Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1918 — THE LITHE HOUSE [ARTICLE]

THE LITHE HOUSE

By JACK LAWTON.

(Copyright. I*l*. Western Newspaper Union.) Richard Ellis viewed from the hill'the miles he would have to walk in order to dine at his boarding place in the village below. When his tvork of road construction should be In progress he would have to consider some means of transition; the present state of the land made this difficult. Like a white square on the hillside stood a cottage; he remembered having passed it on his upward way. What a strange, detached Home it must be, far from neighboring habitation. Perhaps it might be possible to procure a light luncheon there. The door, when he reached the house, stood open, disclosing to the farthest corner one wide room. It was a remarkable room for an humble country cottage. While the floor was scrubbed guiltless of varnish, the walls were lined with shelves of books. A pictorial calendar, with a verse for each day, drew his attention; curiously, the verses were printed in German. Upon the window seat, among Its artistic cushions, were scattered various maps and drawings. Then between two bookcases opened what lie had fancied to be an outer door, and,a girl appeared from the interior. A glorious creature she was, small, yet with an unmistakable air of dignity. “I am a civil engiheer —Richard Ellis.” he explained; “we are going to put through a road. My boarding place in the village seemed too far away at dinner time, and I hoped to get a glass of milk and some bread at a farmhouse, but,” he smiled engagingly. “I find this Is decidedly not a farmhouse.” The girl gravely considered. “Still.” she said, “we may be able to provide you with a cup of coffee.” She moved indifferently toward the prepared table. “Make yourself at home," she invited.

In strange diffidence, the usually confident engineer obeyed. When, with her regal air, the girl had prepared his coffee, she went out into the porch. It was all pleasantly mysterious. Ellis enjoyed the perfect salad, and wondered who the deuce his queenly hostess might be. The matter of remuneration troubled him; he could Imagine her scorn at the suggestion of payment. Yet he felt like an interloper calmly partaking of her food. The girl promptly relieved him on this score. “I asked you to stay,” she said, as he appeared upon the porch, “in order to gain information about the new road. Please explain to me concisely, just how and where it is going.” The engineer stared in astonishment. Her question had the sound of * command. ■ “It is not customary —’’ he began hesitatingly, and for the first time the girl laughed. “No?” she questioned, as steadily she faced him. “Then, Mr. Ellis, engineer,” she challenged, “stop In again, say tomorrow, and you shall see your wonderful plans, as they are not now, but as they will be when completed.” “I do not understand you,” Ellis repeated slowly. With' strange reluctance he turned to depart. The girl pointed to the village below. “Down there,” she said, mockingly, “they will tell you all about me.” It was impossible to concentrate upon the duty of the afternoon because of her haunting personality. “Who lives there?” he asked of Sammie. assheiate engineer, s “The lady of mystery,” Sammie answered. “Why, haven’t you heard? She comes galloping into town on a black horse,- with a great dog in tow. They have It figured hut here that she’s in the emplSy of the German government, mapping out the country and all that. Look out-for the black eyes. Dickie, or she’ll have you hypnotized.” To Richard’s memory came quickly the girl’s boasted knowledge of his work, her own avpwnl that she had entertained him in order to gain information . “T came.” he greeted, “to have you fulfill your promise concerning lpy outline of work.” In her own pretty, serious way, the girl bow T ed. and placed in ills hands the completed blueprint map of the road. “But, how?” he asked perplexedly. Again the girl laughed, and dropping her manner of reserve, seated herself on the step at his side. “What am I now," she asked naively, “a defaulter in hiding, a German spy, or just disappointed In love? Thev have had me all three at the vil- * 1 ldge.” Ellis gazed tensely into the black eyes. “What are you?" he asked. “That is what I wanted to know myself:" “I shall only disappoint you.” the girl replied. “It is so simple. My is Lewis Kain. chief engineer. When I learned that he must be away from home long. I begged to come with him and keep house. He sent on our man to fix up this shack, and then was called away the very night of our arrival. There was no reason why I should not wait In this peaceful spot, his return. My dog Is a fine bodyguard. I helped father with these maps and two are great chums. That’s all,” she ended, and abruptly. “Then I shall see yon again!” cried Richard Ellis, liis voice ringing with a hidden Joy. No one could have called the girl’s eyes somber as she flashed him s smilfk “Father, will need you here often," she said.