The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-03-25
BARRlE'S GUEST
BY JACK LAYTON.


COmpaniOuShlp Nhith ht h'" "N'N'
heretofore known. Even The gruff, IL
llterate guide. whom ne had ieit iar
below. would now be welcome. Ana
as Barrie travelled his lonely paths, he
wondered If The clue which led him
10 this desolate spot might not be
false after all. In a spirit Of enthu-
siastic confidence he had offered his
service in seeking out the supposed
defaulter of the bank, in which MS
own father was president.
Detectives, IL was proven. had been
M sea in their suspicious. and Barrie
i'm moment of inspiration. had put
his finger mentally upon 80 cuipr!t.
and then had offered to ,'.De az "d-
venturous trip to the far mountains.
where Glen Gordon was supposed to
be hiding.
Glen Gordon had served faithfully
for many years in the bank where
Barrie. under his father, was EN-
ployed. And when Glen GOrdOnS
name was furnishing the sensation of
city dailies. Gordon himself complete
ly disappeared.
AS Barrie's father-in last hope
of proving his old employees honesty
had provided necessary bail, the
| flight was more distressing. But now
| Barrie feared that the clue, given by
an old servant of the Gordon's, had
been misleading, and his own offered
service useless.
Then, far above In clearing, the
young man beheld a small cabin;
smoke came from its chimney, and
Barrie eagerly pressed his horse for
| ward The sight Of human habitation
| was at least comforting. And as he
approached, a young woman turned.
At sight of her, Barrie's eyes reflected
| the astonishment of her own.
| Barrie broke the silence. beg par
don," he said. II have travelled far,
without finding a resting place. May
l rest here? And, perhaps, trespass
further upon your hospitality in ask
1 Ing for food. A glass of Haiik- or q
piece Of bread would be gratefully
| received"
| When she reappeared at the door
| of the cabin bearing a light table, Bar
rie hastened TO relieve her, carrying
1t at the girls direction to the shelter
| Of tree. Sharpness was still in the
air, and he would have preferred in
| doors. But when his enforced hostess
| came presently, she carried basket
| Of cakes and cracker-sandwiches and
a pot Of steaming tea. And as she
served him, Barrie noted the soft
whiteness of her hands.
"It is unusually good fortune to en-
joy the hospitality of one of my own
country women in such a desolate
place." he said.
The girl, with an enigmatical SMILE
ignored the suggested question.
when you feel refreshed you Will
kindly ride on your way" she re-
turned.
I'm afraid" Barrie said decidedly,
"that before / do so | must gain that
information for which / came i am
trying TO locate Mr.. Glen Gordon.
being the bearer of news TO his ad-
vantage"
Though the girls face paled. her
blue eyes regarded steadily the self
imposed detective.
'Mr. Gordon is not here" she re-
piled "You may search the cabin.
II you wish / occupy II alone"
Barrie stared, then laughed incredu-
lousy.
"Alone in this wilderness" he ex-
claimed 'Now, why you do that?"
The girl gathered up the tea cups.
II have answered you," she said.
"You are the first living person whom
l heard speak in two months"
Over her shoulder she nodded TO
him. "Good night" she said mean
ingly.
Barrie did not search the cabin
but when he was again upon a lower
level he looked up at the house in the
clearing, and he saw the girl wave
white cloth. giving with it three dis
tinct signals. Then Barrie saw
mans tall figure-so the girl had lied,
as he suspected.
He rode on 70 intercept the man.
and as the man came Barrie recog-
niZed the one for whom he sought
Glen Gordon. trapped and frightened.
The older mans ghastly face turned
crimson as the young one, alighting.
clasped his hands as the hands OF q
friend.
"It's all right''-Gordon realized the
young mans words at last-"I came
TO tell you that we are aware Of your
innocence. I was lucky enough to hIt
upon the guilty devil. and he con
fessed-Bains, your assistant. But
look here. man: why did you run
away? You must have known that II
would come out right?'
Inarticulate, tears rolling down his
. cheeks. Glen Gordon stood. Then he
. drew a paper from his pocket and
wrote: