White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-01-27
CHAPTER IV-Continued

1--WE been held up on the road and
weak with fatigue. MAY use your
phone to report to the police"
A stunned silence on the part of the
four occupants of the kitchen met this
statement and request-Meely staring
with wide-open eyes, her hand pressed
to her fast-beating heart; Nettie's
face going first red, then pale; Mr..
Schwenckton trembling and pallid;
Susie unmoved.
But it was Susie who broke their
stupid silence. $50 you see, Sam, he
amt still runnin'!"
little hysterical squeal of laugh
ter from Nicely brought the young
mans eyes around to where she stood
by the table-clad in kimono, her
hair down her back in braid. She
was glad she was not dressed nor
mally, for in her tailored school suit
with her hair done up around her
head, she was SO transformed from
the country pumpkin of her wolfe
frock trimmed with artificial flowers
and streaming ribbons that the ex-
IRENE contrast would have betrayed
her hopelessly as masquerader.
For the man leaning exhausted
against the kitchen door was st.
Croix Creighton.
"How did you get here so soon?"
quavered Mr. Schwenckton, too alb
sorbed in his own quandary to see
oe, oP e,to
which his visitors eyes met Meely's.
She had succeeded, at an instant's no.
tice, in assuming the look Of bovine
dullness which had so effectually dis
guised her ever since she had known
him.
"Am lis this Sam Schwenckton's
farm?' exclaimed the amazed young
man. "Id no idea where l was, the
roads so pitch dark I've been CROP
ing my way for half hour to find
house where could telephone. That"
pointing to the lamp, was the first
light ] saw in five miles"'
mo, not f1ve-not nlore'n two" Mr..
Schwenckton's shaking voice correct
ed him.
"How do you know? Is this Mr..
Schwenckton asked st. Croix, for
the farmer, without his coat and hat
and necktie, did not suggest to him
his automobile companion of an hour
ago.
at u.s." Mr. Schwenckton heavily ad-
mitted. "And you now that 1 see you
in the light, rekonize as the younger
Mr.. Creighton vi, vi, vi, VII"
''Yes / am in a mess!" responded
st. .Croix, interpreting the farmers
exclamation as an expression of SYM
pathy for his plight. MAY use
your"
"If it's only your watch you want,
it amt no need to phone. Here 1T is !"
Mr.. Schwenckton, with shamed, avert
ed face, held it out to it's owner.
st. Croix, amazed, took it. "You
caught the thief? But how? Do tell
me! never was more taken in! He
seemed the most harmless, kindly old
sinlpleton-"
This time it was Nettie who gave
little hysterical squeal which
brought the young mans eyes, for an
instant, to her rosy, eager face.
"Meely'' Mr.. Schwenckton APP
pealed, "you tell him how it was!
Me, / couldn't get the words together
for to explain such a bewilderment !"
Nicely was appalled,. The Schwenck-
tons were accustomed to hear her speak
good English; ST. Croix had of course
never heard her talk anything but the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect!
"Nettie," she murmured, you tell
him."
Nettie, shy, but all too willing to
hold the young gods attention upon
herself, eagerly assumed the task OF
explaining her poor fathers unfortu-
nate mistake-and before she was half
through her narrative, they were all
laughing except Susie; and even she
was feebly smiling
"What gets me pupplexed" said Mr..
Schwenckton amazedly, SIS that me
and you, Mr.. Creighton, neighbors
since you was born Already, though
five miles apart and not seeing each
other often Il amt really laid eyes
on you since you was college boy'
except to pass each other In our cars)
--but that us we could ride together
dear eight miles yet and not rekonize
each other"
ard have known you in your farm
clothe4, suppose, but"