The Worthington advance., 1900-09-14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
: HANDS UP! 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
XxTHAT . pity Jack is not
w hero!" sighed Mary, laying
down paper containing list of the
latest recipients of the V. C. dad il
60 awfully gone on soldiers just now"
She glanced toward a dainty writing
table, where the photograph of a
handsome curly-headed young bar
rister occupied . prominent place.
Power was expressed in every one OF
those clear-cut features-the power to
cleave q way through the world.
But Col. Warwick could think Of
nothing but soldiers, and his daugh-
ter, Mary, clandestinely carried on
her love affairs, and concocted all
sorts of impossible plans to transform
her civilian lover into something like
q man for the colonel. She even went
to the length of inquiring at the war
Office if lawyers, as well as doctors
and clergymen, were not attached to
the headquarters staff of the army in
South Africa, and, being disappoint-
ed in that,sreligiously set to work to
inculcatea some martial ardor in her
lover by requesting him to take her
to all the military functions in town.
Yet the unconscious Jack would not
be fbeIo.4t. Ee II
why don't you help me, Beat?'
she cried, plaintively appealing to her
cousin, who, gracefully reclining on
velvet ottoman, was devouring the
contents of the latest novel from
Mudle's. "Your affair IL all settled,
and you've no troubles in the world.
Do put that wretched book away and
help me think of Jack!"
"Mary, you're . nuisance!" ex-
claimed the calm-minded young lady,
shutting her book with a slam. "And
so is Jack! Why don't you think of
something else for few days? If I
worried half 80 much about Geoffrey,
should pine myself into q conva-
lescent home!"
"Yes; but you don't have to. You're
engaged; and, besides, your dad isn't
mad on soldiers"
Miss Beatrice burst out laughing,
and her charming cousin assumed
dignided pout. my dear GIRL" she
said, patronizingly, and ignoring the
pout, "uncle's only a silly old man,
and he doesn't mean one-half he
says!"
Mary was about to espouse his
cause, and even sacrifice her Jack in
his defense, when her cousin stopped
her.
"But as for being hero, why, Jack
can be that as we'll as anyone If he
likes-and he shall be, for all your un-
worthiness."
"A hero! How, Beat-how?"
"Never mind. You say he's coming
to stay over sunday?"
Eyes. I worried dad into asking
him, and he oonsented-just to keep
me quiet"
Beatrice gave sympathetic sigh.
"Well, then, next Saturday will put
him to the test, and unless he proves
himself hero and a man under such
desperate circumstances I shall be
sadly disappointed. Now, stop wor-
rying, and go and read the war news
to uncle. He's dying for it, know"
And before. Mary had time to stop
her and demand an explanation she
had flown from the room.
Jack Winchfield put in an appear
ance on the following Saturday, and,
with little coaching from the two
girls, made quite good impression at
dinner, when he discussed military
tactics with keen interest, if not cor
rectness.
At half past II, after a game of bill
lizards, and one-sided argument on
the subject Of cavalry remounts, the
two men retired, and an hour later
the house was dark and SILENT
"Mary, are you awake?"
"Rather!" came ih q sleepy voice.
II thought you were never coming"
"Uncle's been reading and only
turned his light out few minutes
ago, but he's snoring now"
The two girls shivered simultan-
eously, and in sympathy. Midnight
enterprises are won't to try the
strongest nerves. Mary turned on the
gas.
"Why, Beat" she exclaimed, "you
look just like man! Where did you
get those old clothes? And, oh! your
face is SO dirty and smudgy!"
Beatrice laughed, in spite Of her
"shall I do?" she asked.
"Do? You're simply horrible!"
"Good-by, then. Listen for me CON-
ing back; and II you hear me running
open the. door and let me in.''
In obedience to which command
Mary.asssoon~ ~ her cousin had left
the roam loked tho door, threw her.
self UPON TN bsd and laughed and
cried intertlittsntly until che fell
asleep from sheer, exhaustion. z.yf:1
The amateur ,ts burglar -gingerly
picked her way downstairs, and silent
" turned the key Of the library door,
Feeling her way toward comfortable
couch she threw herselt upon It and
waited, listening to the beating lof he1
own heart and to the awful silence
that pervaded the house. Imagination
ran wild and played her awfal pranks
Fearful animals crept stea1thily
through the gloom, and ominoua
noisea @3axSa from sevexyva NYfrS1 A