Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-13

the stairs. There she paused, with an
expression of absolute bewilderment in
her eyes.
Sir Ughtred! What has happened I"
she exclaimed, resting one hand on the
broad oak bannisters, and leaning so far
over as to place her safety in immediate
jeopardy. who has been hurt?"
The man below glanced up quickly at
the sound of Phyllis voice, and then, as
he caught sight of the startled face look
ing down from the bannisters above, he
suddenly flung the taper aside and came
quickly towards her
All Miss Yelverton, no wonder we
have disturbed you! Ii is the most ter
rible invasion. / was just wondering
whatever you would say to it, Did you
imagine that formidable gang of bur-
glars. or the bailiffs, perhaps, had come
TO take possession of the manor?"
Il hardly know what | thought" re-
turned Phyllis, with shake of her head,
until l saw you, and then it suddenly
struck me that | must be dreaming. But
what has happened? Do tell me- There
has been an accident of some sort
know that much"
Yes, a regular smash, Just at that
awkward turning near Thorndyke bridge.
The mare we We're driving took fright at
something by the side of the road and
before we knew what we were doing the
whole concern was turned completely
over into the ditchl 1t has certainly
been marvellous escape" continued VII
bart, retiectively. Il fully expected we
should both have been done for. Unfor-
tunately my companion has not come off
quite so well, for we had scarcely ex-
TREATED ourselves from the debris and
were congratulating ourselves that we
had all escaped with a few bruises the
mare included. when we discovered that
he had dislocated his shoulder, and that
the pain he was suffering was 50 intense
as to make it impossible to get even as
far as the village three miles away, much
less attempt the drive to Squire Cour-
tenay's, whittier we were bound. So I'M
der the circumstances there was nothing
to be done but to come straight here and
throw ourselves upon your mercy.
But it is wretchedly cold" he con-
tinued breaking off with a shivcr Il
am beginning to think that a ditch is not
the most eongenial lodging for a poor
beggar on a raw cold night in November.
Do you think there viii be such thing
as a fire anywhere ?"
1T will be out in the morning room. |
am afraid returned Phyllis; but in the
kitchen-there might be one there"
Then let us try it at any rate" said
Sir Ughtred in more hopeful tone. The
captain is in such good hands that we
can leave him with n clear conscience.
Mrs. Mathews is a host in herself, and
luckily we met the doctor from Radford
just outside the gate"
"What a wonderful coincidence As a
rule doctors are much the same as police
men-they are never to be found when
they are wanted. But had we not better
hurry? The longer we leave that fire
the less chance we have of finding it
ahght!" And with an air of resolution
Phyllis seized one of the Pickering can
dies and straightway started off across
the hall and through the door leading to
the lower regions.
On reaching the kitchen they discov-
cred that there was not very much of a
fire in the grate-only a few dying en-
bers remained, together with the charred
relics of a log.
This was indeed a happy thought of
yours" said the baronet, Selling upon
one of Mrs. Mathews most luxurious
chairs and sinking down contentedly into
its depths.
But Phyllis was by no means so easily
satisfied. In an instant she was on her
knees. with bellows and tongs, raking up
the cinders and doing her utmost to in
duce the embers to break into a blaze
once more, and all with as workmanlike
an air as if the lighting of a kitchen fire
was one of her daily occupations. 1t was
not until her efforts had been rewarded,
and the flames We're lcaping and crack
ling up the chimney that she raised her
head again. and then-perhaps it was the
ten black fingers and the huge smut en-
bellishing the left side of Cinderella s
face which suddenly caused Sir Ughtred
to realize to what extent he was in
debted to her.
Great heavens. Miss Yelverton what a
confounded nuisance / am to you'll Just
look at your hands, How on earth are
you going to get them right again."
They are bad, certainly" Phyllis cried.
holding them to the light and surveying
them with a critical expression But as
luck will have it, they are warranted to
wash! They are calculated, in fact. to
withstand a good deal of wear and tear"
TO BE CONTINUED.
Dead On to Them
statesman. in an argument had