The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-01-01
Long Prairie
~<O
By OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER

"1f, as YOU say, your daughter has
been simply trifing with my son. she
is heartless flirt!" declared Martin
DenbE sternly.
| And your son is a scheming for
J tune hynter!' came the wrathlul re-
SpOnSc of Adam TrlstOn.
| "lIpctor does not have to be that"
! observed his father you make great
claims in your purse proud hauShti-
ness, but fancy could discount your
boaSt"d resources doubly. You have
always hated ME as business rival.
You have some wild idea that no one
is good enough for your daughter, I'M
less he is prince or count at the
least. Go ahead, then. Buy one, if
that is your ambition, but just as
fully as yourself I have no OverpOW-
ering ambition to be connected with
your family in any way"
"Your son has, but he won't!" OBJ
served Adam Truston spicily.
Hardly, if l can help it. / have
sent him away to Long Prairie, and
months sojourn will cure him Of this
| ridiculous love fOllV.'
Adam Truston did not know where
! Long Prairie was, and firmly made up
! his mind that neither should Adelia.
He smiled whimsically as he recalled
that he had dispatched his daughter
to an aunt living at Shortville the day
before. After that he hOaSted to his
famIiars as to how he had sat down
! hare on those Denbys," but more than
once felt nettled to realize that the
! elder Dcnhy rs persiStentIy as him
self opposed tn" possibility Of til"
two Young people going together.
81 am afraid we have used undue
| hHr*hncSS in dealing with AheIia,
| his wife told him about q week later.
Il have received two letters from her,
HN:' H"th exhibit gloom and UihGnE:-
! nr>''
! Il have arranged to motor down to
SA"rtville Saturday," announced her
husband. "IIy friend, The banker
; Title, has commissioned me to pur-
( chase some securities for mis- institu-
ton. and shall stay over Sunday with
! AUNt Sr]liln ana AnHua'
! rrUStun started out on his trip late
/ Saturday afternoon. driving his auto
| mobile himself. He had never been to
:%hnr1rIic, except once by train, and
! AT dusk, as he entered village garage
we'll on his route, a disturbing diSr0y-
cry troubled him not little. 4 rain
Storm had come up, and he sought
shelter for himself and the automobile
until it was over.
GLOW far Is it to ShortviIlc?" he in
quirrd Of the garage man.
"SiX miles. You sec, this IS I.GNg
Prairie, named after the long stretch
between the two tnW,S.'
Trllston was warmed that the prai
rie read WAS 4 short cut, unpaved,
might he sort Of rutty on account Of
the rain, and was advised to take
the regular turnpike. Learning, how
ever, ti.at the latter route was indi-
rect and much longer he determined
to face darkness and uncertainty, and
started out to get to Shnrtvi!lc as
quickly as wa. possible.
that he had fallen into Il nest Of diff
fcultias In some way he had strayed
from the shallow dirt road and was
humping over c!cnS and stones. II had
begun to rain again. He PASSED no one
On he route, nor any house, and Long
Prairie he found we'll fitted it's name,
and was very long indeed.
Truston tried to locate the wagon
trail again. and made for a glow as Of
a camp fire at little distance. He
drove up to it, to find two rough-ap- !
pearing fellows resting on the ground !
in the glow of the fire where thicllet |!
of saplinSs afforded some shelter.
"Can you help me find the road and |
direct me to ShortviIle?" he asked =.
"Sure we can" replied one Of the ,
men, and both approached the auto
mobile. Their Shrewd. sinister glance |
ran over the wel-dresSed motorist,
noting the heavy watch-chain and the
Opulent diamond ring he wore. Then
one of them spoke rapidly in a low
tone to the other. TruSton was sud
denly seized and dragged from the ma
chine. It was useless to struggle. for
his assailants were great. husky speci-
mems of the hobo class, and cutlery
was useless. They proceeded to de-
spoil Truston of all about him that
was Of value, and the portfolio con-
tanning the securities.
"You can walk the rest Of the way"
chuckle1 one Of the men. ave need
the auto to make our getaway.
say"
Whack! Out of the dusk INFO the
fire glare appeared 4 Young man, Wield-
ing 4 heavy walking stick. WhAck
Just as stroke one had knocked flat
down one man, the second performed
the same service for his companion.
COoiiy the Intruder picked UP their
scattered plunder thrust it into the
auto and turned to the amazed victim
of the footpads with the words:
"Now. then. Mr.. Truston, I presume
you were headed for ShOrtville Get
in. I'll take you there"
"p1,t-h1,t-'' Stnl1mnre0 the rpScuaG |