Evening journal., 1899-01-31
ALittle Diplomacy
BY EVEN MCPHERSON.

HHARLIE CANTEL preferred TO walk
home from his Office that evening.
As a rule he rode home on his wheel,
and his home was in thatvery pleasant,
though new. house with the large gar
den separated by a wall and handsome
iron ratings from the street, a good
way out on the principal residence
thoroughfare. This particular evening
in the fall he was rather late; most of
the homeward bound had reached their
destinations; so Charles walk in the
dusk was lonely.
His way in was through the iron
wicket with the fine scrollwork on
either side. The gate fastened with
spring latch and opened from the out
side with a latch key. like a street
door. When he had gone up the brick
path he would find the door of the house
itself unlocked. That was the custom
Of the family.
As he put his latch key into the
wicket he wondered whether his moth
er was keeping supper waiting for him.
Then he turned the key, pushed the
iron gate and was startled bya sud-
den exclamation.
"Oh! It's you'll"
The voice came from behind one Of
the brick pillars of the gate. and it
made Charlie jump.
who's that?" he said. trying to make
out the shadowy figure.
Its me-" came the unenlightening
answer in meek voice. II couldn't
get the latch undone. 1t was open. ]
mean. II slipped"
He could not see her face, and the
statements, TITS you and it's me-" told
him nothing, of themselves; but he
recognized the voice at the second
speaking.
Miss Saxby?"
YES"
"Why didn't they come down with
you and let you out. Or, won't you stay
to supper?"
They don't know. / haven't been in
the house Please let me out"
Charlie entered the house just as the
family were collecting for supper. The
first person he met was his sister. and
the first words he said to her were:
"Chrissie, what is the matter with Min
uie saxby?"
81 didn't know there was anything
the matter with her. How do you
mean2 In mind. body or estateY"
what are you talking about?
mean is she-is she getting q little &c
centric?"
Matter OF opinion" said Chrissie in
her brisk way, pulling her brother
along with her into the dining-room
"Some say she always has been a good
. deal eccentric. What's she been doing
3 now?"
e Somehow Charlie Cantel thought he
ought not 10 answer this question. 81
e he said; "Oh, nothing"
II he had only known, that was abou
, as ill-chosen an answer for his purpose
as he could have made.
A smile. That. Chrissie resolved
? would be a very effective implemen
D 20 unlock the secret. Chrissie had sew
3 eral smiles. all peculiar TO herself. an,
4 as fascinating as little red moutl
- and remarkably white teeth coull
!
ticular smile that should extort a con
fession from one of these TWO conspir
b ators. For people who tried 10 keel
5 from Chrissie Cantel secret concern
d ing the happiness of her favorite broth
? er were of course conspirators. Ant
T. she was sure that this secret-abou
q Minnie Saxby. a girl with whom an.
youth would naturally fall in love-
must certainly concern Charities hap
e piness.
i With that selected smile Chrissie me
d Minnie Saxby bright and early mex
" morning. II was not n chance NEE
1t ing. but very simply and easily secured
sl seeing that Chrissie knew exactly wha
hour Minnie's singing lesson ende
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
It was smile as Of one who know
3 all about il. and from whom it is us'
/ less to conceal anything. Poor Aknni
le saw it, and Immediately collapsed
II blushing and saying within hersel
4 ''He has told her about it,"
f. II don't know what you'll think {
me-" she said, Did he tell you?"
"Tell me?" said Chrissie. taking not
y Of the blush and intensifying her al
i knowing smile. Tell me wha1? lie
< Who is he?"
re "Oh 1 can hardly loolSyou in the fac
" Chrissie."
In why, dear?"
- because"
Then there was a silence. Mimi
came very near TO finding out that h'
~ friend was utterly without n clew, an
T. might be kept in the dark just as Ion
e as she. Minnie. chose. But Chriss
Mt soon saw this danger. and said. just
f. help out the knowing effect of II
b smile. Il met him jusSas he came I'M
T., the house"
y Good gracious. And he went an
~ told you everything?"
ry Again the deep. all-lSnowiug smile.
II didn't think" Minnie began.
an "Oh. come now, Minnie. what har
IT, was there?"
H. "Harm?" said Minnie indignant
~ 81 should think not. | would ha
rung the bell. Of course. only"
re 40 - MS ~. ....s Faafsr