The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-02-19

"Wanted by the chief" announced
the manager of Porter & Co., whole
salers of coffees and Spices and Egbert
Clyne repaired to the private Office Of
the senior partner to find there Mr..
Porter, his lawyer and the family ply
stefan. ....
Clyne looked puzzled and con-
cerned.
IAN indefinite leave" put in the ply
stefan, "backed by my certificate that
a vacation rest would be beneficial.
"Perhaps l had better explain" in
terposed the attorney. 1T is neces-
sary to the interest of Porter 4 Co.
that you disappear for time. As head
bookkeeper Of the house you would
probably be subpoenaed in court next
week in an important case. 1t covers
Q transaction ten years old, an invalid
claim, but the records Of our books
show that it has it's merits. On the
contrary the same was settled verbally
long ago, only the person who was. Il
witness to the settlement cannot be
found"
''To simplify things let me explain
further" said Mr.. Porter. 1T was a
bookkeeper we had whose evidence
would prove the settlement. He was
trusted employee, Inherited some
means and, with his motherless child,
then ten years of age, left our service.
We never kept track of him and now
that we desperately need his testimony
we cannot locate him."
''You see" the lawyer again spoke,
''we want to gain u delay. Ii you CAN
not be served they will have to await
your return to bring our books into
court. The delay will give us Il chance
to try and locate our old boOl<keeper-
at least, negotiate a compromise settle
ment"
$50 60 and forget business cares,
with salary and expenses entirely Off
your mind,' directed Mr.. Porter.
1t was peculiar situation, but Egg
bert Clyne asked no further questions.
lose yourself" were Mr.. Porter's final
words, 80 the court officers can't serve
that subpoena"
Clyne had no definite plans in mind,
but after consulting a book devoted to
advertising summer resorts Re selected
Il remote one. He found Bear Lake
we'll suited to his ideas, wrote to Mr..
Porter and set about awaiting orders
and enjoying himself.
Bear Lake village was the ceIte: OF
a group of half a dozen bodies of wa
ter and ClyEe took in the entire chain
as the days went by. 1t was well OH,
towards dusk one evening. and he was,
fully ten miles from home. He had
left a little hamlet known rs Point
Hope on his return trip. The Sky had
cloutcd and stiff northeaster was,
r,esghing the waters when, coming
within view of an island about mid
lake. he piled the oars with diligence
as q small sailboat he had noticed was,
struck by a suddnn squall and over
turned. Clyne f@ncied that IL shrek in
feminine accents was borne TO his,
hearing. He bent to the oars prOuf:
giouSly, arose to his feet and plunged
boldly into the water us he made out a
giriSh figure clinging to the upturned
boat. Apparently exhausted she let
60 her clasp. sank, re;tppeHred and
Clyne gained her side just as she was
sinking again. He managed to sustain
her, reached his drifting boat and lift
ed her into it. Upon the island he made
out house and he drove his skiff,
ashore 4 whitehaired old man came.
rushing to the spot.
At the moment the girl revived. Her
father and CIyne assisted her TO a lit
tie cottage, set in a nest of vertlGre
and flowers. When the old man mad
seen his daughter to her room he in-
sisted that Clyne should get ON dry
clothes and remain their guest Until
the storm had subsidized.
That was charming evening for
the young man, in the company Of
John Rrice and his daughter, Luella.
He learned enough to know that they
had lived on the island for a number OF
years, seeking peace and quiet amid
the beauties of nature. Books, music,
a modest literary ambition on the part
OF Mr. Brice and an amateur impulse
OF art on the part Of Luelia a1leviated
any possible tedilm of their hermit
life. They insisted that CIyne remain
till the next morning and. after re-
freshing sleep in which all his dreams
were Of the charming girl he bad met,
Clyne awoke. found his own clothes
dried and pressed and started in to
make himself presentable. He scan
ned twice in some amaZement a
framed yelIowen photograph on the
wall If was a front view picture Of
the business establishment Of Porter &
Co.
"Ah! alrcady?' hailed Mr.. Brice,
passing the open doorway. Thine for
a constitutional before breakfast, if it
suits YOU
Surely" responded CIyne, "that pie.
| ture is familiar to me-"
| "Indecd! It's that of an establish
| ,,,ont whore I was hnol.lae for ooor.