w THE WEST SHORE.
7, and I'll get you a lunch out here." ImM,
Tlie 1 threw down their baggage and to the field arriving there breathless,
wearily threw themselves into the rustic but triumphant
chairs Clara indicated, while she quickly "Father! Quick! she gasp d. "Send
cleared away the little table of her sew. Tom up to Jumper gulch; Ive gofr-
ing implements, and covered it with a they're here; locked up. Send for the
red cloth. She placed the dishes on it, sheriff, r somebody.
and then said to the younger man- Mr. Willis stopped his work, and let
' I do not happen to have any cooked the water flow copiously m the wrong
meat in the house this afternoon, but direction, as he leaned on his shovel and
there are some canned meats on a high stared, in helpless bewilderment, at his
shelf in the outside cellar, and if you will pretty daughter, who, bare headed,
reach one can down, you can have it for flushed and panting, suggested an es
jancj) . caped lunatic, while her incomprehen-
" Certainly," replied the young man, sible utterances confirmed the impres
proraptly rising to follow Clara. She sion that " Clara had gone daft" Tom,
(h the way around the house. The out- who was working at a ditch a short dis
sido door was open; they descended the tance away, was quicker of comprehen
ds, and she opened the door, saying- sion. He hurriedly placed a shovelful
" There, on that shelf in the farther of dirt at the outlet, and jumped over
corner, please." two or three ditches, shouting
Tho young man crossed the room to do " Do you mean the murderer, Cal? "
her bidding, and Clara quickly shut and " Yes," she cried, "both of the men
Kicked the door, flew up the steps, and are here came to get something to eat
shut and barred the outside door. After 1 knew them in a minute, from Mr. Ben
pausing to recover her breath and col- ton's description. One is in the cellar,
lect herself, she went around to the pi- and the other in the dining room closet."
nzza. " Tom," said Mr. Willis, beginning to
" Well," she said, " if you will kindly comprehend, "saddle Firefly, and go up
hand down a jar of fruit from the closet to camp as fast as he'll take you."
nht'lf, in here, your lunch will be ready. Tom threw his shovel over his shoul
I usually have father or Tom get things der and started on a run for the stable,
for me; it is quite inconvenient to be Mr. Willis stopped to call to his man
small," she added. " Jake, get the water on that further
Tho man, without a thought of his spot there, and then come up to the
companion, rose and followed his pcHfc house. We may need you."
hostess. She opened a door leading Then Clara and her father walked
from the dining room. quickly up to the house, arriving there
" There, please," she sail, pointing to just as Tom dashed by at break-neck
a tempting row of jars of home-canned speed. As they entered the house, a
fruit knock was heard on the closet door, and
As he stepped in to reach the jar of a voice cried
peaches Clara pointed out, she hurriedly " You've come at last: do let me out;
drew the door to, which fastened with a it's stifling in here."
spring. As Clara hastened away, she " It's hotter where you're going, I
heard her prisoner call- reckon," retorted Mr. Willis, grimly, as
" Wait a minute, Miss, I'm locked in." he sat down, prepared to watch that door
" I guess you are," chuckled Clara to until somebody came from the gulch.