The St. Johns herald., 1900-12-08
HANDS UP!
yHHAT Q pity Jack is not a
 w heroi" sighed Mary. laying
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W HAT a pity Jack is not g
 w heroi" sighed Mary. laying down paper. containing a list of tAe !. latest recipients of tHe " C. Dad is so awfully gone on soldiers just now. ?
 She glanced toward dainty writing table, where the photograph of a handsome curly-headed young bar rister occupied a prominent place. Power was expressed in every one ci those clear-cut features-the power to eleave a way through the world.
 But Col. Warwick could think of nothing but soldiers, and his daugh- ter. Mary, clsndestinely carried on her love affairs, and concocted all sorts of impossible plans to transform her civilian lover into something like a man for the colonel. She even went to the length of inquiring at the war office if lawyers, as well as doctors and ciergymen, were not zatfached to the headquarters staff of the army in South Africa, and, being disappoint- ed iH that. religiously set to work to inculcate 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 hero.
 "Why don't you help me, Beat?' she cried. plaintively appealing to her cousin, who, gracefully reclining on a velvet ottoman, was devouring the contents of the latest novel from Nudes. Your affair is all settled, and you've no troubles in the world. Do put that wretched book away and help me think of Jackl"
 Mary, you're a nuisance!" .ex- claimed the calm-minded young lady, shutting her book with slam. "And so is Jack Why don't you think of something else for a few days? If I worried half so much about Godfrey, should pine myself into 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 dignifed pout. My dear girl" she said, patronizingly, and ignoring the bout, "uncle's only a silly old man, and he doesn't mean one-half be 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 well as anyone if he ikes-and he shall be, for all your un- worthiness."
 "A heroi How, Beat-how?"
 Never mind. You say he's coming to stay over Sunday"
 "Yes. I worried dad into asking him, and he consented-just to keep me quiet"
 Beatrice gave a 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 a good impression at tactics with keen interest, if not cor rectnesS.
 At half past II, after game of bill lizards, and a 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 in a sleepy voice. "I 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 wont 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, ohl your face is so dirty and smudgy!"
 Beatrice laughed, in spite of her nerves.
 Shall I do2" she asked.
 "Do? You're simply horrible!"
 "Good-by, then. Listen for me com ing back; and if you hear me running open the door and let me in."
 In obedience to which command Mary, as soon as her cousin had left the room, locked the door,, threw her self upon the bed and laughed and cried intermittently until she fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.
 The amateur burglar gingerly picked her way downstairs. and silent " turned the key of the library door. Feeling her way toward a comfortable couch, she threw herselI upon it and waited. listening to the beating Of her own heart and to the awful silence that pervaded the house. Imagipa ion ran wild and played her awful prarks. Fearful animals crept stea'thi,y through the gloom, and omipous noises came from every corner. A tap-tap from the direction O. the win dow sounded most painfully realis ic, and a low murmuring was like noth- ing more than the whisperings of hid den human beings.