Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-12-02

wanted to make good.
Mr.. Bakers reversion to the subject
came when Oliver, looking at his
watch, announced that ne must be run
ming along, as he was due over at the
Sages to say good-by to Jane and her
father.
We'll, I'll walk part of the way with
you," said his father GROSSLY. I'D like
to see If / can't coax you to change
your mind about coming into the store.
Ii you don't MIND, we'll take the lower
road along the swamp. It's a short
cut for you-saves you a quarter of
mile or more"
A few minutes before 9 O'Clock OIL
yer October appeared at the nome of
Kew. Mr.. Sage, somewhat out of breath
and visibly agitated.
I'm awfully sorry to be so late" he
apologized. Father and | had long
and trying confab and II COULDN'T
get away. God knows 1 hate to say 1t.
but I'm glad I'm going tomorrow"
/. mo, you shouldn't say it, Oliver"
said Mr.. Sage. poor man, he is really
not responsible these days. You see.
Oliver, for nearly 80 years he has lived
in dread of-well, of the absurd thing
that gypsy woman said"
"And that is why he wants me to
stay here, so that he can watch over
and protect me?"
Exactly"
IF | really believed that to be the
case, Uncle Herbert, II would STAY"
Jane, who had been silent during the
brief colloquy between her father and
Oliver, was studying the young mans
face intently. She was puzzled by his
manner and by his expression.
Il came over by the back road, along
the swamp" he explained, catching
her in the act of staring at his muddy
shoes. Father walked part of the way
with me. Gee, what a panning he gave
me! 1t was terrible, Mr.. Sage 1 saw
red. II had to rum couldn't stand
1t. Cd, how miserable | am !"
Jane and her father listened, speech
less, and presently Mr.. Sage arose and
went into the house.
before Oliver reluctantly babe Jane
goodnight and started homeward. On
his way home, through the heart OF
town, he passed the rather pretentious
house in which the Lansings lived.
There were people on the broad YER
anda. He longed for the companion
ship of friends-merry friends. He
turned in at the stone gate and walked
swiftly up to the house.
Hello, Ollie" called out Sammy
Parr.
Young Lansing came to the top of
the steps to greet him,
"Tve been up saying good-by to MIR.
Sage and Jane. And the funny part
of 1t is that / may not go away tomor-
row after ALL" said Oliver 1.-The
Sages think l ought not to leave my
father" He spoke in lowered tones,
for Lansing's ear alone.
II quite agree with Them" said the
other stiffly.
"Have highball, Baxter?" called
Sammy.
mot tonight, thanks. I've got to be
running along. Father may be waiting
up for me. Night. everybody"
And he was off. The group watched
him stride swiftly down the cement
walk. Sammy was the first to speak.
swell, l call that sociability, don't
you? What the dickens is the matter
with him? First time I've ever seen
Ollie Baxter with a CROUCH"
Early the next morning, Serepta
Grimes called Joseph Skies on the tele-
phone.
Did Oliver Baxter stay all night
with your" she inquired. 81 mean old
Oliver"
"No."
"Have you seen anything of him this
morning?'
mo. What's the matter, Serepty2'
swell, he didn't sleep here last night.
and there amt sign Of him around
the place. II guess maybe you'd
better come up, joe"
The long and the short of it was,
Oliver Baxter had vanished as COM
pletely as if swallowed By the earth---
and it was the general opinion that
that was exactly what happened to
him. There was not the slightest doubt
in the minds of hla Mortified friends
that he had wandered cut upon the
swamp and had met q CHASTITY fate in
one Of the countless pits of mire whose
depths no man knew or cared to fathom
even in speculation.
Notwithstanding the almost universal
belief that poor old Oliver Baxter was
buried in the black mire of the swamp
a statewide search was at once insti-
tuted by his distracted son, who, for
one, did not believe that the missing
man had gone to his death in the loath-
some tract.
The banks prompt announcement
that Mr.. Baxter had withdrawn thirty
five hundred dollars convinced Oliver
October and few sound-headed indi-
,,1d,,olS fhat ha had doliboro nlv