The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1920-12-30
When the
Owl Hoots
By 4. RAY BAKER

Lucille, don't you think this affair
lrith young Hazard has gone Tar
hneugh--in fact, too farw
Iucile's rather pert face took on q
resentful, naughty expression.
mo, it HASN'T" she snapped. and
then modified her tone, for she was
addressing her father, and Lucille had
not been brought up to snap at her
Father. Don't you understand, father,
that care. for Billy Hazard more than
hnybody else In the whole world-ex-
cept your
/ The lines Of her fathers face-not
deep lines, but distinctly visible ones
Sathered themselves into stern look.
II have told you repeatedly" he
bald, 'that want the affair to end.
have no use for Billy or any Of his
family. 1 repeat once more, I want
this affair to end"
1 Lucille without replying, f1ounced
from the house. She was biting her
Alp hard to keep harsh words in, and
tears welled In her attractive gray
eyes. She followed path into the
woods at the back Of her home, and
when she was safe In the sanctuary
bf the foliage the tears burst forth.
"An right, all right" she sobbed.
tThe 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
hway the tears with handkerchief,
Ind presently came to clearing,
where a bench stretched between two
krees. A young man. who at first
glance possessed very youthful face
but grew older as you looked at 1t,
was seated on the bench, in waiting
attitude.
"Billyi" cried Lucille, and he stood
ND smiling; but the smile vanished
when he saw she had been crying.
"What's the matterY' he asked solic-
ltously, and passed an arm around her
waist and led her to the bench. where
pnce more the floodgates were broken
down and with her head on Billy's
shoulder she cried without restraint.
TITS father" she said, finally gain
ing composure. II Just had set-to
with him. HE'S forbidden me again to
keep up this affair with you, as he
calls It. What'll we do?"
Billy looked ferocious.
II just had the same experience with
mother" he said. "She told,me had
10 stop It, She doesn't like your IA
ther; does she, LucileT
'Isn't 1t hard" observed Lucille,
''that Just when we have come to think
30 much of each other our parents
should object? When we didn't really
think seriously about getting married
they used to encourage us to care.
Isn't that the way things go, though?
Parents are so unreasonable and hard
70 manage. But what'n we dor
"Yes. it's hard" he agreed, with an
mir Of resignation, which, however,
changed quickly to one Of determina-
ton. "What'll we do, did you sayf
I'll tell you what we'll dol"
His eyes were blazing
"Tll tell you what well 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 big.
Listen" he went on. "It's all ar
morrow night. You know that. have
\ good job in an insurance Office there.
What we'll do is leave tonight, both Of
us. Wen get Seth Hanley to drive us
10 Teachout in his f1ivver, and there
well wake up some parson and get
married, and catch the train for Gin
cinnati. Well bring the affair to an
end, that's what"
The startled expression on Lucile's
face had subsidized and one of en-
thusiasm had taken it's place.
"All right, It's CO." she said, then
added dolefully: "But how7 l could
never pass fathers room at night with
out waking him."
Leave 1t to me-" he retorted conf
IDENTIFY. "You be ready, and when you
hear an owl boot twice look out your
window. Just leave the details to
me-"
It was 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 motioniess. Presently 1t laughed
seftly.
s4Could things be more convenient? p
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 it to the house, letting one
end rest under window from which
sh0ne a feeble light.
Then he paused and crouched be-
; meath the ladder, while two boots Of
an owl sounded In rapid succession.
There was a slight noise at the win
dow and another slim figure looked
out. The first one mounted the lad
der cautiously and embraced the sec
ond.
He retreated to the ground and the
other followed. They ran from the
yard to road. where silent fivver
lurked, no lights showing. A gangling
youth leaped from the front seat, went
round In front gave the crank spin,
and the motor roared. The newcomers
settled In the tonneau and the flivver
leaped away into the night.