Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-21
THE SECRET
 CABINET
By clsELA DlrTRIck BRITT
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowler.


 There was g quick step in the hall. Mollie looked inquiringly across her silver basket at Jack. The Girl in Pink sat up erect and hastily smoothed her tumbled locks. Then tho door opened and Townshend peeped in.
 Thought you people would be talk Ing an inyentory-computing the rav- ages. That was an awfully jolly little dinner. Mrs. Clafiin" He followed her cheery voice into the pretty room. T saw the lights were still on, 90 I didn't ring up the tactotum. Can't tell how much 1 enjoyed 1t. Four o'clock. Tuesday. Miss Van Alen. Goodnight, again.
 The door had almost closed behind him when Mollie Claflin sprang for ward, the silver dropping with q crash into the basket
 "Oh, MT. Townshend, come back! !" Her soft. southern voice had in 1t q note of distress. "Come right back. this minute!"
 He turned his six feet three quick ly about, and looked down at her ex- pectantly as she stood in the doorway. She smiled up. and the flush on the fair, laughing face deepcned bit, as she went on in her pretty. impulsive way:
 Don't you know. foolish man. that you must not go of that way! It's such lad luck to como back! Come right in here and turn around three times. One-two-three-thatsit. Now. sit down." She gave the greatcoat a gentle little push toward the sleepy hollow chair. He went down; she breathed sigh of relief. There. you can go now" She held the door in- vitingly open.
 He sat quite still in the big, com fortable chair. and looked sternly at the other man, who was leaning negli- gently against the piano.
 Take her back south, Jack, before the commonwealth finds out. We burr witches up here"
 She made little moue, and the other man shrugged his shoulders.
 q used to be a believer in heredi.y. I'm not now. give you my word. Townshend, she has sensible ancestors. know two of them-and look at her." he pointed scornfully at the dainty iig- ure in the pale blue crepe. "Steeped in superstition! Wears a fetish of some sort round her neck, and haa for her high priestess the wrinkledest blackest old"
 A blue cloud swept across the room, a soft hand covered his lips, and voice was raised in indignant pro- test:
 Tt isn't! It's only my-rabbit-foot! And you shan't make fun of dear old Aunt Liza! And who was 1t that wouldn't pull with the Varsity crew last year. because they had lost their mascot? And"
 And who was It." The Girl in Pink had risen and was pointing an accns- ing finger ut the man in the great coat, that only last week. at Bobby Fairs mess, wouldn't sit down until the steward was brought in-because -there were-th-ir-te-en!"
 He gave one look at Jack-then. without a word, the two men bolted. pursued by little. delicious, mocking gibes.
 Mollie turned suddenly and looked scarchingiy at the girl who had thrown herself down upon the rug. Elizabeth Van Allen. believe I'll tell-you- something. The strangest thing!" She came slowly toward the fire.
 For three nights. Bess. I have dreamed the same thing-that in certain place in this very house. there is something valuable. silver or gold. hidden. And. Bess. believe 1t! There was no earthly reason why 1 should dream such thing--l have never thought of it! It just came to me, and l know Aunt Liza would say 1t was sent! Jack laughed at first, but last night when woke him up and showed him-come. I'll show you!" She sprang lightly to her feet and gathered the soft blue draperies about her.
 The Girl in Pink followed quickly, as she led the way to the dining-room. straight across the parquetted floor. "Here, right behind this buffet" she rugged recklessly at the pretty piece of furniture. Now, put your ear to that wall. and listen when tap. Don't you hear-it's holiow!" The two girls looked at each other breathlessly. The Girl in Pink had caught the fever of excitement that glowed in the blue eyes.
 There isn't another place in the whole room that sounds that way. I know. for we have secret cabinet in the library down home-and It's rhs very identical spot of my dreams! You know. this-these apartments were once house, one of those old colonial mansions: 1t belonged to Jacks great-great-grandfather, or some body. It's Jacks own property. He can do as he pleases. and I've made up my mind-he's got to dig in there snd see. And this vert nightl"
 But. Mollie, think of the mess all o-er your pretty room, And won't s4-. s.:tu in the other apartment---
 They've gone away. Mir. Crosby won't be back till to-morrow-thats why I want Jack to do 1t tonight. And what do I care for a mess, if onIx-oh. Jack. let's do it--now!" She