The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-09-17
In Time
of Need
By ALVAH J. GARTH
(@. 1920. Western Newspaper Union

Morris Davenal stood spellbound
viewing scene that seemed so lovely,
yet filmy, that he almost deemed him.
self under a delusion. He had been
camping on the banks of river, occu-
plying a rude board shanty, and had
cut across what seemed to be the ex-
tensive grounds of great, gloomy
mansion. At the edge of glade a
fitting figure had crossed his range of
| vision.
1t was nearly midnight, and the
moonlight filtered down in silvery
flood and showed a form girlish. full
of natural grace, and a face the out
| lines of which were perfect. She drew
within the shadow of q towering elm
tree and stood motionless, her ear bent,
her gaze fixed.
She made a gesture Of keen disap-
pointment as no one appeared.
Beyond the tree a man. evidently
worker about the grounds, suddenly
came into view. He halted, applied
whistle to his lips and blew an echOing
trill. The girl hurried in the direction
ond man, past middle age, who regard
ed her with sternness, almost anger.
"YOu will not be warned :" Davenal
heard him say, and there was the
venom of menace i'm his tones.
"Please stand aside" spoke the girl
In icy tones. 81 will return to my
ROOM"
"And stay there, if you are WISE"
observed the man. "YOu are trying to
play me false. Be careful-yOu know
the penaltyw
Davenal delivered a deep breath like
one seeing an enhancing picture fade
into nothingness. The scene remained
imprinted on his memory all the way
to his temporary home near the river.
He entered the dilapidated old shack
and sat for an hour lost in meditation.
Finally he aroused himself and walked
over to a cupboard.
again !" he muttered, as its shelves
came into view, and the puzzled excla-
nation expressed his wonderment that,
for the second time within twenty
four hours. someone had entered the
place and had made away with food
In the cupboard.
Davenal threw himself on his couch,
hut memory of the fair girl in the
moonlight remained for long time.
He finally slumbered, to rouse up at
carly daylight as groan disturbed
him. 1t was repeated, apparently from
an attic overhead. Davenal went to
corner where cleats were nailed along
the wall, assembled these and glanced
about the confined space under the
roof.
a human form was stretched out
upon heap Of old rags, moving uneas-
lily, with closed eyes. Davenal fancied
this must be the despoiler Of his food |
the intruder was swathed in bandage. |
He touched his arm. Instantly the |
other, a young man Of presentable ap-
pearance, although he looked haggard |
and distressed, awOke.
"Who are your" challenged Davenal
It was only after persistent question
ing that Davenal was able to gain the |
confidence Of the stowaway. He helped |
him below, prepared a meal and at
tended to bad cut on one foot, the
result Of falling over keen-edged
scythe.
Finally the stranger told his story.
He was Earle Wilton, and his visit to
the vicinity was to secretly meet his
sister. Adrienne. She was a captive In
the power of an unprincipled guardian,
who hoped to gain her fortune by fore
Ing her to marry him.
"I received letter concerning the
of affairs" Wilton told Dav-
,nal. "but had to proceed with caution.
Wolfe burrows hold on my sister was
MS claim that he had proof Of my COM
hitting a forgery Of my fathers name
before he died. It Is false, but he has
he power to imprison me. In sixty
lays Adrienne will be of age and can
lefy him. eff were not thus crippled
could convey her to a safe hiding
,lace"
LET me help you" eagerly pleaded
)avenal, at once divining that Miss
\drienne Wilton was the fair girl of
he moonlight episode.
An hour later, appareled in his most
attire, Davenal strolled
" the Dubrow place. The man with ,
he whistle Of the night previous hailed ,
i'm. Was he looking for work? Was
e willing to put in fOrenoon's labor
n the lawn for a dollar? and soon
,avenal had located the room which
Iiss Wilton occupied and had also !
pied long ladder In the barn of the 8
lace. c
Then he went back to the river U
hack, planned with Earle Wilton what
hey should do, made arrangements to 8
ave an automobile on hand after dark, y
nd Wilton write note to his sister, Il
nd at midnight helped the startled n
nd excited girl captive down the lad D
or, FASTENED to the shack and they fl
ere miles away before daylight. e
Davenal accompanied brother and
ster to a retired village, saw them \