Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-12-02

The latter was about thirty years Of
age, presentable enough as to appear
ance and plausible and engaging of
manner when 1t pleased him to be so,
and Hendry sent for him about six
months after he has assumed the
guardianship of Lois. Closeted Sc
curely frem eavesdropping and inter-
ruptiOn Hendry told his precious rela-
| tive bluntly about Lois and what she
would possess when she ATTAINED her
majority
"And you wish me to marry her, is
that it?" questioned Pearce.
J what else? A hundred thousand
dollars is big amount of money, and
if you work your cards right you will
in time be able to manipulate it,"
"And your share?
Fifty per cent of what you finally
manage to appropriate" announced
Hendry cold bloodedly.
Every WE'LL" said Pearce.
Il will survey the prospect and start
the game going if it looks plausible"
said Pearce, and he did so, and before
the month was out Lois pretty we'll
knew that Pearce was bent upon be-
coming a regular sutton.
Lois despised the man, for she read
his mercenary character from the
first She was grieved when her
friends, the Purdys, called no longer
upon her. Hendry had arranged
this phase of the situation. In
fact, without exactly being a prisoner,
Lois was all of the time under the
eyes of Hendry, his wife or Pearce.
The latter boarded at local hotel and
spent three evenings week at the
Hendry home. He was careful not to
press his attentions too closely upon
Lois. but she felt somehow that a net
was closing about her, and the sinis-
ter purposes Of the plOtters were clear
to her comprehension.
There were several entertainments to
which Pearce invited Lois and Mrs.
Hendry with her, so Lois could scarce
lys refuse to go. Then Pearce made
1t regular practice to come around
with a hired automobile and take Lois
on drive of 20 or 30 miles, always
by sequestered roads. so they could
not meet any of the few persons she
knew in the village. Without the
knowledge of any of the trio, of
schemers, Lois managed to write a
letter to Agnes Purdy telling her Of
her situation clearly. She asked her
to find some way of aiding her in fee
iDoy FrOu, hor die+op4oR,,J $40 ,1;r :, e,L3,,
so she could reach some distant rela-
tives in another part of the country,
where she could conceal herself until
she had become of legal age
"YOur brother Hartley is a lawyer"
wrote Lois with some temerity, but
secret longing for his cooperation.
Consult him as to just what / can do
to sever the chains of real despOt-
ISM"
Agnes conveyed word to Hartley
who, however, shook his head gravely
as the legal end of the matter was
referred to. According to the law,
Hendry had full control over his ward,
but Hartley having discovered no loop
hole there, began to plan out some
other way of helping Lois out Of her
predicament.
He learned of the automobile drives
of Pearce and Lois and of the route
they usually took. Pearce was
drlnker to a certain extent, and usu-
ally in their jauntS halted the ma
chine short distance from a road
house, left Lois in the machine re-
freshed himself. brought her some ice
cream or chocolates, and one day Hart
ly secreted himself in copse by the
roadside and awaited the coming of
the machine he was Interested in.
When Pearce left it and was fairly
out of sight Hartley amazed, yet de-
lighted Lois by suddenly appearing,
was by her side in a fash, and the
next moment the machine was tear
ing down a cross road at full speed.
The bold rescuer so fully had the
confidence of Lois that relief and en-
tire satisfaction showed in her beam |
ing face. AS to Hartley, sturdily set,
with determined lips, he paid sole at
tentlOn to the wheel until they had |
covered nearly 25 miles. Then he
drew to the side of lonely tree-lined
road.
Miss SanbOrn,' he said, and to the
ears Of Lois his voice was the sweet
est music. my sister Agnes has in
formed me that before your guardian
excluded US from his house she told /
you that / loved you"
eyes" assented Lois in a mere flut-
tering whisper.
II love you still. There is only one
way Of cutting this knot. win you
become my wife?"
And once she were his own. in the
courts Of justice Hartley Purdy de-