Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-10-08
CHAPTER |.
Will o. the Wisp.

fellow passengers there was nothing
peculiar in his appearance. His
clothes were in good taste, his manner
quiet and well-bred, his look intelli-
gent, pleasant and Indifferent. On the
whole he gave every Indication of be-
ing q manly and attractive young gen.
tleman. He walked with the resilient
step of an athlete in training-and in
his mid-twenties.
The gatekeeper told him where he
could check his suitcase. He started
across the arcade to enter the depot.
From outside the iron fence an ele-
gantly dressed young fellow beside the
nearest train waved hand to him and
called Familiarity: Hello. old man!
Didn't know you were returning-what
the deuceP
The traveller, after moments quiz
zical scrutiny, had started on into the
depot without betraying the slightest
sign of recognition. The young elegant
who had called to him flushed and bit
his lip. AS quickly his shallow gray
brown eyes hardened and he recovered
his nOnchalant pOise. With a swift
ness that was masked by the utter lack
of hurry in his manner he slipped
through the gate and across the arcade
into the depot.
The sight of the man he had adj
dressed brought him to an abrupt halt.
He turned aside behind a pillar and
paused to light cigarette. The trav-
eler was at the checking counter de-
posting his suitcase. Having re-
ceived his check he turned away with
the bearing of one who is in a strange
place with no particular desire to do
anything.
Before he had taken half a dozen
steps he was rushed by middle-aged
man who might have passed for pro-
moter or q clubman of rather pro-
nounced tastes. why, howdy, Mr..
Lowrie! Back in Denver again, see,
and looking fit as fiddle. Glad your
stay east has done you so much good"
"You are slightly mistaken" re-
piled the traveller, ignoring the others
outstretched hand. II Gle not happen
to be a comer-on, and I care neither
for little game nor gold brick,
thank you"
He went out through the main exit
of the old depot, leaving the man who
had accosted him agape and blankly
disconnected.
The traveller tensed with the upwell-
ing Of his energy. He noted the line
of taxicabs drawn up outside the depot
grounds, and started forward, brisk
and purpOseful At the same time a
small touring car that had been stand
waiting room curved around and rolled
smoothly out across the block pave
ment toward the Welcome arch.
Car and pedestrian reached the
crossing at the same time. The driver,
a pOrtly, gray-haired gentleman, footed
a warning and swerved over on the
crossing. Checked by the sound of the
horn the traveller came to an abrupt
halt and stood poised, waiting for the
automobile to glide past
The elderly driver was too intent on
steering the machine to give further
heed to him. But the matrOnly lady in
the rear seat looked in his direction
and met his gaze full and direct. In,
stantly she flung out her hand and
leaned toward him, her face aglow
with surprise and delight.
"Willl" she cried. "Stop, Karl, stop.
Don't you see WIFI"
The car came to a stand within its
own length, and the dignified driver
twisted about to peer at the traveller.
AS he met the young mans look of
well-bred annoyance his joyful aston
ishment became clouded with doubt.
But the doubt vanished and left him
beaming with cocksure delight.
"It is Will" he exclaimed. "Most
unexpected! Such a-a-"
"My dear viii! My dear boy!"
broke In the lady. "To think that
you"
For the first time the. traveller rallied
from the half daze into which he had
been thrown by this sudden attack. II
beg your pardon, madam" he inter-
rupted the lady. "You have rather the
advantage of me. Evidently you mis-
take me for some friend who has been
away"
He smiled as If in sympathetic
amusement, but the others at once be-
came grave. The lady gazed at him in
shocked surprise. The gentleman re-
piled to him with dignified irritation:
"This is no occasion for practical
jokes, VIII. Very unlike you! Merely
because you have grown mustache
is no reason why you should"
Zone moment, sir" broke in the
young man, and he drew out his card
case. "My name is Clinton-Richard
Clinton. / am stranger in Denver"
'.It won't do, won't do, viii" irri-
tabiy rejoined the older man. you've
changed great deal-wonderful i'm
rroyement. But Of course it's all OW-