Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-12-17

N resting upon it a creek
splash and Mlnna Graves ut
tered shrek and sank beneath the
surface OF the brook.
A 1.-THE, carelessly-dressed figure,
that Of a young man coming up the
bridge approach. shout of interest
and alarm and as he plunged boldly
into the swlrling current, Mlnna came
up choked, blinded and frantic.
Don't struggle" spoke gentle but
resolute tones In her ear, so conf
dence-inspiring that Mlnna obeyed or
ders and came ashore dripping, flush
ing at the ridiculous figure she made.
Her rescuer warded off her express
slons of fervent gratitude with light
laugh over their mutual predlcament,
and she grew coherent enough to in
dicate that a park-llke place In the
near distance was her home.
Rolfe Dltson conducted her to Its
open gateway, sollcitously made sure
that she was able to get to the house
unaided. derided the idea that he
might catch cold from his wet gar
ments and went his way after an In
vitation to call and meet her people.
Rolfe Dltson swung on his way with
frightened eye, for he worshlped
beauty and goodness. As to Mlnna,
she could not get that strong intel
lectual face out of her mind readily.
His first call led to second. These
two were fast approaching state
Of mutual love.
Minna saw In him handsome. well
bred gentleman. Her father and
mother rather liked his direct, yet
unobstrusive ways. Not so Harold
Graves. This son and brother had
chum he had tried to thrust upon the
attentions Of Mfnna. His sister dis
liked him intensely. When Rolfe ap
peared upon the scene the rejected
sutton scented rival. Thenceforward
the two chums aimed to dlslodge and
dlscredlt Rolfe, IL possible.
I'm on a still hunt" Harold Graves
told his crony one day. "Ditson IL
mighty mysterious and secreuve. He
lives at the next town hotel, he says,
but he does not appear there more
than once week. He disappears
regularly. I'm shadowlng him, III
have some news soon that will Dust
the fellow, trust me-"
And, sure enough, one afternoon In
great state OF excitement young
Graves sought his sister In the garden.
She was seated In a hammock, dream
Ing tenderly of the absent Rolfe She
was trustful and proud OF his atten.
lions, and although he had been very
reserved as to his business In the
town and Its vicinity, she felt tint
he had some good reason for that
policy.
"Tve found out |" proclaimed Harold
In tone of exultation.
Found out what?" inquired Mlnna
about Dltson. never liked his
evaslve ways. Neither did my chum
Humph I fancy after this you'll
value tried and true friends like him,
instead Of picking up with SNUG
gler."
"A smuggler?" repeated Mlnna
vaguely.
"That's just what Dltson Is. A regu
lar member Of the Black Ribbon gang
down at Bottle Point"
For moment Minna's face
whltened, then confidence and loyalty
came back into her eyes.
"Nonsensel" she said simply.
rs itT retOrted Harold, viciously.
"I'll show you. III have him arrested
the next time he sets his foot on
these grounds"
"You dare" hared up his sister
"Do you think I would believe such
thing as you Intimate against n true
gentleman who saved my life, and
who has the confidence and respect
Of our father and mother2 You have
never liked Mr.. Dltson, and this T.
some plot Of yours, because Of your
preference for that chum of yours"
. 'It's true, Just the same" persisted
Harold, angrily. IL tracked him
down. saw him meet regular
rough crew OF the fellows who are
making the revenue service people 50
much trouble, smuggling goods over
here across the Canadian border. He
acted cheek by jowl with them. Went
of with them In their boat I've told
the revenue people about II. They're
going Off after the gang tomorrow"
"YOu will have to prove more than
you tell before you make me believe
Thituau q III, hn "A NN,t
honorable gentleman" said Mlnnn
stubbornly.
"All right. Walt day or two and
ew Wanted Harold
Minna tried to be steadfast In her
faith In young DltsOn, but the lntelll
gence she had received made her un-
easy. Perhaps there was some dark
plot against DltsOn, she reflected
Her brother and his chum, she felt
assured, were equal to that. She
wrote brief note to Rolfe, addressed
to his hotel In the next town, warn
Ing him that enemies were seeking to
get him into trouble.
Rolfe did not get the note for he
was away-wlth the smugglers, in
truth and verify! II Minna could
have seen him the next evening short.
ly after dark ut cave on the lake
that was headquarters for the
smugglcrs, she would have shuddered
He seemed to be one Of the grlzzled
rough looking crew who were await
ing the arrival Of skln carrying
contraband goods from the Canadian
shore.
nm. y DNPVHOIiGu