The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-08-23
THE SECRET
CABINET
By GIsELA DITTRIck BRITT
Copyright. by Joseph 3. BowIes.)

sat up erect and hastily smoothed ner
tumbled locks. Then the door opened
and Townshend peeped in.
Thought you people would be TAX
Ing an inycntory-computing the raw
ages. That was an awfulIy jolly little
dinner, Mrs. Clafin." He followed her
CHEEKY voice into the pretty room. Il
saw the lights were still on, SO
didn't ring up the tactotum. Can't tell
how much enjoyed it. Four O'Clock,
Tuesday, Miss Van Allen. Goodnight,
again.
The door had almost closed behind
him when Mollie Clafin sprang for
ward, the silver dropping with
crash into the basket.
"Oh, Mr.. Townshend, come back!"
Her soft. southern voice had In it
note of distress. Come right back,
this minute!"
He turned his six feet three quick
ly about, and looked down at her ex-
pectantly rs she stood in the doorway.
She smiled up. and the flush on the
fair. laughing face deepened bit, as
she went on in her pretty. impulsive
way:
Don't You know, foolish man, that
you must not go off that way! It's
such bad luck to come backI Come
right In here and turn around three
times. One-two-three-th 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
willingly open.
He sat quite still in the big, COM
Portable chair, AMI looked sternly at
the other man, who was leaning negH-
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.
I used to be believer in heredI.y.
I'm not now. l give you my VOID,
Townshend, she has sensible ancestors.
l know two of them-and look at her,"
he pointed scornfully at the dainty fig
ure in the pale blue crepe. "Steeped
in superstition! Wears fetish of
some sort round her neck, and has
for her high priestess the wrinkledest,
blacklist old"
A blue cloud swept across the room,
soft hand covered his lips, and a
voice was raised in indignant pro-
test:
1T isn't! It's only my-rabblt-fo2t!
And you shan't make fun OF dear old
Aunt Liza! And who was it 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 accus-
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 word, the two men bolted
pursued by little, delicious, mockine
gihes.
Mollie turned suddenly and looked
searchingly at the girl who had thrown
herself down upon the rug. Elizabeth
Van Allen. 1 believe I'll tell-you-
something. The strangest thing!" She
came slowly toward the fire
For three nights, Bess, have
dreamed the same thing-that in a
certain place in this very house, there
Is something valuable, silver or gold,
hidden. And Bess, I believe it! There
was no earthly reason why l should
dream such a thing-I have never
thought of it! 1t just came to Ele,
and l know Aunt Liza would say it
was sent! Jack laughed at first, but
last night when l 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
tugged recklessly at the pretty piece of
furniture. Now, put your ear to that
wall, and listen when l tap. Don't you
hearts hollow!" 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. /
know, for we have secret cabinet in
the library down homeland it's the
very identical spot of my dreams,
You know, thiS-these apartments
were once house, one of those old
colonial mansions; it belonged to
Jacks great-great-grandfat orsom
body. It's Jacks own property. He
can do as ne pleases, and I've made
up my mind-he's got to dig in there
and see! And this very night!"
But, Mollie, think of the mess all
over your pretty room: And won't