The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-11-20
MAKING HER WAIT
BY RUBY Il. MARTIN.

iage bank. But the big house had
never seemed so lonely dor her waiting,
quite so futile as it did this sunny day
when her bank credit stood for an
even thousand. Grizel held the worn
book tightly al she went up through
the house whore she had lived alone
since her father died. She did not
need to glance through the open doors
to be reminded that the rooms needed
renovation. Had she not known the
way so well she would have stumbled
on the attic stairs because of tears.
Living here alone, saving every bit she
could to exc out the restoration fund,
Grizel was keeping her tryst for the
soul and body of Jim Brett.
Il promised always to be waiting.
and to believe he will make good" she
whispered on the stairs.
Stepping into the attic she locked
the door behind her and crossed to-
ward the caves She always did lock
the door before. she opened the old,
~iron-bound sea chest thai smelled OF
the stuff Of much ~voyaging around the
world with some ancestor.
When they were children Grizel and
Jim had thought the rambling attic
q marvellous place for games and dam
sells In distress, and kings, and queens.
and knights errant. Even then Grizel
had kept her best treasures In the old
sea chest, and what treasure could
need more careful guarding than jim
story Of temptation and fall, and his
determination to make good the awful
deficit he had peculated from the
bank? Was not that confidence for her
the greatest surety Of his lover
So II was that Grizel had kept her
tryst these FIVE years since the short
age had been discovered and Jim had
fled to escape the punishment. How
much time stretched ahead until he
should have saved the money 20 make
restitution, and return? She dared not
ask to receive one word OF assurance
from Jim in his far country. She
dared not lose for one moment the
grip on her own faithful waiting. That
simply mus have some hold on Jim
And now she knelt there by the open
chest to renew her promise.
Somewhere at q distance a shop
whistle blew, and Grizel jumped up.
She had forgotten the attic door key
that had slipped into the fields of her
serge gown. and 1t clattered to the
floor. bounced sharply on the plank.
and slipped into a wide floor cracx.
Grizel heard it hit the sides Of the par
tition as II fell down and down.
Now I'm locked up here" she
cried. dismayed by the Immediate diff
fculty.
She could not hope to break down
the door of strong, hand-hewn planks.
She could not hope to make any
neighbor hear from the single. small,
back window of the attic. 1t was a
question when she might be searched
for. She opened the window to let In
the sunny air. and knelt by the sill
and laughed softly at her sorry plight.
She might well be a real damsel In
distress. And Jim had always ZONE
to the rescue when ii was a game.
The shop whistle blew again. and
Grizel settled to watch. The shad-
ows had heightened to the wall when a
boot crunched on the gravel walk be-
low. Some one was at the house door.
I'm locked into this attic!" called
Grizel. IF you will go to the shed you
will find a large magnet to tie to a
rope | will let down !"
When she had the rope down he
came around the corner with the shoe
shaped iron, and tied 1t On.
Pull away, my lady Grizel" he
called.
'Jim!"
Pull away" he said sternly.
Grizel's hands trembled on the cold
iron Of the magnet, and then she let 1t
down through the floor crack to reach
the key. Would the magnet find that
iron? Would the key cling fast? The
rope In her hand ~slackened when the
magnet touched bottom, and then she
pulled 1t taut. The key was found and
held
Flinging open the unlocked door she
saw Jim. older. thinner, with eyes that
questioned hers. as he stood there on
the attic stairs. Grizel put out her
hand. but he had no mind for social
amenities.
sI've just handed the money In at
the bank" he said, slowly.
"You saved 1t allf"
Every cent! I'm ready to start for
myself now. l guess I need you more
than ever, Grizel. but II isn't fair to
ask you to make any such wait as you
may have to until I'm on my feet. That
Is what l came around to say"
II don't see us waiting. Jim I've
got some money saved that | can use
to fix the house up. and we can start
having a home right now. my knight 7"
my lady Grizell A fellow Just has
TO keep making good with yourself
having the faith that he willw said
Jim.
Record for Woman MachinIst.
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