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Show Pretty Face Saved ? the Timber .-. ij; By CHARLES SLOAN REID J J. i .j. .j. . , , .j. . 1031. McClure Newppaner Syndicate. 1 (VVMI Service.) "C ON, I nnnt you to go over to I.ige Mason's pluce, and tell Jf'lin Hawks that he must stop cut-tins cut-tins timber on my land. He has a wood-cutting privilege from .Mason; but the timber is better across the line on my place; und he persists In getting over." The elder Lanier plainly plain-ly was peeved. "All right, dad; I'll go today," agreed Tom I.anier, aa his father paused. "I have sent Hawks two or three messages," continred Lanier; "and 1 am pretty sure that he got them. But Milam was here today from Satter-field's Satter-field's mill; antl he said Hawks was cutting pines across the line." "I'm gone, clad. I'll give this Hawks person a jolt that will jar the ground in that Godforsaken neck of the woods." Tom went out, leaped into his roadster, road-ster, and drove away. Lanier's timber tract lay far back from Ihe highway; so Tom decided to leave his car at Scatterfield's mill, and cut across country on foot, a distance dis-tance of two miles. In this way he would pass directly through the section sec-tion of woodland where Hawks had been cutting. The country was rough, and Tom had had more than one ungraceful un-graceful tumble before he reached the back of the tirnbei tract. Here he encountered en-countered signs of the depredations of Hawks. He looked about him. Fie saw dozens of stumps from which large pines had been cut. "The dirty scamp!" vituperated Tom menially; "I'll stop this business, or know the reason why." He swung into a trail which led through a narrow belt of timber to the edge of an open field, in the center cen-ter of which Hawks lived as a tenant on Mason's place. Reaching the clearing, clear-ing, Tom halted. Half way between himself and the house was a woman at work with a hoe. "Hawks' wife." Tom decided. "Well, she may as well have the first installment. in-stallment. "CJood morning, madam," he said. The woman visibly started, then turneil about. Tom I.anier caught his breath. It was the face of a girl of eighteen that looked out from under the arch of her sun bonnet and such a face! There was a rich glow In the cheeks, and the eyes were glorious, large and brown. "I I beg pardon," stammered , Tom ; "I I am Tom Lanier, and " "I am Sarah Hawks." the girl volunteered, vol-unteered, in a voice that aroused still greater interest, for it fairly radiated soft music. "You are Mr. Hawks' Mr. John Hawks' daughter?" "Yes; were you looking for dad?" "Er not exactly. I have been walking, walk-ing, and should like a drink of water. Is there a well a spring near?" "Oh, yes," answer the girl genially. genial-ly. "There is a splendid spring just down the hill there." She pointed toward to-ward a densely timbered bluff. "But." she added, dropping her hoe. "I will go and show you I should like a cool drink myself." "Thank you ; you are very kind." Tom followed the girl down a little winding trail which led to a rock-rimined rock-rimined spring at the foot of the hill. Sarah Hawks threw off her bonnet, and sat down upon a tree root. Her hair, which had been bobbed at one time, had grown out until It now fell about her neck and ears In brown wavelets. "How long have you lived here?" asked Tom. "Three years." "You have. to you work in the field regularly?" he asked. "During dad's busy season, yes. We are very poor." "Yon talk well. You have attended school ?" "Yes; finished high school at Greenville Green-ville last year.' "Why I was In Greenville a great deal last year; I 1 didn't meet you?" "No. I didn't stay In town. I went in on the school truck every day. It was pretty hard at times. I had to walk through by Satterfield's mill, going go-ing and coming, to catch the truck at Martin's cross roads. But I am very grateful rlail made many sacri fires.'' There was a little Tremor In her voice, and she turned away her head for a moment. Tom took a step toward to-ward her. He wanted to lay his ftand upon her shoulder "I have seen you a number of times." continued Sarah, looking up Into his face aga'n. "in the oratory contests a Greenville." "My goodness! And I failed to find a girl like you in t,iose audiences? I must have been scared silly!" Tom closed his .land upon hers gently. gent-ly. "1 am going now." he said; "but I am coining back Sunday?" "But you wanted t see dad today, did you not?" "No. There 1nay be a time when 1 shall want to see him on important business." All tiie way hack through the woods Tom Lanier's whoii frame was l'Iow ing from a decidedly new thrill When lie reached honie. the senior Lanier promptly queried : "W,-!l. did you see Hawks?" "No. dad ; he vas away from dome 1 left word with a nieinlier of the family that I nouid come hark Sun day." "Good. I want you to keep that in memory." "Leave it to me." dechircd Tom with decided warm'h. |