Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-05

neglected through sheer iHdtii eFeNte 10
question Emhcr. but he knew that they
were drawing minute hy minute closer
to The Atlantic
After some time ia" car slowed to
palpitunt pause. f,uhcr jumped out
to open II barred gate, then, returning,
swung the car into Il clear hut narrow
woodland road. Mine own domain"
he informed Whitaker with Il laugh.
"Now we're shut of the world en-
troly,"
Whitaker bent forward inquirng:
| "Whcre ar" Wet"
almost there. Patience"
Whitaker rcrkonod idly that they
must hay" threaded a good two miles
| emerged upon clearing and immrdi-
| ately turned aside to the open doorway
| Of miniature garage,
i The forest hcmmed the clearing on
| three sides; on the fourth lay water.
a hundred yards distant the lighted
| windows Of one story structure shone
| pleasantly through Il scattering plunta-
ton of pine.
Linking arms the better to guide his
| guest, Ember drew him toward the
| lights
"Buugalow," he explained, senten-
tiouS, ilourishing his free hand; her
mitage--retreat."
paradise" Whitaker summed up. in
/ the same manner. 40 neghhors"
"Oh"--F,mber motioncd To his left as
/ they faced the wuter-"there's Il mar
ried establishment over there some
where, but we don't bother one another.
! Fellow by the name of Iiske. l under
stand the place is shut up-Fiske not
coming down this year
$50 much the better. I've been want
ing just this all summer, without real
| iZing it,"
"Welcome, then. to Half-a-Loaf
! lodge :"
| They entered long and deep liv-
/ ing room with walls of peeled logs and
at one end. stone fireplace wherein
wood fire blazed heartily. At com
| Portable distance from the hearth
| stood a table bright with linen, silver
/ and crystal-coyers for two. The rear
wall was broken by three doors. In
heamcd oleagnously. Ember hailed
| him by the title Of Sum Fat, eX-
/ planning that it wasn't his name, but
claiming for it the virtue of exquisite
felicity.
My servant in town, here man
of-all-Work; I've had him for years;
| faithful and Indispensable.
| Toward the end OF an excellent din
ner, Whitaker caught himself modelling
| and blinking With droWSinesS. En-
Der took laughing compassion upon
him and led him forthwith to bed.
| room furnished with the rigid sinplic-
| ity of Il summer camp. Then he slept
round the clock. The shrilI. impcra-
| tive rattle of a telephone bell reused
him. As he dressed he could hear the
voice of Ember in the living room talk
ing over the telephone. Presently there
came a tap at his door, and his host
| entered.
"Cp, ch?' he said cheerfully. II was
afraid I'd have to wake you" His
smile vanished beneath the clouds Of
an impatient frown. This is the devil
of a note: I've got To leave you"
"Whnt's the troublcf"
"That's what I'm called upon to find
! ont. A friend of mines in tight
place, and I've got to 90 and help pull
him through. He just called me up
and | can't refuse. D'you mind being
left alone for day or so?
"Ccrtanly not-only I'm sorry"
'No more than l. But I'll try to got
back tomorrow. If | don't, the next
day-or as soon as | possibly can.
| Meanwhile, please consider yourself
lord and master here. Sum Eat will
take good care of you. Anything you
want, just ask bin. Now I've got to
get into waterproofS its raining like
all get-out, but | can't wait for II let
up"
by the time Whitaker was ready for
breakfast his host had spIashed off to
/ his motor car.
The wind, frcshening and driving
very respectable if miniature rollers
| against the beach, came in heavy gusts,
alternating with periods of steady,
strong blowing. At times the shining
| lunccs of the rain seemed to Give
almost horizontally. Whitaker poked
| his head into the kitchen. In that i'm
| maculHte place, from which every
hint of breakfast had disappeared as
If by magic, Sum Fat was rcligiously
cleaning his tcc,h--for the third time
that morning, to Whitakcrs certain
knowledge.
When he had finished, Whitaker put
question:
Sum Fat, which way does the wind
blow, do you know
Sum Fat flashed him Il dazzling
smile.
"Eastly," he said in II cheerful,
clucking voice. IL think vely fine
threee::day blow .---..-.------ .
.. -.,-~-- --~-s.~