Show CAUGHT by ARTHUR PEACH merriman Merrl man was seated ed at the front fro window of 0 his hie club tho the common spread out before him in its dim promise ot of spring did not brighten hla his thoughts he was weary 0 of the city and all it suggested then came the thought that made him sit alt up far up in the northern part ot of maine be had a camp which was tho pride of his heart F for or the last three seasons it had been broken into by thieves tu to spite ot of the man he ha had hired to t look 1001 after it much valuable stuff had been stolen and the preceding tall fall he had bad told his old guide eulda acton that it if he ha did not stop the thieving he be would lose his job but merriman Merrt man was halt half auspicious so he be decided to mate make a flying trip to the camp ile he mado made his preparations and cleaned up hla his business bosta eds affairs in a flay day at the close ot of the next ho he i reached the lake when ho he reached camp the first bret signs ha saw were tracks ot of small shoes from the door of 0 the th ecamp camp to the dock merriman Merrl man groaned as he be thought ot of what would confront him when ho he opened the door everything in disorder and almost everything that was waa valuable at all missing lust just what he be expected things were even more upset than they were tho the last time angry and disgusted he threw off his big coat and hat and began an attempt to bring some kind ot of order out of the chaos suddenly a shadow filled the room he turned I 1 in the doorway stood a girl straight PS a reed and graceful as a fawn on I 1 the verge of 0 flight his eyes went to her faco face and he saw ho he was looking into the blue end ot of an automatic revolver tut put on your coat and como come with me I 1 guess weve got cot you now the girl evidently regarded him as a thief but who he sho she was he had not tho the r slightest idea suddenly it occurred to mm that tere hera was a chance tor for adventure an adventure with a fair young goddess ot or tho the north woods ile he would follow the lure no matter where it led him her eyes were clear and bright and steady albeit her ace was pale now inow put your hands over your head and come out she ordered Merrl M ima man did as she directed now go down to the dock get into that canoe take tho the bow with your back toward anol mo commanded eho sho ho followed her dl dire relon lion implicitly the canoe left the shore and under vie impulse ota of a pair ot of vir vigorous orous oung arms began to pick up speed 1 I ader where im headed tor for naw nl wb th thou allt anwon 1 I wonder idolf it thov have lady she rills up here this early he looked back at her one 0 and saw a vision of a full throated rosy girl arms round yet muscular driving tho the paddle like an indian export the automatic within easy grabp graap la in the pocket of her jacket A mile or so down the tha river sho she turned the canoe and paddling it backward to tho the shore jumped out and ordered him to do likewise A path ran from the he bank back and riot not far away Merrl merriman man could see sea the faint outlines of a shack at her orders he proceeded toward the shack and cs as they drew nearer she whistled shrilly and called father I 1 havo have him I 1 then Mor lorriman riman received his second distinct shock of that eventful afternoon in the doorway 0 of the shack appeared the wasted bent figure ot of his old guide I 1 girl girl what have you done this Is mr merriman she moved slowly forward her baca faca aca grown pule pale her eyes wide open then as lorriman mor riman turned from greeting hla his stricken guide and hold out his hand I 1 to her bar she drew back hastily and her hands went to her face to hide her distress its all tight right he be assured her im glad to find my camp was so well guarded I 1 ought to apologize to you tor for deceiving you but I 1 was tremendously mendo sly astonished when you appeared later while ha be and his old guide were smoking before the tha cheerful fireplace and his h s fair air captor was cooking the supper ller ikier riman heard tho the solution of the mystery she was acrons daughter she had bad grown up in a village on the coast and recently had bad studied to become a nurse when her father fell III she had come coma back to tho the camp to tako take caro care of him she had found that his anxiety for tho the safety of the tha camp weighed heavily on his mind and sho she had volunteered to go up each day and rea ee that everything was all right one thing still puzzled merriman and he be asked the girl aby the place was so upset she hesitated and blushed as she answered well when I 1 first went want there it was so so 1 I understand merriman Merrl man laughed it needed a good spring cleaning 1 I agree with you now mow I 1 want both of you to go with me to the camp job jeb this has been your home tor for a good many years but I 1 want ant you to leave leava it you need somebody to look out tor for you and I 1 must say I 1 am lii iri tile the same fix will you take charge ot ol us lie he turned to tho girl she laughed confusedly As long ns as you are meek as you wore were today ril ill bo be willing to be ba responsible tor for your our behavior she sha said copyright 1916 by the mcdurm newspaper syndicate r ss |