The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-10-09
Cabin Lure
By ULMAR


1eVer among those royal ola nils, ne
is enchanted for life"
"Why do you call it cabin fever
Merton?" inquired Alvin Dale.
Because 1t applies specifically.
There is everything in the section ex-
cept oil. Once there was q rush on
prospects in that line, but it turned
out that every strike was a shallow
surface well. Inside of a year there
wasn't a driller or a derrick left in
the district. They did leave cabins,
however. Hare and there along a trail
for a hundred miles In the center of
the grandest hunting and fishing dis
trict in the world, every few miles
you'll find a fair to Indifferent cabin.
but offering a shelter far superior to
a flimsy tent"
Abandoned, l suppose"
Permanently. and you take your
pick and hose yourself and no ques-
lions asked"
Isle Merton was, like Dale, a young
man of fortune and leisure and an
authority on places and travel. Dale
started the next day or his thousand
mile trip. A settlement named den
Point was his rail connection. Then
twenSy miles by wagon and as much
more by canoe. and he found himself
late one afternoon in front of a plain
board structure with three rooms.
It's about the choice of the houses"
advised his guide, right on the stream
and that's "A big advantage, for nearly
every day some kind of craft passes
up or down stream and they will do
any errands you may nave at the set
Element"
"That will be just the thing" com
menteh Dale.
"Another thing" continued the
guide. back a bit from the river
there are several families living, so
you won't he lonesome"
Dale had bought a folding cot, an
old owe, some camp stools and a
fair array of pots, pans and crockery.
II was a pleasing novelty and ONE
thing of a delight to make amateur
housekeeping arrangements. Bedroom,
dining room and kitchen swept and
furnished, he lit a lamp and sat down
to write some letters. feeling quite
at home and comfortable.
Your light and wondered who
my next neigllbOr could be- spoke a
hearty voice, and at the threshold
stood a hronZed, bearded man, the
typical frontierSman in dress and
speech. You look as if your needs
are all nicely provided for" added
the visitor as he glanced about him.
I'VE have butter and eggs and always
n friendly helping hand when you
happen to need it. I'm Aaron Burt;
lived here for zen year"
with your family?" said DAILY, sim
ply to keep up the conversation
"Only a niece, Ada Revere. She
has been here a month and going to
stay two more. l hope we get better
acquainted
"It will not he my fault, If we don't"
said Dale. He was pleased at the
thought of npighhOrs, more so espe-
cially as the niece might be a young
lady. He found her so, and beautiful,
intelligent. refined. II was the next
ltN llll lt NdlHt ulbh lVI III ulC
woods with her uncle. An introduce
tion followed and after that almost
every other day Dale spent an hour
or two at the Burt cabin. He learned
that Mr.. Burt owned considerable land
in the district and was experimenting
along the line of promoting a plan
TO get the oil from shale. His niece
was unpretentious. friendly and
charming.
1t was natural and inevitable that
these two young souls should discover
a mutual attraction. Then there tran
spired a series of incidents that
brought about a definite climax. Mr..
Burt came over to Dale's cabin one
morning riding one horse and leading
another.
az need your help, Dale" he spoke
quite excitedly. "Some one broke in
TO the house while we were passing
the night with a neighbor. We sus-
pect two fellows we noticed hanging
around yesterday. They are on foot.
They have taken about all Ada pos
sessed and we must get after them."
They came upon the thieves ten
miles away. The latter had seen them
coming and had seurried for a belt
of dense timber, leaving a suitcase
they had been rifing behind them.
Burt tossed over its contents.
"They haven't taken anything but
a trlnket or two" he reported. 1--WE
won't risk a fight following them fur.
Their" and Dale, staring hard at an
array Of clothing fit for a princess
began to realize that Miss Ada Reeves
must belong TO a family Of some con
sequence.
Ada was delighted TO recover her
property and Dale's cooperation IN
securing 1t drew them still closer to
gether. One day Burt met Dale, quite
serious looking.
young man. he spoke, 'Tye got
eyes to notice that you and Ada arr
headed for a deep dive into love.
don't know how that will suit hei
folks. They're proud and rich ana
pretty high up. 1 should nave told
you that before"
ut was not necessary" replied DALI
with a CHEEKY laugh. 81 won't boas
because 1 own two banks and com
from one of the oldest families Fl
my native city. l think l can qualif,
up to the standard of Ada's family
1t is too late to discuss that, how
ever, for / just kissed your charming
niece and placed an engagement rim
unan har anuaHW