Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
GREAT GOODNESS" he CRIED, ITS LUCY

want to talk to her. and I'll slip 1t under
the girls door tonight"
Would she?" Lucius got out in awed
tones.
Would she what?'
''Come-tf 1 asked her?'
Sure she would. Try her." Fritz was
growing more confident. You just write
her. And I'll leave it at their room now"
Prettyrnan, between distracted love and
awful establishment, after tearing up a
dozen sheets of paper, managed to set forth
his modest request.
Fine said Fritz heartily when the let
ter was submitted to his p.acticed eye.
''That'll draw her like plaster you know
ALLEN, don't know how to thank YOU
for-for-" Lucius was wringing Fritz's
hand IN the excess of gratitude.
With the letter in his hand, Allen hur-
ried surreptitiously to Fanny. He judged
that Cecilia Francesca had not yet re-
turned from her festal day. He raped
cautiously on the studio door.
Who is it?'' demanded Fanny, opening
the door hairs breadth.
Me"
Mercy. Fritz, you can't come in I'm
Yes. know, but there's something do
ing. I've got to talk to you; 1 don't want
to come in. Can't you-say, Cecilia, isn't
there?"
mo. Wait minute
Presently the door opened wide enough
to allow Fanny to put out her head. What
is it?' she inquired with excitement. did
you give Luc1uS the
That's it, did. I've just been in his
room. He's foolish about It, Sat and
grinned at his picture like a monkey.
Went on about Cecilia till it made me
sick. He's all up in the air-says he loves
her like anything. Oh, Lord"
Fanny was instantly impressed. My
goodness! What Gid you say
Il told him she was crazy about him.
/ think did. He asked me what to do
What did you tell him?" demanded
Fanny feverishly.
well, you know, II felt sort of rotten
about It. He's so serious over the thing
Say, Fanny. 1t looks. to me like mess"
Stupid, what did you DOR
II told him to write her a note asking
her to meet him tomorrow in the park
in the morning-and said I'd leave it
here for Sissy-she-"
ut is perfectly dreadful" gasped Fanny:
''she shant have that note"
Certainly not" Fanny was decisive
their show if you don't let hes
idiot! If Cecilia got that note the
first thing she'd do would be to go and
look at that old miniature. And it
And there'd be a sickening time.
But Fan Allen was utterly con-
fused at the turn of affairs.
you've got to get that picture back
somehow. don't care how. Give me that
note. Give it to me. Cecilia shan't have
1t till you get the miniature"
How IN the deuce can get it?'
when is he going to meet her?' asked
Fanny.
AT 8, I think"
well. while he's out, then, you'll have
to break into his place and steal 1t and
bring 1t here. I'll put 1t back. Then I'll
give Cecilia the note and say 1 found it on
the floor"
II can't see how that
NO. of course you can't. But I can.
It'll be in her trunk. won't it? And she
can't accuse me of having taken it-at least
not right away. I'll get out of 1t some
how
You're dreadfully virtuous all at once"
retorted Fritz, sulkily.
Its worried me all the evening-taking
that picture. And I'd never have done it II
well. 1 like that! Who found it first,
Ssh! There's Cecilia oming. Don't
you dare to argue with me. You've got to
You must be tired to death. Come in and
let's get to bed right off," sweetly finished
Fanny, hastily concealing Prettymans note
in the folds of her robe de chambre
In all probability the somewhat imperfect
scheme Of Fanny's would have worked in
the fashion she anticipated had II not been
for a reason Of which she naturally could
have known nothing. 1t had been Cecelias
romantic custom. since the painting Of the
and to bid 1t the tender, whispered good
nights she might not properly bestow on
the original. She did this in the kitchen
at moment when Fanny was under the
impression that Cecelia was saying her
prayers. In consequence, on this particu-
lar evening Cecilia Francesca went to her
trunk to perform the last sacred rite Of
what had been to her peculiarly happy
place, did not feel the miniature. She
hurriedly dashed out the contents of the
trunk, her bosom heaving with anxiety.