The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-09-14

on II give us three hours longer. Hear
Of doing in that much time-if only
you know how to get it out"
Eyes, sir,IAsaid Roy. not quite easily
The majo'& was his oracle, guide
philosopher and friend. Suppose Jim
my Higgs went back on himself, he
Roy, would be crushed to the dust. He
must not fail the major In this myster
ious emergency-yet going home un
fortified with service facts was dread
full to contemplate. Fancy his relie1
when the straggly division hedge OF
cedars was violently stirred-Jimm,
Higgs coming through it like a cannon
ball, but painting as he stood upright
Roy! Hurry. mustn't be-late
New scholars is worth a dime d head
today. I got to be rolled up a new
scholar, or know the reason why"
Action answered his appeal. But
tons, buckles, the cherished knot of a
rare blue tie, all fell before fingers
that dared not shake.
The exchange quickly made, Jimmy
darted toward the gate; but Roy
yanked. him back with a stern
"T'other way. or I'll skin you" and
was duly oheyed. Then grinning over
an outfit much patched though clean,
he looked inquiry at the major. who
said enign'atically as he rose: Re
member-we're going fshing-gOt
hooks and lines and poles all right.
But We'll have to dig up the bait to
catch our whale"
I'm game said loyal Roy. but
with a delighted shiver.
SPEEDY ~ \ allie from town ~ss
worse OvergrOwn than ever the Bagby
place. 1t was no trouble to ambush
the t!ivver in a thicket midway between
gate and mansion. The rOad was
Zrass-groWn. vet showed faint wheel
marks. Major Paghy smiled to S""
them. met two days Old" he said,
then handing Roy Il fair-Sizcd covered
basket: "Talc This to the side door
when it opens if you see a girl say:
The eggs mAda1n-and I'll come back
for my change after a bit You're apt
to see her-the pious elders will he
away at church. If they shouldn't be,
ask if Mr.. Dennis is awake vet and
W.T. pay the five ~0TarS you must have
to leave the parcel for him. That'll
get the door shut in your face-se you
can come back here on the dead run"
II amt truly to 20 back?" from Roy.
"NO-the change will ome to us
the major retorted. Nov, on your
way-and the Lord have mercy on
those bare feet of yours"
Just twenty minutes later Roy, safe
returned, started to see a tall, stopped
figure in widows weeds, almost run
ming toward them. Close up the weeds
showed as a disguise for roses, d*nrles
and silk-clad ankles. Nobody spoke
the majors finger was on his lip. But
inside another twenty minutes he let
u a triumphant whOop: 1.-The state
line! Safe W it. Now, Mr.. Guard
ian-Devil Inchpin, do your worst!
A shaking white hand fell upon his
shoulder-he turNed to beam on its
owner with: 'Don't cry, honey-girl !
You're safe-and going to be safer"
Il can't believe it. 1t Is toO good
to be true" the girl cried, her voice
breaking. Il had lost hope, faith
everything, in this awful month that
knew myself a prisoner, helpless
tbos,rh% forr0ffnr VnJx Vno1n nN
sign"
Had to wait till you were twenty
one-lucky | knew the date" the ma
jor Interrupted. Until you were it
wasn't safe to NEEDLE with YOU
hardly even to think Of you. Kidnap-
ing is, you know, a pretty ser"us Of
Tense. Inchpin would have nailed me
for it, %joyOusly. Besides. he would
never have let us have today's chance
if he had dreamed l knew where he
had hidden you"
He said | was only nineteen and
would never live to see twenty if |
kept refusing to marry his nephew"
the girl, Hilary Arkworth. said tenselv.
Again the major patted her hand, say
ing: Forget it! Forget him and all
his i'll doings. Or rather leave him to
j~ustice-and Jimmy Raynor. Wen stop
shortly and phone for him; he's one
church. And next to seeing you free,
and your OWL mistress, l think he will
enjoy doing justice to your guardian"
Jimmy Raynor with Is pal, Dancy
Allen, shattered all speed limits. and
nearly wrecked a perfectly good car,
after getting the majors message.
Thus it came about that CONFIDENTIAL
ly with church dismissal there was
an impromptu wedding some fifteen
miles off with Major Bagby giving the
bride away, Roy Willem playing ring
bearer and Dancy Allen jubilant as
best man. After it the whole story
came out. Hilary Arkworth and Jim.
my Raynor, whirled together in the
war-turmoil, had fallen in love, plight
ed troth and tried to marry out of
hand. Between them had come the
scheming Inchpin, intent upon keeping
in his own family the fortune he had
held in trust since Hilary was a baby.
He had secluded her, browbeaten her,
as he thought, of all resistance.
Finding himself mistaken he had vir.
tually imprisoned her at Speedwell,
not knowing the majors close neigh
borhood or that of the plans which
meant also Jimmy. Thus he had been
in a manner hoist by his own petard.
He clustered. of course, but what is