Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-12-25
CHAPTER v.

After all, It was Gabrielle who first
opened the door In our wall Of reserve
and allowed Gordon Bennett to pene-
trate beyond II. and in the light OF
after events ! was very glad. indeed.
I was not responsible. II happened
this way.
She had washed her hair and gone
out In the sun to dry II, taking a book
and box Of chocolates to help pass
away the time. and. after wandering
about n little. had established herself
at the top OF the flight Of steps leading
down to the boathouse. as the most Sc
cluded as well as the sunniest place
she could find.
Gabrielle's hair is reddish brown.
and when the sun shines upon It there
are gold threads which glitter exceed
ingly, SO we tell her she makes a point
of going out OF doors to dry II: but she
says this is a slander. and she does
1t because fresh air and sunshine are
good for the scalp. Anyhow. she
went. And she also borrowed Eliza
beth's ivory comb with the silver back.
because its teeth are very wide apart.
and therefore acceptable when II
comes to getting out the tangles. Now.
this especial comb is solely for orna-
ment, and lies in state upon Eliza.
beth's dressing table. with the brush
beside II; they belong to n set brought
her from Japan. and have associations
which render them sacred, SO ! was
astonished at Gabrielles vandalism in
proposing to desecrate II.
Just what really happened I don't
know: | believe she got to dreaming
out there in the sunshine. but this is
what she said:
Il was sitting quietly reading when
| heard little thump. and there was
that miserable comb balancing on the
bottom step. OF course | went after
It. and OF course before I got there 1t
toppled over and went through a
crack of the slip into the water"
That slip is hoodooed.' interrupted
Elizabeth. why don't you do as
do. and keep away from it,"
1T was low tide" continued Gabri.
ellie, and I could look through the
crack and see It lying on the sand be-
meath the water. SO I took stick and
tried to poke II out ! got along very
well by progressing from crack to
crack. but at the critical moment |
got excited and poked too hard. and
It shot out Just beyond my reach. That
made me wild. for | knew ! couldn't
face Elizabeth without II, so ! simply
lay down and grappled with my stick"
"Well?" / inquired. as she paused
with reminiscent chuckle.
We'll. as was lying there with
my face the color OF a boiled lobster.
fishing away for all I was worth. ]
heard n voice say: Allow me. and
there he was In a sailboat, the picture
Of coolness and comfort He rolled up
his sleeve. though. and went to work,
and finally got 1t. then calmly landed
and introduced himself. saying some,
thing about having been unfortunate
in his visits"
Then was your opportunity to be
dignified and squelching," inter
rupted. You should have frozen him
with glance"
"I tried to-" she returned, but all
at once | remembered my hair. and
who could be dignified then?"
so you brought him home with
you as a reward of merit" laughed
Elizabeth. "I shall never forget how
you looked as you came up the yer
anda steps"
Yes" said Gabrielle; "and you two
sat and stared as though we had es
capped from the zoo. Take your comb
Elizabeth: | never borrowed one be
fore, and never will again"
Il suppose" remarked Elizabeth. re
flectively examining her recovered
property, I'VE may be said to hay,
dropped into his life; FIRST your bag
thsn Elise's sidecomb, and now this o
mins. It's fats-we've got to know