The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-05-14

Jamming bare toes into the sand
while in deep thought had become a
habit with Ross Balloon. His vaca-
ton was more than half over and get
ting acquainted with Audrey Colling-
w"" was Il possibility more remote
than ever.
Suddenly his hand ierked to his head
to draw the miscreant curls into or.
der. but his efforts awaited him little.
The big chap was hard hit, but what
was the use. when he couldn't meet
this flying apparition? Senator Col
lingwoods daughter was staying at the
fashionable "Beachcroft." while Ross
had a four-weeks' lien on the top floor,
front, of the incest boarding house in
the village. There were ways. of
course, and Ross had tried them. He
attended the hotel dances assiduously,
hoping to run across a mutual ac-
quaintance. AT last, one evening, his
rowing eyes fell upon familiar figure
in the brilliant foycr-the mother of
an cid college mate. Bob Denton.
Ross literally pounced upon the good
lady. When he learned she knew the
Collingwoods he had difficulty in re-
straining himself from Selling the
placid little woman in his arms and
racing with her to the ballroom, where
he had just seen Audrey whrling in
the arms of n stranger. Later he
wished he had done it. After dig
nificd tour of the entire house they
learned that Audrey had gone to her
room. Next day, when Ross was due
to call upon his life saver, Mrs. Den
ton, she was i'll. On the next visit the
Dcntons had quit the hotel.
Then the SHADES arrived from the
West. Arabella Slade was an old
friend of Ross married sister. She in
vited MIN to dine and he accepted at
once. His heart pounded when he saw
Arahella and her mother bow in a
friendly way to Senator Colingwood
and his daughter.
He had been hidden to dine with the
SHADES again and was bordering the
matter. his toes ever busy in tho
sand. A black object decorated with
one white button rewarded his In
dustry. Carelessly he bent and tIgged
q serpcntine strip of black chamois
from the clutching sand It was a
money belt with broken buckle. and
held large sum of money.
Some poor overseas chap" he NUT
tered as he laid the money across
bare knees to count it. His hands
trembed. Was the owner alive or at
the bottom?
A clue! A postal savings certificate.
Ross bent close to decipher the
washed-out signature: civilian S.
Collingwood" was written upon the
certificate. which had been purchased
at the local post Office a few months
previous.
Excited, infatuated, Ross for the
moment failed to reason that postal
savings and riches did not 60 together.
He instantly believed the money be.
lo. ged to Senator CoIlingwood It was
no more than natural that he should
wave peremptory hand AS Audrey gal
Hoped back up the beach. She drew
up with much saving on the bit, her
tinelymarked eyebrows arched with
surprise.
"She remembers me-" was his first
eXultant thought as he held the
money towards her. Her blue eyes
rounded.
ibid YOU find it," she asked in the
sweetest voice in the world.
yes" he answered, a little INSTEAD
lily. at belongs to William S. Col
lingwood. Is he a relative of yolrs?"
Her horse was curvetting, so he
couldn't tell whether she resented his
knowledge Of her name.
"No-I think not" she replied
thoughtfully. "My fathers name is
Benjamin." Her eyes appreciated his
hronZed athletic shoulders.
"Oh." was his non-committal re-
Spouse.
She flashed him heavenly smile be-
fore her horse whrled away. Ross
didn't dine with Arabella that eve
ming.
Audrey and her father walked I'D
Main street. The senator wished very
i'"'h w l'hi u NHb W llllHID 1olllnp-
wood" was
Stroling in the opposite direction
was young chap In white f1anneis
who could tell the senator all about
his namesakc. Ross heart beat
quickly. Would she recognize him?
She did more: she stopped and in
troduccd "Mr. Ross Balcom" to her
father. Hadn't she been to Arabella
Shade and learned all about him?
1t was "A happy man who led the way
to tent by the water, where "Cap'n
Bill" the lobster fisherman, lived a
lonely life.
Twas every cent had in the
world the stopped old man repeated
to the senator what he had already
told Ross and the postmaster in the
morning. exhibiting the money belt
drligh'edly. Funny bout them white
buttons, too, gettin' the young chaps
I ntion. You see, the black ones
wore of and ! sewed on some from an
old shirt-wish he'd take some pay,
though" he sighed regretfully.
Ross was taking his pay" never
fear. He had drawn Audrey aside
and WAS making up for lost time.
MY dear" announced the good
hearted senator pompously. Il find
Captain Collngswood is distant re-
lation.' His voice lowered-"We