Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-12-15
q q d n 9 4 "A
CHAPTER |.

sunk INTO stiffness, save for the distant
echo of a fresh young voice singing,
from very gladness OF heart, at
broken intervals.
Going down long passage covered
with frayed coeoanut mating and
opening the thick oak door one comes
upon what seems to be the only IN
habited room in the house. Here again
IS space-ample space, and lofty CELL
ing-though certainly, as regards any
modern Injuries in the way of furni-
ture the apartment is bare enough.
A faded drugget covers the center of
the floor, elIed out round the edge by
oil-cloth which has long since failed
4 to boast more than faint visions of
pattern. An old square piano with a
short yellow keyboard stands open at
one end OF the room Uttered with
music; some half-doZen chairs of no
/ particular pattern, and most of them
of an uncompromising nature, are hid
/ den under snippings of dark blue print
and mysteriously-s shaped pieces of lin
ing; the shabby old sofa is also piled
! with various articles Of feminine at
/ tire
Both windows are thrown as high
i as the sashes win permit, SO admitting
4 the genial sunshine and sweet flower
4 scented air-before one stands a very
/ praetieal-leeIing sewing machine, be-
\ fore the other is an old wicker table
strewed with fashionplates and paper
/ patterns.
Bending over the solid table which
stands in the middle Of the room is
Shell Widen. She is at present maxi
ing a determined onslaught with a pair
of formidable scissors on a section of
the blue print before mentioned. She
has ceased singing for the moment; her
| brows are slightly puckered, whilst
her keen grey-green eyes follow anx-
iously the line to be taken by her
shears There is a decision and energy
in every curve of her girlish rounded
figure as she leans over the work; the
right sleeve of her dark dress is pushed
up nearly to the elbow to allow of free
play so disclosing plump, rounded
arm of almost snowy whiteness.
Shells fine pure white skin is her
one personal attraction; but, as her sis
ter Ruby often remarks she pays for
1t dearly, for Shells complexion is ac-
companied by a wealth of wavy SHIN
mering red hair, family marked eye
brows, and a pair of eyes which are
positively pale green in certain strong
lights though they deepen almost to
p,,rpIa ~ dnr e.trnr,e rnnEioy m in fbn
dreamy cleaning of a summer evening.
She is a little below the middle height,
possessing a round, childish face with
eyes that speak so often when her
tongue Is wisely silent that her sister
Ruby many time takes umbrage at
her expressive looks.
She has just finished her critical
piece of work and is again breaking
into unconscious song, when the door
opens quickly admitting a tall. grace
ful woman of some thirty summers,
whose light spring costume sets off her
dark classical beauty to advantage.
Ruby, for she 1t is, differs from her
sister as much in temperament and
disposition az In form and expression.
No stranger at first sight would have
taken these two young women to be re-
lated yet such of their acquaintance
who were addicted to the pursuit of
psychological inquiry We're fond of
pointing out that behind the widely
different manifestations of the person
ality of each there was the same orig
inal force and insistence.
Did you get it," questions Shell,
pausing at her work, and looking a lit
tie blankly at her sisters empty
hands.
Get IT. Get what?n asks Ruby,
clearing a space upon the sofa, and
down upon it languidly
why, the tape. of course, | haven't
an inch left; and how can get on with
the killings without tape?" cries Shell,
with a pathetic ring in her voice
Dear me, your mind never seems
able to soar above dress making." says
Ruby, slightly Struggling her shoulders.
I'VE got the tape all right-fortunately
Violet remembered It,"
Has VI got it, them" asks Shell, I
in no way affected by her sisters low
opinion of her intellect.
Got IT." sneers Ruby. you surely
don't imagine, child, that we are 60
Ing to burdens ourselves with parcels
On such a broiling day as this?"
Il surely did not imagine that even
you would make any poor errand-boy
tramp a whole mile to bring few
pieces Of tape that would have fitted
INTO your pocket if you were ashamed
If carrying them openly" responds
Shell with spirit
Then there is period Of silence, dur
ng which Shell looks quite stern and
wen naughty, while Ruby does not an
lear to be altogether as self satisfied
IS she would wish to be-possibly be-
ause 1t irritates her to see Shell more
t ease than herself. Shell meanwhile
ews steadily on, and ne conversation
threatens to come to a sudden termi- /
.ation, when somewhat sarcastic j
lance from Shell causes it to revive.
There is no greater mistake than
ringing parcels oneself" pursues
luby in an injured tone-"p parcels are !
neh a nuisaneel and why should one .
o errand-boy's work-they are paid /
or it,"
Shell makes no answer. but. bend
lg over the table, begins to at tissue $
aper pattern on her stuff, making a l
eornful and expressive grimaea Of 4
at her sisters affeetation. +
i know you dote on carrying nar-
als but then you do so many things G