The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-01-26

moment, irresolute. The next moment
she seemed to take her courage in both
hands, and ran after the other girl,
calling, "Chrissie, come back just a
minute"
What is it now" said Chrissie, with
that deep smile more in evidence than
ever.
Won't you tell me?" said Minnie.
did he? l 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. There!" and Miss Sax
by cut the interview short.
Charlie Cantel's 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
quick-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 a
garden gate.
Well" said Chrissie, with an air CT
extreme discretion. Il 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 fattered, 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 girl to tell every
thing, do you-even to an intimate
friend?"
+! Charlie was more puzzled than ever.
But once more he baffled 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-
IL - L..
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 enough.
Miss SaXby seemed to use all her arts
chiefly musical-to induce the third
person to prolong his visit.
But at last this third person did go,
and Minnie began to be noticeably i'll
at ease in the presence of her remaining
visitor.
Il was waiting for him to CO." said
Charlie.
Minnie smiled a forced, nervous
smile.
Il 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 you%'
"She said she met you, and"
An - 81 L
ing me, and I-oh, Mr.. Cantel, I'm
afraid you'll think me very silly girl,
but | didn't want her to know about
that"
why not? You had just come out of
the house, and couldn't open the gate.
What about it?"
But l hadn't been to the house. l
told you So"
You hadn't? Look here Miss Sax
by, my sister is trying to mystify both
OF US. l never told her about meeting
you"
you didn't? Then what did you tell
her?"
When l went into the house l only
asked her what was the matter with
you, and then | thought-it suddenly
struck me as rather a queer sort OF
thing to say, and | turned it off some
how. Now, let's understand each other
Just tell me how you got mixed up
with that gate last night"
81 wanted to speak to Chrissie about
something. And the gate was unfas-
tened and | went in without ringing
Then, before | got to the house |
changed my mind and turned back and
while | was bungling with the latch it
slipped and locked me in"
But what made you turn back?"
Il thought better of it-what l had
meant to ask her."
WAS it anything to do with me?"
A silence followed. Minnie looking
extremely embarrassed.
Come, now" said Charlie, to relieve
the awkwardness, 1--WE might as well
understand each other and fool Chris
sic, mightn't we?
1t suddenly struck Minnie in the same
way.
1T was awfully foolish CT me-" she
said 90 was going to ask her if Won