Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

Hey met in the woods on NIL ABOVE
Silver Springs, Va, and their nrst
meeting came perilously near to being
their last For the cause of their in
~ PRODUCTION was 16-gauge ShoIeuh,
which suddenly went bang, dischargng a oao
of bird shot into the thicket where DICK BAL
lard was resting.
Ioud clear voice: What the devil are you do
Instantly a frightened feminine voice ex-
claimed: "Oh, my soul! tnought you were
quail! Have killed you?
ct don't think So" said DICK.
His left hand felt as if it had been stung py
n bee He looked down and saw thln streaA
of blood across the back Of 1t. Indignantly
he stepped out of the thicket
Then he found himself gazing into PAIR OF
+roubed blue eyes, and his resentment van
ished For the girl who had almost murdered
him was a very pretty girl. He put ms Wounoeo
hand in his pocket a.,
"Oh. I'm so sorry!" breathed the girl i
mean I'm so glad!
$50 am l." said Dick.
you've very nice about IT.
Dick drew his cigarette case from MS pocket
I'm a nice fellow" he said. VIII you nave
a? What's the matter?"
your hand" gaSped the girl
ooh, that" he said, and again tried to tuck
his hand out of sight. But she caught ms
wrist and held it.
you're hurt! did hit you'll You must have
II attended to at once she said dec1S1Vely.
Come home with me- live In one OF the
cottages at the Hilltop-and III put some anti
septic on it"
They started along the pine ridge toward
the hotel.
"Tm Dick Ballard" he said. Thought
knew everybody in the place. But l haven't
seen you before" .
s.This is my first visit to Silver Springs"
said the girl. And I don't go around mucn
I'm trying to finish novel,"
"Oh, SO you're writer! Do 1 know your
name, 1 wonder?"
mo. I'm just beginning It's Sylvia Ham
mond."
THEY came out of the woods and walked to-
Il ward the hotel that sprawled, with its
accompanying brood of cottages on the high,
hunched shoulder of the hill. At the first OF
these cottages Sylvia Hammond stopped
you live alone here?" asked Dick.
Eyes. Come in"
Dick followed her into the cabin; but 1t
seemed that Miss Hammond was not so COM
pletely alone as she had said. For on the sofa
in her living room sat large and rather
alarming old lady, in rusty black dress, whose
hands folded primly in her lap and whose
steel-blue eyes looked steadily toward the door.
AS Dick met that challenging gaze he stopped
short. AS for Sylvia, she simply stood and
stared.
~Aunt janet" she gasped, finally.
Eyes" said the old lady Its your Aunt
Jane, came all the way from Wisconsin 10 sur
prise you"
"Oh Aunt jane" cried Sylvia, and, drop
ping her shotgun rushed across the room and
flung her arms around the grim figure on the
sofa.
I'm on my way to FIoridy," said Aunt Jane
''Doc Smithers thought I'd ought to go for my
rheumatism. I fggered it would be good
chance to stop off and see you, silvie."
"Oh Yes. OF counsel"
but Land o. Goshen" said Aunt Jane
''There's your young man standing like bump
on a log, waitn for you to introduce him TO
me Not that I don know who he Isl
Dick was startled. He glanced at Sylvia,
and was astonished to see the look of dismay
on her face. To add to his bewlderment, Aunt
Jane said sharply: well! What's the matter
with you two?" This is William, amt it,
Sylvie?"
"Yes!" said Sylvia, looking straight at Dick
''This is William. William, this is Aunt
Jane"
"Ohl" said Dick. In the shock of learning
that his name was William 1t was all he could
think TO say.
."Hmmm!" said Aunt Jane. quite a strap
pin fellow amt you? You come over
here and kiss me If you've a mind TO-"
."Ah!" said Dick. "Ah-thanks!" And cross
ing the ROOM he saluted the leathery cheek
presented to him.
Now" said Aunt Jane, I'VE all set down
and talk"
Dick distinctly heard Sylvia gasp
mo, nor she said.
'Why not?"
.'Because-you see, William must 60
to see a doctor about his hand"
whats the matter with his hand?"
81 shot him." said Sylvia.