Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-11-04
In Time
of Need
By ALvAH J. GARTH
20. 1920. western Newspaper union.1

| l@. 1920 Western Newspaper Unlon)
! Morris Davenal stood spellbound
Viewing scene that seemed so lovely,
! yet flmy, that he almost deemed him
self under a deusion. He had been
| camping on the banks of river, Occu-
plying rude board shanty, and had
cut across what seemed to be the ex-
tensive grounds of great, gloomy
mansion. At the edge of Il glade
fitting figure had crossed his range Of
vision.
1t was nearly midnight, and the
moonlight filtered down in Il silvery
Hood and showed a form girlish, full
OF natural grace, and face the out
lines of which We're perfect She drew
within the shadow of towering elm
| tree and stood motionlesS, her ear bent,
her gaze fixed
She made gesture of keen disap-
pointment as no one appeared.
| Beyond the tree man, evidently q
| worker about the grounds, suddenly
| came into view. He halted, applied
| whistle to his lips and blew an echoing
trtll. The girl hurried in the direction
| Of the house to he confronted by sec
ond man, past middle age, who regard
ed her with sternness, almost anger.
| "You will not be warned!" Davenal
heard him say and there was the
venom Of menace in his tones.
"Please stand aside" spoke the girl
In icy tones. 81 will return to my
ROOM
sand stay there, if you are wise.''
observed the man. you are trying to
| play me false. Be careful-you know
the penalty!"
Davenal delivered a deep breath like
one seeing an enhancing picture fade
into nothingness. The scene remained
imprinted on his memory all the way
to his temporary home near the river.
He entered the dilapidated old shack
and sat for an hour lost in meditation.
| Finally he aroused himself and walked
over to cupboard.
Again. he muttered, as it's shelves
came into view, and the puzzled excla-
nation expressed his wonderment that,
for the second time within twenty
four hours. someone had entered the
place and had made away With food
in the cupboard.
Davenal threw himself on his couch.
but memory of the fair girl in the
moonlight remained for a long time.
He finally slumbered, to rouse up at
early daylight as a groan disturbed
him. 1t was repeated. apparently from
an attic overhead. Davenal went to
L 1v1,or <lno
the wall, assembled these and glanced
about the confined space under the
roof.
A human form was stretched out
| upon heap Of old rags. moving uneas-
fly, with closed eyes. Davenal fancied
this must be the despoiler of his food
supply. He noticed that one foot Of
the intruder was swathed in a bandage.
He touched his arm. Instantly the
other. young man of presentable APP
1 pearance, although he looked haggard
and distressed. awoke.
"Who are you?" challenged Dayenal.
It was only after persistent question
ing that Davenal was able to gain the
confidence of the stowaway. He helped
him below, prepared meal and at
tended to bad cut on one foot, the
result Of falling over a keen-edged
scythe.
Finally the stranger told his story.
He was Earle Wilton, and his visit to
the vicinity was to secretly meet his
sister, Adrienne. She was captive in
the power of an unprincipled guardian,
who hoped to gain her fortune by fore
ing her to marry him.
II received letter concerning the
situation of affairs" Wilton told DAYS.
email, "but had to proceed with caution.
Wolfe burrows hold on my sister was
his claim that he had proof of my COM,
uniting forgery Of my fathers name
before he died. 1t is false, but he has
the power to imprison me. In sixty
days Adrienne will be of age and can
defy him. eff were not thus crippled
I could convey her to safe hiding
| place."
''Let me help you" eagerly pleaded
Davenal, at once divining that Miss
Adrienne Wilton was the fair girl Of
the moonlight episode.
An hour later, appareled in his most
commonplace attire, Davenal strolled
by the Dubrow place. The man with
the whistle Of the night previous hailed
him. Was he looking for work? Was
he willing to put in forenoon's labor
on the lawn for dollar? and soon
Davenal had located the room which
Miss Wilton occupied and had also
spied long ladder in the barn Of the
place.
Then he went back to the river
shack planned with Earle Wilton what
they should do, made arrangements to
have an automobile on hand after dark.
had Wilton write note to his sister,
and at midnight helped the startled
and excited girl captive down the lad
der, fastened to the shack and they
were miles away before daylight.
Davenal accompanied brother and
sister to retired village, saw them
comfortably settled and left them filed
with gratitude for his helpful atten-
ton. Twice he revisited them during
the next two months
The day when her coming Of age
released her legally from the care of
her guardian. Adrienne Wilton wrote
Davenal of the fact and asked his adj
vice and cooperation as to her further
action in regard to her estate.
Davenal secured lawyer and the