The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-01-01

some pluhlcIs ut N"hNN NNN W '" NNH' panion. "I'm going to try your plan;" then to the druggist, "A yard of plas
 ter. please"
 "Thats the last roll have" said the tradesman In bewllderment as he handed out the third yard of plaster he had sold to the Hatch family that evening. He began 10 think that some one was playing a Joke on him. and after George and John had departed be hurrledly closed his store. The boys found the Hatch residence in darkness when they arrived there. except for one solitary light that shone dImly through the slated windows of the sleeping room occupied by Mir and Mrs. Hatch. A sleepy housemald ad. mltted them. aud they as silently as possible ascended to their room.
 No time was lost ln sticking their lips together. and struggle with the lamp followed, ending only when John turned the wick so low that the flame nlckered few times and then died out. Left In silence and darkness. the boys were soon sleeplnA soundly.
 All was quiet and still by midnight, for Mrs. Hatch did not believe in young folks sitting up to watch out old years Then Myrtle suddenly awoke With the terrifying thought that some one-a man. of course-was holding hls hand over her mouth. Then. remembering the events or the evening. sne reanzeo the cause of the peculiar sensation. But the shock to her nerves remained. The assertion that her scare was all im- aglnary. though repeated over and over to herself. failed to quiet them.
 There! It was somebody trying to get into the house! The front door bell rang loudly. Then some one be- gan pounding on the door. Myrtle could hear It quite plainly. She sat upright and listened. Never before had she been awake at night and not heard her father snoring She missed that reassurlng snore very much. Could anything have happened to hlmf Or perhaps the house was on Ire! Yes; lt must be fire. She was sure that she smelled smoke.
 Giving May tremendous shake. Myrtle slipped out of bed, threw on a dressing gown and hurried down to the front door. where the pounding still kept up. In a moment she had the door open; but Instead of a stalwart fire man. lu stepped her brother Edward and bis wife.
 "why. it's Myrtle| cried Edward 'The traln was late, and we thought you were never going Co let us in We're nearly frozen and hungry as bears. And how Is mother ana every bOdy' Why, what's the mhfrst' Why don't you speakT
 For obvious reasons Myrtle remained silent A moment later a second silent figure crept down the hallway and stood by Myrtle, and then c'me Mir Hatch himself. hastily pullkig on few clothes as he came.
 "Oh, here's fatherl He will explain" cried the amazed Edward as the third figure came groplng silently down the twilight Of the long hall. Good heav' ems. Eva! Fathers dumb tool" For In the middle of the ball stood the pater. uai tiutch. U',~ring not one void or welcome Co hlS beloved son.
 A moment later Mrs Hatch came down. viSlhly agiiatcd and mutely waving her arms Behind her came the two young men. one armed with a baseball hai and the other with poker Rut not one word did they speak lslnglass plaster has some very adhesive properties. and when ones month has been glued sbui for three lung hours one cannot be expected to carry on an extended conversation. For several minutes the strange group ,azrd at one another.
 Edward. they're all crazy! Let's go home. anywhere but do not stay Ia this house." cried Mrs Hatch junior. with strong signs of hysteria.
 Speak. somebody. cant youI Fo' heavens sake, wish us a happy New Year." cried Edward. taking bis fright cned wife in his arms.
 Rut not a word did any one speak. The silent group shuflied shcepishly bout. making weird and inexpllcable signs. which more and more convinced Edward that all the family Of Hatch had suddenly departed with lhelr seV' pral and individual senses
 Mother! Father. Has it come to thlsg VIII you turn your own son away from your door at midnight with out one word of welcomei What have [ done? What has happenedi Can DO one speak?"
 The answer to the last question bad to be a distinct but lnartlculate mega tive. Eva covered her face with her hands and broke Into sohS They have turned you away Edward, be. cause-because they think ! have dis honored the name Of Hatch. Some one has told them about-the the-apple pies! Tell them. Edward. it was not my fault. not my fault! i-l-didn't mean-I-oh. can't go on. l can't go on. And again poor Eva broke Into sObs.
 At this point Myrtle slipped away and came down stairs again with a huge pair of scissors ln her hands Without one word of warning and be fore Edward could throw himself be tween them she savagely stabbed hls father-at least so It seemed In the un certain llght-in the face with the mur derous weapon.
 "Saved! Happy New Year every. bodyr' gasped Mir Hatch senior, catch Ing hls son In his arms and shaking his hands till they ached. "were all glued up, my boy. every one of us, glued up with the stickiest, most internal sort of sticking plaster ever created. That's .toht AfyrtIa Cuf vour nOnr rnothar