Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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12 HY AK “Very well. You may come here today at three o’clock to receive the papers and further instructions.” Four weeks later, Dick Moreland was sitting in the lobby of the Hotel Bellevue, in Victoria, trying to interest some of the listeners in his mines. • ••••••• It was June, a year after Fritzi’s arrival in Australia. The girl was happy in her home — except for one thing — the lack of a mother. But most of her life had been spent away from her mother, and she and her father were such good friends that, after a year, she was almost reconciled to her loss. On a beautiful afternoon, she and her father were sitting on the wide veranda, she reading and he smoking. As it was shearing time, Mr. Maynard had been very busy, but was taking this afternoon to rest. He broke the silence. “Well, little girl, I shall have to go to Victoria tomorrow. They will begin hauling the w’ool in tomorrow, and I must go to see about the weighing and selling. Would you care to go with me?” “Oh. Daddy, how I’d love to!” Fritzi exclaimed. “You are such a thoughtful Dad!” “All right! Will you be ready to start at half past six?” They arrived on the evening of the second day. Fritzi went to visit her friend Mrs. Prescott, where she remained during her stay in Victoria, while her father went to attend to the unloading of the wool. The next day another of Fritzi’s friends, a certain Mrs. Billie Dawson, met her on the street. After a few minutes, “Oh, Fritzi, you will come to dance to- night. to meet a young American friend of mine?” “Oh, what fun,” responded Fritzi. “I just feel like dancing!” Then, as Mrs. Prescott came by in her electric brougham. Fritzi bade her friend good-bye and jumped in beside her, without thinking to ask who the young friend was. Fritzi arrived at Mrs. Dawson’s about 9 o’clock. She had taken off her wraps and was fast being swallowed up in the giddy whirl of newly-made acquaintances and a few older friends. “Come, Fritzi,” said Mrs. Dawson, making her way through the crowd. “ ou must meet Mr. Moreland before all your dances are taken.” “Mr. Moreland! You don’t mean Dick Moreland, do you?” “Yes,” answered Mrs. Dawson. “You’re acquainted with him?” “Yes. indeed, if it’s the Dick Moreland I am thinking of.” It was the Dick Moreland that Fritzi had met in New York. He

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HYAK 11 “Oh! you darling dad!” cried Fritzi, running up the wharf and into her father’s arms. “And can this be my little daughter, this lovely young woman?” said Mr. Maynard. The two remained in Victoria overnight, and started out early the next morning on the long ride to Lake Torrens, on the banks of which w 7 as the Maynard home — a stately wdiite Colonial mansion surrounded by beautiful grounds overlooking the blue lake. On the ride, Fritzi would have liked to ask about her mother, but her tather had seemed so dejected when, the night before, she had asked how she was, that the girl did not have th eheart to mention the subject again. A little before nightfall they reached home. There was no need of preparing Mrs. Maynard for Fritzi ’s arrival, for the patient had been unconscious for days. The girl went in and knelt down by her mother ’s bedside, crying softly. Hours passed. To her loving eyes, her mother seemed a shadow ' from which life w as swiftly passing. She endured over and over the pangs of losing her. At last she looked up to encounter her mother’s wistful gaze. “Can it be true?” she murmured. “Is this my baby daughter?” Mr. Maynard, who had been standing outside the door, upon hearing this new voice, entered. His wife held out her hand ; the strong man was instantly kneeling by her bedside. Suddenly, an expression of pain spread over her face; then — “Good-bye, dear John,” she whispered, “and ray faithful — little — girl.” With this, she closed her eyes. She had entered into that land of rest, where, at some later day, she would be joined by her husband and daughter. CHAPTER IX. About eleven months had passed. Richard Moreland and his father were conversing in the latter’s office on Fifth Avenue. “Dick,” said the older man, “we ’re sadly in need of money at present. Not under; but if we don’t get money from some place soon, we’ll be apt to find ourselves in a serious condition. “You know T those mines in Australia. We’ll sell them. We’ll put them on the market. ‘They’re bonanzas, but we’re forced to sell. Need the money.’ See? That’ll act as bait. All we have to do is to be sure of getting the money before operations begin, and in Australia you’ll be a ‘needle in a haystack.’ ” “I understand. The Hispania leaves for Australia tomorrow ' . I’ll be ready.”

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H Y A K 13 was delighted to see her, but she was far from glad to meet him again. Towards the end of the evening, they found themselves in a corner of the conservatory. “Fritzi,” he began, “I have asked you three times to become my wife. You have refused. I ask you again. You must marry me! I cannot live without you!” “Mr. Moreland, I have given you my final answer to that ques- tion!” Rising to go. “Please do not trouble me with your atten- tions again. And now, will you take me back to Mrs. Dawson ?” This he did with as good grace as possible, but there gleamed in his eyes a dark , angry look. It almost said, “You’ll be sorry, my lady!” Some minutes later, a messenger brought a telegram for Mr. Moreland. When he was alone, he opened it. “Police on tracks. Your last deal found out. A Friend.” After reading this, he hastened to his hostess and explained that the telegram made it necessary for him to leave immediately. As he passed Fritzi, he whispered, “You will hear from me again!” He secured a horse, and taking with him only as much money as was necessary, set out across the country. After a few days, he was captured by a band of outlaws. Like a flash the thought came to him — “I’d be safe from the police with them.” Then he said aloud, “Come on! I guess I am about as desperate as you all. Take me in.” So they did not harm him. but took him into their midst. Within three weeks’ time he was the leader of their gang. ••••• • About four weeks after the Dawson’s ball, Mr. Maynard and his daughter left Victoria to go home. A few days later, Fritzi declared her intention of riding over to the home of a friend, about twenty miles distant and remaining there for a short visit. At first, her father objected, thinking it not safe for her to ride alone across such a wild country, but finally gave his consent. So next morning, after bidding her father a hasty farewell, she mounted her pony and rode away. About noon, she found herself crossing a barren space of desert land. Looking about, she saw to the right the distant moun- tains and to the left, not more than twenty-five feet away, a long line of low, thick bushes. At this instant, she heard the measured beat of horses’ hoofs behind her and, turning, she perceived a man gal- loping towards her. As he drew near, to her horror, she recognized — Dick Moreland ! What could he be doing in that part of the country f Before she had time to let her thoughts run very far, he had come