, 1920-10-14
VIII n the
Owl Hoots
By r. RAY BAKER
"a. 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

with young Hazard has gone far
enough-in fact, too far?"
Lucile's rather pert face took on a
~resentful, naughty expression.
mo, 1t HASN'T" she snapped, and
then modified her tone, for she vas
addressing her father, and Lucille had
not been brought up to snap at her
father. Don't you understand, father,
that l care for Billy Hazard more than
anybody else in the whole world-ex-
cept your"
The lines of her fathers face-not
deep lines, but distinctly visible ones
gathered themselves into a stern look.
81 have told you repeatedly" he
said, that l van he affair to end. 1
have no use for Billy or any of his
family. 1 repeat once more, l want
this affair to end"
Lucille without replying, fiounced
from the house. She was biting her
lip hard to keep harsh words in, and
tears welled in her attractive gray
eyes. She followed a path into the
woods at the back of her home. and
when she was safe In the sanctuary
of the foliage the tears burst forth.
"All right, all right" she sobbed.
1.-THE affair will end-but not the way
you want 1t to. Just wait-wait till i
tell Billy, and that's going to be soon."
She continued on the path. wiping
away the tears with a handkerchief,
and presently came to a clearing,
where a bench stretched between two
trees. A young man, who at first
glance possessed a very youthful face
but grew older as you looked at 1t,
was seated on the bench, in a waiting
attitude.
BILLY !" cried Lucille, and he stood
up smiling; but the smile vanished
when he saw she had been crying.
whats the matter?" he asked solic-
itously, and passed ar arm around her
waist and led her to the bench, where
once more the ~floodgates were broker
down and with her head on Billy's
shoulder she cried without restraint.
Its father" she said. finally gain
ing composure. II just had a set-to
with him. He's forbidden me again to
keep up this affair with you, as he
calls II. WhatT we dol"
Billy looked ferocious.
81 Just had the same experience with
mother" he said. "She told me I had
TO stop It. She doesn't like your IA
Their; does she, Lucile?"
isn't II hard" observed Lucille,
'that Just when we have come to think
so much OF each other our parents
should objecti When we didn't really
shIplr enrionulr about 0afffn0 mo rrtod
they used to encourage US to care.
Isn't that the way things go. though?
Parents are so unreasonable and hard
to manage But what'1l we dor"
Eyes. it's hard" ne agreed, with M
air of resignation, which, however.
changed quickly to n of determine
ton. "whatnl we do. did you sayi
I'll tell you what wen dol"
His eyes were blazing.
TIL tell you what we'll do" and
gradually his voice sank to n whisper.
while he looked nround the glen as
though expecting to discern spies peep
ing from behind trees. "T1l tell you
what wen do. Wen elope. that's
what"
Her eyes grew big.
Listen" he went on. ITS all ar
ranged for me TO go to Cincinnati to-
morrow night. You know that. ! have
a good job In an insurance office there.
What well do is leave tonight, both of
us. Wen get Seth Hanley to drive us
to Teachout in his fiivver. and there
wen wake up some parson and get
married. and catch the train for Gin
1l--.t tyauI krl-. Tho aHotr tn nm
end. that's what"
The startled expression on Lucile's
face had subsidized and one of en-
thusiasm had taken Its place.
"All right. It's a GO" h said. then
added dofefully: but howf could
never pass fathers Don at night with
out waking him"
Leave II to me-" be retorted conf
IDENTIFY. you be ready. and when you
hear an owl boot twice look out your
window. Just leave the details to
me-"
1t was a dark night.
With stealthy step a slim figure
slipped from the woods into the back
yard and looked about. A twig
snapped and the figure started. then
stood m~otionless. Presently II laughed
softly.
"Could things be more convenient"
he whispered, and crept TO the side of
the building that had once been a
barn. A ladder leaned against the
building.
The figure seized the ladder and
carried II TO the house. letting one
n rest under a window from which
shone a feeble light.
Then he paused and crouched be-
meath the ladder, while W boots OF
an owl sounded In rapid succession.
There was a slight noise Mt the win
dow and another slim figure looked
out. The FIRST one mounted the lad
der cautiously and embraced the sec