The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-08-12
CHAPTER v.
A Night and a Morning.

- NiSUt anu mOTUiUH.
Stella Donovan never forgot tn,
mlseries Of her first night I'm Haskell
When old Man Timmons finally lef
her, after placing the flaring lamp or
chair, and went pattering back dowr
the bare hall, she glanced shuddering
ly about at her unpleasant surround
ings, none too pleased with the turn OF
events.
The bed-clothing, once turned back
and inspected, was of a nature to pre-
vent the girl from disrobing; but final
ly she lay down, seeking such rest as
was possible, after turning the flicker
ing flames of the lamp as low as she
dared, and then finally blowing 1t out
altogether. Her thoughts, never still,
wandered over the events of the eve
ning--the arrival at Haskell station,
the strange meeting with Westcott,
and the sudden revelation that he was
the partner of Frederick Cavendish.
The big, good-natured miner had In
terested her from the first as repre-
senting perfect type Of her precon-
ceived ideal of the real westerner.
She had liked the firm character of his
face. the quiet, thoughtful way In
which he acted, the whole unobtrusive
bearing of the man. Already he had
awakened her trust; she felt con-
vinced that II she needed friendship,
advice, even actual assistance, here
was one whom she could implicitly
trust.
She was young and she awoke rest
ed and refreshed, In spite Of the fact
that her body ached at first from the
discomfort Of the cot. She stared
about at the bare, board walls, the bull
let-scarred mirror, the cracked pitcher,
before she could fully reassure her
self; then stepped upon the disreputa-
BILE rug and crossed to the open win
dow.
She Strengthened up, emitting a swift
breath Of delight, as her wide-open
eyes surveyed the marvellous scene Of
mingled loveliness and grandeur. The
stream, curving like great snake,
cleaned amid the acres Of green grass,
its swift waters sparkling In the sun.
Beyond, seemingly at no distance at
all, yet bordered by miles Of turf and
desert, the patches Of vivid green In
with the darker coloring of
spruce, and the outcropping Of brown
rocks, the towering peaks of great
swept up into the
clear blue Of the sky. black almost to
their SUBMITS, which were dazzling
with the white of unmelted snow.
The girls eyes dwelt lovingly for
some time on the far-flung line of
before she finally released
the green shade, and shut out the
scene. Her toilet was a matter Of but
a few minutes, although she took Oc-
casion to slip on fresh waist, and to
brighten up the shoes, somewhat
soiled by the tramp through the thick
dust the evening before. Indeed, 1t
was very charming young woman,
her dress and appearance quite suf-
ficiently eastern, who finally ventured
out into the rough hall, and down the
single flight Of stairs. The hotel was
silent, except for the heavy breathing
Of sleeper In one Of the rooms she
passed, and melancholy-looking
Chinaman, apparently engaged In
chamber work at the further end Of
the hall.
She passed out into the bright sun
shine, and clear mountaini air. The
board walk ended at the corner Of the
hotel, but narrow cinder path con-
tinued down that side Of the street for
some distance. Through the rude win
dow at the post Office the clerk pushed
a plain manila envelope into her out
stretched hand. Evidently from the
thinness Of the letter. Farriss had but
few Instructions to give and. thrusting
he unopened missive into her hand
bag, she retraced her steps to her
'0Om.
There she ventured q startled gasp.
The suitcase which she had left closed
ipon the floor was open-wide open
To contents disarranged. Some one
had rummaged 1t thoroughly. And Miss
Donovan knew that she was under
suspicion.
The knowledge gave the girl sud-
len thrill. but not Of fear. Instead It
.erved to strengthen her resolve.
rnere had been nothing In her valise
Q show who she really was or why
NE was In Haskell. and consequently,
y any vague suspicion had been