| Show Joint fJ Ownership I Of O Oa a Lonely Grove When he was almost to the tile gate of the entrance he heard the rustle of leaves in the hollow behind him and caught a fleeting glimpse of a aman aman aman man running to cover behind the knoll It had grown so dark that nothing about the figure of the man was distinguishable And yet he sensed from the figures figure's shady ac actions ac- ac actions that he was out for no good He decided as he walked out of the gate that whoever It might be was interested in the affairs of Martin Martin- Martindale dale dale daJe would bear watching A few days before Johnny had made his unsuccessful visit to Mar Mar- Martindale Martindale J. J D D. was called out of town on business for a short time The town was strangely lonely for John ny fly Days he spent every working min minute ute at the Clarion getting back into harness again but the evenings were long and quiet Johnny felt lost in his own home town He had several times summed the courage c rage to ask Kit Willett to din din- dinner dinner ner but each good resolution failed him when Basil came for re- re repeatedly repeatedly almost each night They had become fast friends during the short time allotted them during of of- office office fice hours finding the many things they had bad in common with one an another other It was on one of these evenings when Johnny could find nothing to todo todo do that be he decided be he would walk walkout out out to the park site He had not been near Martindale since the night he be had failed to get an inter inter- interview interview i iview view with his grandmother I He walked the familiar road to the park The finished half buildings and playground looked almost eerie in to th the half baU light tight He ne glanced ev- ev there She walked over to the rock on which he had been sitting and sat down breathless with her fright Sorry Kit I thought you knew I was here He hesitated and then added But if you had known I Iwas Iwas Iwas was here you wouldn't have come would you He leaned against the rock beside her Well Vell Im I'm not in the habit of following strange young men to their hideouts Ill I'll admit The moon touched her hair with almost magic deftness She looked up at Johnny and he suddenly saw her full beauty She had seemed lovely to him before in the office but now in this quiet setting and the moon throwing a bright spotlight on her fine features he knew how truly lovely she was He Be stood looking at her without saying a word until the silence grew loud in his ears and he felt that conversation was necessary Did you discover this place by accident or are you old friends with my grove he finally asked Oh so I have a joint ownership here and I thought I owned full title Well I must say I couldn't have chosen a more desirable partner She moved over on the rock and made a place for him to sit beside her Thanks But I have the edge on you You forget Ive I've lived here for twenty three years and claim this spot for about eighteen of those years Why this place has been ev ev- everything everything everything from a Siberian fortress to toa a desert oasis to me Match Malth that He sat down beside her their shoulders shoulders ders almost touching one another i t ld ui tl tunes times up U toward tl tow of the th prow lei ll lie hI had MH-M MH there but seeing g no one now note lie hI walked on toward u II little Itt tic hollow HI at HIthe R atthe t the north of the field When he reached it he sat down l dOlon on one of the huge rocks that were so common in that section of the ore I country countr The familiar sight e of these I old surroundings brought a feeling of nostalgia to him Memories were marching down upon hum him with hill full force when he noticed the figure ap ap- approaching Pulling his thoughts to to- together together gether Immediately he looked more mor closely at the visitor who seemed about to share his privacy His first i thought was that this was the same prowler he had before but seen as 1 the figure came closer he noticed I it was a woman coming toward him When she was within a few feet of him he recognized her Kit KiU He lie stepped toward her herShe herShe herShe She jumped back In surprise then quickly recognizing him regained her senses Johnny you Johnny you ou certainly scared me I didn't see you standing |
