Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20

OpiIlOI as lHIdlllDlet
He stood in the roadway, looking around
for some inanimate thing upon which he
might vent his anger, when the sound of
hoofs coming toward him distracted him.
his knees all but gave way under him.
Caught! The rider was none other than
his sister Nancy 1t was all over
now, for a certainty. He knew it; he had
near, so he dared not fly. Then a brilliant
inspiration came to him. He quickly passed
his hand over his face. The disguise was
complete. Vidocqs wonderful eye could
not have penetrated to the flesh.
James, Miss Annesley was standing
on the veranda. Take charge of the
horse. Nancy, dear, l am so glad to see
your
James was anything but glad.
Betty, good gracious. whatever is the
matter with this fellow? Has he the black
plague? Ugh!' She slid from the saddle
James stolidly took the reins.
''The kitchen stovepipe fell down." Betty
replied, land James stood in the immediate
vicinity of It,"
The two girls laughed joyously, but
James did not even smile. He had half a
notion to kiss Nancy, as he had planned to
do that memorable night of the ball at the
came to him. Nancy had climbed up the
steps and was out of harms way.
James" said Miss Annesley. go and
wash your face at once"
At the sound of his voice Nancy turned
swiftly; but the groom had presented his
back and was leading the horse to the sta
bles.
Nancy would never tell me the substance
of her conversation with Miss Annesley
that afternoon, but am conceited enough
to believe that certain absent gentleman
was the main topic. When she left it was
William who led out the horse. He ex-
planned that James was still engaged with
soap and water and pumicestone. Miss An
nesley's laughter rang out heartily, and
Nancy could not help joining her.
And have you heard from that younger
brother of yours?" Betty asked, as her
friend settled herself in the saddle.
mot a line, Betty, not lire; and l had
set my heart on your meeting him.
do not know where he is or when he will
be back"
Perhaps he is in quest of adventures"
He is In Canada. hunting caribou"
You don't tell me!'
What a handsome girl you are, Bettyr'
-admiringly.
What handsome girl you are, Nancy"
mimcked the girl on the veranda. IF your
brother is only half as handsome, l do
not know whatever will become of this
heart of mine when we finally meet" She
smiled and drolly placed her hands on her
heart. Don't look SO disappointed, Nan;
perhaps we may yet meet l have an Idea
that he will prove interesting and enter
taining;"-and she laughed again.
Whoa, Dandy! What are you laughing
d
II was thinking of James and his soap
and water and pumce stone. That was
all, dear. Saturday afternoon, then, we
shall ride to the club and have tea. Good
bye, and remember me to the baby.
"Good-bye!'-and Nancy cantered away.
What a blissful thing the lack of pre-
science is, sometimes!
When James had scraped the SCOT from
his face and neck and hands, and had
sudsed it from his hair, James observed
with some concern. that Pirate was cough
ing at a great rate. His fierce run against
the wind the day before had given him
cold. So James hunted about for the handy
veterinarian.
.'Where do you keep your books here?'
he asked William. Pirates got cold
'In the house library. You just go in
and get it. We always do that at home
You'll find it on the lower Shelf, TO the
right as you enter the door,
1t was half after four when James, hav-
ing taken final look at his hands and
nails, proceeded to follow Williams IN
structions. He found no one about. Outside
the kitchen the lower part of the house
was deserted. To reach the library he had
to pass through the music room. He saw
the violin case on the piano. and at once
unconsciously pursed his lips into a. noise
less whistle. He passed on into the library.
He had never been in any of these rooms
in the daytime. 1t was not very light, even
now.
The first thing that caught his attention
was a movable drawing board, on which
Law an uncontrolled drawing. AT one side
stood a glass into which were thrust
numerous pens and brushes. Near this lay
a small ball of crumpled cambria, such
as women insist upon carrying in their
street car purses, delicate, dainty, useless
thing So she drew pictures too, he
thought Was there anything this
beautiful creature could not do? Every
thing seemed to suggest her pres
ence. An indefinable feminine perfume still
fingered on the air, speaking eloquently of
her.
Curiosity impelled him to step forward
and examine her work. He approached
with all the stealth Of a gentlemanly bur-
glar. He expected to see some trees and
hills and mayhap a brook or some cows
picking daisies He had a sister and was
reasonably familiar with the kind of sub
jects chosen by the lady amateur.
A fertilization plan!
He bent close to it. Here was the sea,
here was the land, here the number OF SOL
diers cannon, rounds of ammunition. re-
sources in the matter of procuring aid, the
telegraph, the railways, everything was
here on this pale, waxen cloth, everything
but a name. He stared at 1T, bewildered
He couldn't understand what plan of this
sort was doing outside the war depart
ment. Instantly he became soldier; he
forgot that he was masQuerading as
groom; he forgot everything but this mute
thing staring up into his face. Underneath,
on little shelf, he saw a stack of worn
envelopes. He looked AT them. Rough
drafts of plans. Governors Island! Fort
ress Monroe! What did 1t mean? What
could it mean? He searched and found