Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-10-15
When the
Owl Hoots
By R. RAY BAKER
"a 1870. BY Mcclure Newspaper ssnsieass.,

with young Hazard has gone tar
ehough-in fact. too farY
Lucile's rather pert face took on
resentful, naughty expression.
No. it HASN'T" she snapped. and
then modified her tone, for she was
addressing her father. and Lucille had
not been brought up 10 snap at her
father. Don't you understand father,
that care for Billy Hazard more than
anybody else in the whole wurld-ex-
cept youa"
The lines .. her fathers face-not
deep li:Ies, bur distinctly visibl, ones
gathered themselves INFO a stern look.
Il have told you repeatedly" he
said, that | want tire affair 10 end /
have no use for Billy or any of his
family. repeat once more, want
this affair TO end"
Lucille without replying. hounced
from the house. She wa> hitting her
lip hard to keep harsh words IN. aud
tears welled in her aitrncfive gray
eyes She followed path INTO the
woods at the back of her nome. ana
when she was safe in The sanctuary
of the foliage the tears nursI forIR.
"All right, all right" Size sobhed
1.-THE affair will end--hIt not The way
you want it 10. Just wait-waii tilt
tell Billy, and that's going TO he soon.
She continued on the path wtmng
away the tears with handkerchief.
and presently came IN clearing.
where bench stretched between two
trees. young man who al tir~f
glance possessed very youthful face
but grew Older as you iouked M il.
was seated OH the bench, IL waiting
attitude.
Billy" cried Lucille, and he stood
up smiling: hnl the smile vanished
when he saw she had been crying
WHATS the matter?" he asked solic-
itonsly. and passed an arm around her
waist and led her % the bench, where
once more the tloodguies were broken
Town and with her head on Billy's
shoulder she cried Without restraint.
IFS father" she said. finally gain
ing comp0snre. u hlSt had a set.to
with him, He's forbidden ne again to
keep up This affair with you. as he
calls it. Whafll we do?"
Billy looked ferociouS
81 just had the same experience with
mother" he said. "She told me- had
10 stop it. She doesn't like your ia
Their; does she. I.ucile?"
Isn't it hard" observed Lucille.
"that just when We hive come 70 think
so much of each other our parents
should object? When we didn't really
think seriously about getfing married
they used 70 encourage us 10 care.
Isn't that the way things go though?
Parents are So unreasonable and hard
to manage. Bnt what'lt we do?"
"Yes. us hard he agreed. with an
air of resignation, which. however,
changed quickly 10 one of defermIna-
tion. "What'll we do did you say?
RI tell You what wen dol"
His eyes were hlazinG
"rlI tell you what ven do" and
gradually his voice sank TO a whisper.
while he looked around the glen as
though expecting TO discern spies peep
ing from behind trees. "I'll tell you
what we'll DO Wen elope. that's
what"
Her eyes grew hig.
Listen" he went on. "It's all mr.
ranged for me 10 90 10 Cincinnati 10
morrow night You know that | have
a good job in IN insurance office there,
What ven do is leave tonight, both of
US. Ven gel Seth Hanley TO drive MS
TO Teach0ut in his fivver. and there
we'll wake nj some parsoB and get
married. and catch the train for Gin
cinnati. Wen bring The affair TO an
end. that's whit"
The startled expression on Lucile's
face had subsidized and one of en-
thusiasm had taken its place.
"All right. it's q go" she said. then
added lolefully: "But howt could
never pass fathers room at night with
out waking him."
Leave ii TO me-" he retorted conf
IDENTIFY. "You he ready. and when ron
hear an owl boot twice took ON your
window. just leave tile details to
me-"
II was q dark night.
With steasthy step a slim figure
slipped from the woods into the back
yard and looked about. twig
snapped and the figure started. then
stood motionIess. Presently It laughed
softly.
a "Coud things he more convenient"
he whispered, and crept TO the side Of
/ the building that had once been
barn. ladder leaned against the
| building.
The figure seized the lndder and
cnrrled it 10 the house. letting one
end rest under window from which
shone feeble light.
Then he paused and crouched be-
meath the ladder, while two boots Of
an owl sounGed<ln rapid succession.
There was a slight noise at the win.