Evening journal., 1899-03-15

buc nccHeu 10 tuisS ueI COuTdSc III DOlQ
hands. and ran after the other girl.
calling. "Chrissie. come back Just
minute"
What is IT now" said Chrissie. with
that deep smile more In evidence than
ever.
Won't you tell me?" said Minnie
ibid be? don't want him TO know
that l cared"
"Oh. but he does know"
Minnie flushed scarlet.
You might have spared yourself the
trouble of trying TO keep it from him.
my dear" Chrissie went on, laughing
outright
Then tell me at once. oh. don't
care--I didn't. Therel" and Miss Sax
by cut the interview short.
Charlie Canters sister really had very
little information TO go upon, If you
look at it from the detective point OF
view; but from the point of view OF
quiclS-witted girl. who was also an
inquisitive sister. she had abundant ma
terial for further research.
IL saw Minnie Saxby, to-day" she
said to her brother that evening.
How is she?" said Charlie.
"Oh, very well; only rather-rather
anxious"
What is she anxious about" said
Charlie, himself still wondering why
Miss Saxby had acted so strangely
about the simple matter Of opening
garden gate.
WELL" said Chrissie, with an air Of
extreme discretion. II think-of
course. it's only an opinion-I think
she's anxious about you"
about me?"
Chrissie only nodded wisely.
did she tell you about my meeting
her?" Charlie went on. beginning to
feel aattered. at the anxiety about him
of young lady whom he had long ad-
mired at a distance and regarded as
somewhat unapproachable by nature.
MY dear Charlie" said his sister,
you don't expect a girl to tell every
thing, do you-even TO an intimate
friend?"
Charlie was more puzzled than ever.
But once more be baffied his willy sister
by simply holding his tongue when he
had nothing TO say.
Chrissie had her way of getting at a
mystery, and her brother had his. His
was less subtle, but he was just as per-
severing as his sister, and the thought
that Minnie Saxby was anxious about
him spurred him to exert himself TO
find out why she should be anxious.
That was why he sat for over an hour
IN Miss Saxby's parlor that evening
waiting for third person to take him
self out Of the way. Curiously emo igh.
Miss Saxby seemed to use all her arts
chiefly musical-to induce the third
person 10 prolong his visit.
But at last this third person did 60
and Minnie began to be noticeably Ill
at ease in the presence Of her remaining
visitor.
Il was waiting for him to 60" said
Charlie.
Minnie smiled a forced, nervous
smile.
81 wanted to ask you something
Chrissie says you are anxious"
At this Miss Saxby suddenly looked
more than anxious-she looked fright
ened.
what did she tell your
"She said she met you, and"
And you had told her all about meet
ing me, and l-oh. Mr.. CanteL I'm
afraid you'll think me a very silly girl
but 1 didn't want her TO know abou
that"
why not? You had Just come out o
the house, and couldn't open the gate
What about it?"
'But 1 hadn't been to the house.
told you So"
you hadn't2 Look here. Miss Sax
by, my sister is trying to mystify boil
of us. l never told her about meeting
YOU"
You didn't9 Then what did you tel
her?"
} "When went into the house onl.
asked her what was the matter witt
you, and then l thought-it suddenl.
struck me as rather a queer sort o
thing to say, and 1 turned it of some
how. Now, let's understand each other
Just tell me how you got mixed u
with that gate last night"
81 wanted 10 speak TO Chrissie abou
, something. And the gate was unfas
tened and 1 went in without ringing
Then, before l got to the house
, changed my mind and turned back, an
while 1 was bungling with the latch
slipped and locked me in"
"But what made you turn back2"
81 thought better of it-what 1 ha
T meant to ask her."
"Was it anything to do with me?"
; A silence followed, Minnie lookin
extremely embarrassed.
"Come, now" said Charlie. TO reliev
the awkwardness. "we might as we
? understand each other and. fool Chrii
sic, mightn't we?"
suddenly struck Minnie in the sam
way.
'It was awfully foolish of me-" ST
said. II was going to ask her If yo
had really given that book to Jess
Kirke."
y, "Book?"