had known education Il
was he who taught Laurel the rudi-
ments of reading.
Laurel was unafraid of wild things.
There were birds which learned to an
swer her call. squirrels which came TO
feed from her hand But this dog. this
fierce threatening creature was the
conquest Laurel's spirit cravcd
The men of tho isolated section were
banded together in friendiness, but
this was no place for an interloper.
Laurel caught her breath at sound
In the thicket near by then low and
grooming she gave a call II was the
dog, as she had thought. His fierce.
lessly he came fawning to her feet.
Laurel bent with glad cry, her
hands caressing him. For days she
had awaited this surrender. Her pa
tienCe had been long. Suddenly the
dog withdrew from her caress. I'm
peratively he sounded bark OF dis
tresS
Coaxingly he ran before. only to re-
turn, eloqnently begging the girl to
follow. Quickly, Laurel obeyed. On
through brambes that cut her face.
on to the door of a small hidden tent.
Then, still on, through the open flap
to the side Of man reclining on
cot bed
The man put out his hand TO the
dog.
Good Cap" he said. "you managed
to bring me aid"
Smiling he turned to the girl.
1--WE been prisoner in my own
tent" he told her. Got my leg caught
in some COMPOUNDED trap. Then broke
It. trying to get away"
Laurel was all sympathy. strange
ness. establishment forgotten.
"Oh!" she murmured, won must
have suffered and you've been lying
here helpless"
For nearly two days" the man re-
piled. I'm pretty weak" he said. and
smiled again.
Laurel liked his smile. She like his
soft voice that was so different from
the mems voices that she had known
First, will get food for YOU" she
suggested shyly and went at his d.
rection in search of it.
Every morning thereafter, Laurel
ran. all aglow. up the mountain path.
The stranger had need of her, and
service was Laurel's only creed.
She must not betray his presence.
he told her, his dark eyes beseeching
he wished it to be kept unknown.
Sometime she would learn why. But
now-nOw he loaned her books and
magazines with pictures of beautiful
women in a wonder of which Laurel
knew nothing. She spelled out the
books until far into the night She
dreamed dreams and-kept the secret
1t was Dave who came upon the
girl one day with the dog at her side.
intent upon her happy errand of
mercy.
"Whose dog?" he questioned. and
when she refused TO answer, Dave
hided his time and secretly following.
came upon her at the very tent door
well see" he said angrily. what
1t is you're hiding from your guard
ians." And Dave saw.
The man lay white and calm be
meath the TRADE of the mountaineer's
accusing tongue.
$50 you are the mystery man we've
been hunting he ragged. "hiding away
like a cur for the crime you've done
May he you thought We wouldn't get
word of 1t in this lone corner. but we
did. and we've been laying low"
The man on the cot turned to the
girl.
Laurel" he asked. do yon believe
me TO be the man he thinks meT'
The girl came closer.
Mystery man." she replied, AL
the world could not make me believe
anything of you that is not right and
true. Ny heart-knoWs."
He's thief" Dave stormed.
He's the honest man that love"
Laurel answered.
Dave jumped to his feet.
you've dared make love to her."
he cried.
The man drew from his mattress a
budget Of papers.
They may explain my reason here"
he said And when Dave looked I'D
from the papers his face had changed
humhly.
so you are on the trail of that slip
perry one" he muttered "You. n fed
sral detective Tn sorry. thought"
That" the man replied, Concerns
ME little. II Is what Laurel thought
that msttered She had promised to
~ back TO the world with me as nv
wife. And"