Evening journal., 1907-04-10


me And there'd be sickening time" :,
but Fan" Allen was utterly confused at
the turn of affairs
I don't care how. Give me that note. Give It to
Cecilia shan't have it till you get the minia-
ture."
"How in the deuce can get TT"
When is he going to meet herr" asked Fanny.
AT nine. think"
into his place and steal It and bring it here. I'll
put it back. Then III give Cecilia the note and
say found It on the floor"
"I can't see how that" +
mo, of course you can't But can. It'll be
in her trunk. won't 1t? And she can't accuse me
of having taken tat least. not right away. I'll
get out of It somehow
You're dreadfuiy virtuous all at once" retorted
''It's worried me all the evening-taking that
picture. And I'd never have done It If It hadn't
"weii. I like thatl Who found It first. anyway.
and"
SSH There's Cecilia coming. Don't you dare
10 argue with You've got TO get the picture.
Cecalia. dear. is that your You must be tired to 7
death. Come in and let's get to bed right on"
sweetly finished Fanny. hastily concealng Pretty
mans note in the folds of her robe de chambre.
In all probability the somewhat imperfect schemet n
Of Fannv's would have worked in the fashion she
anticipated had It not been for reason Of which
she naturally. could have known nothing. II had
been Cecelias romantic custom. since the painting
OF the miniature. TO take II from Its hidingplace
and 10 bid II the tender, whispered good-nights she
might not properly bestow on the oriRinal. She
did this In the kitchen At moment when FANNY
under the impression that Cecilia saving
her prayers. In consequence. on this particular
evening Cecilia Francesca went 70 her trunk to
nerform the last sacred rite of what had been to
her peculiarly hannv day. Her fingers. touching
the familiar nlace. did not feel the miniature. She
hurriedlv dashed ont the contents Of the trunk her
bosom heavirg with anxiety. She could not ind
the tosen. For moment Cecilia stood petrihed
flashed in upon her. FANNY! She must have taken
~. No else could have. The gentle Cecilia
shook with torrent % anger the like Of which she
had never known. like a wild nocturnal avenger.
she few at Fanny IN her bed.
"How dared vouw she cried, snatching the he'd
clothing from The terrified conspirator. 20: how
dared your She shook her violently. Don't lie!
7 know Won took ~ Won stole iti vou-you-vou
thiefi hate voul Where Is it7 Where is IT."
Cecelia 1erl,ed the collapsing Fannv from her cot
and lowered above her covering on the floor TITS
cruel How could youl Beast!"
Fanny essavAd to sneak. but cecelis looked 30,
talIsard terrifying IN the dim gaslight Of the room
that for the life Of her, she could not get out a
"Beast!" repeated Cecilia, with awful tragi-
FANNY recovered herself slightly. "ceceiia." she
= f-qslavered F,t vas only Joke. -"
Pvt CeceliaR aee spent. She sat down
weakly on the trunk-top and sobbed. Long. shiv-
e-ine dreadful, convuls,ve sohs. 20 IT'S meant
rruell Fanny. how could youi o deari o dear!
o dearl" a
To describe the mental state Of Fanny is hardly
nenessarv. She dared not sneak. she Law wretch
edIv her he'd for half hour IN her ears the
ropafounus rpoans Of the girl over there on the
trunk. Sometimes Fannv was enraged sometimes
ranentnnt sometimes historically fearful and some
times fuII Of nervors laughter ''I shall lie II She
taens this much longer" she assured herself.
rInali, she leaned from her cot flung on a wrapner
and slirners tied IN her head IN a scarf and nre-
cinitateIv left tha room She ran straight 70 Fritz
'Fritz. Fritz" she whisDered as she heard
sleanv sounds within his quarters "Frtzi"
"Fannv. What the-what is it7 Are you ill7"
2 f5 a moment the astoruded Allen emerged. his
hoaa tousled and over his paiamas a bathrobe.
fXVhat nn narth-"
Don't talk. ceceIia's discovered that the MIC
ture is gone She's made an awful scene. She,
m frtQht-l
ened nearly died She's sitting there now moan
ns o and PS wse on pot IKE o ans saw
''Do something" weakly repeated FRITZ.
''Rigbt now. Do something. II vou could hear
her' MY heavens. never had such time In myl
''Fut wh-wh-what are you going to do7" he
asked heinlesslv.
'I've thought II au ont There's just one chance
IN save our lives. You've rot IN go and get Lucius
and toll him Cecelis wants 70 him"
Allen gasped. Lucy. But-o, my good LORD!
''You needn't snnnose ANYTHING There's inst
ono chancei THEY'RE both slv ahort each other.
and II he gets there and her he'll rv In COM
fort her a,nd-go-now. Tell him to bring the pic
The thoroughlv confused Allen departed. rub,
hing his ewes He found TMcius still sitting IN a
da7e before his little table the portrait IN his hand
"sav." Fritz began awkwardlv. "cecela has sent
for vou She wants TO see YOU to-night-now.'
Don't wait She's in hurrvl"
Wants to see me?" asked Prettyman.
''Now--riqht on-in the studio don't know
what for. Come Bring the miniature"
"put-but-"
20. saw Lucv. the girI wants vow Come on"
And he half dragged half nushed the older man,
from his room. teebly protesting. FANNY stole be-
hind them on tintoe.
Don't mind what she saws" encouraged Allen nc
Cecelia's door. "You go in and make It all right
with her"
without listening to Prettyrnan's vague ram
hlngs and distressed protests. Fritz opened the
door and showed him in.
Reach IN and get the kew and lock the door
on the outside" commanded Fanny at his elbow
The key turned in the lock
Now we'll have to stand here and wait
and" began FANNY
And prav." finished Fritz
From within low murmurs-theu long 81
lences-then again the murmurs. With chatter
Ing teeth and shivering limbs Fanny and Fritz
waited-waited 1t seemed to them. for hours
Few dwellers In the top-story passed them and
stared curiouslv but Fanny and Fritz oblv-
ious After long time they heard some one rat
ting at the door Fanny drew long breath.
Open it.'' she directed. For better for
worse"
Lucius Prettymap emerged On HIS face was a
sentimental smile of utter blissfuness
We-we're engaged" he grinned bashfuly.
Thank heaven. can go to bed" remarked
Fanny.