Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-01-12

He raised his eyebrows. "Canl
say. I'm sure" He gave me an ar
praising stare. Perhaps the woe 4
my face touched him. for he descend
ed from the eminence of the hote
clerk where ne dwelt apart sufficient
ly to add, rs 1t important that yol
should see herr"
II am her niece. | have come al
the way from San Francisco expect
Ing to join her here"
The clerk medltated. his shrew,
eyes piercing the very secrets of m,
soul.
"She knew nothing about It," ] has
tened 10 add. II intended 1t for 1
surprise"
This candor helped my cause
We'll" he said. that explains hel
not leaving any word. AS you are
her niece. I suppose 1t will do no harm
TO tell you that Miss Harding and hel
party embarked this morning on the
freighter Rufus Smith, and | think
1t very likely that the steamer has
not left port. If you like / will send
o man to the waterfront with you and
you may be able to go on board and
have a talk with your aunt
Did L thank him. have often
wondered when | walked up In the
night. have a vision OF myself
dashlng out OF the hotel, and then the
hack that brought me is bearing me
away. Bellboys hurled my bags in
after me. and threw them largess
recklessly. Madly we clattered over
cobbled ways. Out on the smooth
waters of the roadstead lay ships
great and small, ships with stripped
masts and smokeless tunnels. others
with faint gray spirals wreathlng up
ward from their stacks. Was one OF
these the Rufus Smith. and would ]
reach her-or hlm-before the thin
gray feather became a thick black
plume? | thought OF my aunt at the
mercy of these unknown adventures
with whom she had set forth, help
less as a little fat pigeon .among
hawks. and / felt. desperately. that ]
must reach her. must save her from
them and bring her safe back to
shore. How / was to do this at the
eleventh hour. plus about fifty-seven
minutes. as at present, l hadn't %
sidered. But experience had taught
me that ono In my clutches Aunt
Jane would offer about as much re-
sistance as a slightly melted wax doll.
She gets so soft that you are almost
afraid to touch her for fear of leav.
ing dents.
So to get there, get there, get there,
was the n prayer OF my soul.
l got there, In a boat hastily com
Wandered by the hotel clerks dep
uty. We brought up under the side
of the little steamer. and the wide
surprised face of a Swedish deck.
hand stared down at us.
Let rme aboard / must come
aboard / cried.
Other faces appeared. then a rope
ladder. Somehow / was mounting
tia dizzy feat to which only the tn.
mutt of my emotions made me indlf. |
ferent. Bare brawny arms of sailors
clutched at me and drew me TO the |
deck. There at once ] was the cen.
ter Of a circle of speechless and aston
ished persons, all men but one.
"WeliY". demanded a large. breezy
voice. What's this mean7 What do
you want aboard my ship?"
I looked up at a red-faced man In
a large straw hat.
"a" want my aunt" I explained-
Your aunt" he roared. "Why the
devil should you think I've got your
"You have got her" ! replied with
firmness. 81 don't see her. but she's
here somewhere"
The captain OF the Rufus Smith
shook two large red fists above his
head.
Another iunatie !" he shouted. "F,d
soon have O white horse and a min.
lister aboard as go to sea in a floating
bedlam :"
AS the captains angry thunder
died away came the small. anxious
voice OF Aunt Jane.
whats the matter7 oh. please tell
me what's the matter" she was say.
Ing as she edged her way into the
group. Her eyes, round, pale. blink.
ing a little In the tropical glare,
over the circle until they lit ON
me. Right where she stood Aunt Jane
petrified. Her poor little chin dropped
until II disappeared altogether In the
of her plump neck. and she re
speechiess. stricken. immobile
a wax figure In an exhibition.
Aunt Jane" l said. "you must come
right back to shore with me" / spoke
calmly, for unless you are perfectly
calm with Aunt Jane you fuster her.
She replied only by a slight COB
bling Ia her throat. but the Other
Toman spoke In a loud voice, ad
dressed not to me bur TO the universe
n general.
The Young Person 10 mad Ii was
IN Enthusiastically British lntonatIon.
"AnvkoAy that ainst soin' In