The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-27
Continued from Yesterday

.flfF lDW0E4 gNAA Is uEtNl ga NAsC 4 NhAA ~
of July. and when we had thrown open
the windows and yelled ere" and
all the guards ard reporters had rush.
ed to the front Of the house, to escape
quietly by rear door from the base
neHt kitchen. get into machines Dal
had ia waiting, and lose ourselves as
quickly as we could.
You can see how simple II WAS.
We were terribly excited. of course,
Every one rushed madly for motor
coats and wells. and Dad xhunled the
= numbers go the people going the same
direction would have the Same rnH-
chine. We called 10 each other as We
dressed about Mamaroneck or Lake
wood or wherever we happened 70
have relatives Everybody knew every
body else. and his friends The Mer-
Ger girls were going to cruise until the
trouble blew over. the Browns were
going to Pinehurst. and Jim was GO
ing to Africa 10 hunt If no could get
ont of the harbor.
Only the HARRISON man seemed to
have no plans; quite suddenly with
the world so near again. the world OF
country houses and steam yachts ana
Eli the rest of IL, he ceased 10 be one
OF US 1t was not his world at all.
He stood back and watched the keleid-
uuixxtcaiiy, but with something In his
face that had not seen there before.
IF he had not been 20 self-reliant and
big / would have said he was lonely.
Not that he was pathetic in any sense
of the word. OF course, he avoided
me, which was natural and exactly
what I wished. Bella never was far
from him and at the last she loaded
him with her jewel case and muh
and traveiing-bag and asked him to
her cousins on Long Island. fele
sure he was going to decline, when he
glanced across at me-
do CO. ] said. very politely. They
are charming people" And he accept
ed at oncei
II was a transparent plot on Bella's
part: Two elderly maiden ladies, house
miles from anywhere, long evenings
IN the MUSHROOM with an open FIRE.
and Bella at the harp playing the two
/. songs she knows.
When we were ready and gathared In
the kitchen, In the darkness. of course.
Dial went UP on the roof and signaled
with a lantern to the cars on the drive.
Then ne went downstairs. took q last
look at the drawing groom, fred the
papers. shook on the powder opened
the windows and yelled "fre"
of course, iluddled in the kitchen we
had heard little or nothing. But we
plainly heard Dial on the first floor and
Flanagan on the second yelling fire,
and the patter of feet as the guards
ran to the front OF the house. And at
that instant we remembered Aunt Sc
linai
~ That was the cause OF the whole
trouble, / don't know why they turn =
ed on me. che wasn't my aunt. But
by the time We had got her out of
bed. and had wrapped her In an elder
down comfort, and stuck slippers on
her feet and a motor veil on her head
the glare at the front OF the house
was beginning to die away. She didn't
understand at all and we had TO time
10 explain. ] remember that she want
ed to go back and get her plate
whatever that may be, bat Jim took
her by the arm and hurried her along
and the rest. who had waited, and
were in awful tempers. stood aside
and let them out first
The door TO the area steps was open
and by the street lights we could see
fence and a gate which opened on
n side street Jim and Aunt Selma
ran straight for the gate: the wind
blowing Aunt Seiina's comfort Hke
sail Then, with out feet, 30 Co speak
on the first rungs OF the ladder of lib
: erty. IL slipped. half dozen guards
and reporters came around the mouse
and drove us back like sheep into 8
slaughter pen 1t was the most hu-
initiating moment Of my life.
Dial had been for fighting way
through, and just for minute l think
went Berserk myself. But Mas
-spied one of the reporters setting W
a fiashlight as we stood, undecided
at the top of the steps, and after that
there was nothing TO do but retreat
We backed down slowely. TO show them
we were not afraid. And when we
were all In the kitchen again. and had
turned on the lights and Bella was
crying with her head against Mr.. Har-
bsson's arm. Dial said cheerfuily Well
1t has done some good. anyhow. We
have lost Aunt Selma"
And we all shook hands on II, al
though we were sorry about Jim. And
Dai said we would have some cham
payne and drink to Aunt Selina's COM
fort and we could have her teeth 90
nligated and send them to her. Some
body said. Poor old Jitn." and at
that Balla looked up.
She stared around the group. and
then she went quite pale.
"Jiml" she gasped. DO you mean
that Jim is---out there too"
"Jlm and Aunt Selina!" / said as
calmly az / could for Joy. You can
S<e Row il simplitied the situation for
rle. by this time they are a mile
away. and going"
Everybody shook hands again except
Bella Ehe had dropped into n chair,
and sat biting her lip AMI breathing
hard, and she would not join IN any
NJ the hilarity at getting rid of Aunt
Selma Finally size got up and knock
ed over her chair.
"iou are lot IF cowardS.~ she
storrned. You deserted them out
there, left them. Heaven knows where
tAey- sfe--tt ttefruseiess old woman.
o. aEstg==-a nd. %, snaa W iao-. DID net even
have an overcoat. And 1t is snow
.ng'"
s.Never mind" Dal said reassurlngly.
.'ie can borrow Aunt Seli1las comfort
Make the old lady discard from weak
ness anyhow. Bella II / know any
thing of human nature. the old lady
~lll make ii hot enough for him. Poor
old Jim
Then they shook hands again, and
with that there came terrible bang
ing at the door. which we had locked.
Open the doorl" some one COM
handed Ii was one OF the guards
Open II sssurseif.n Dallas called
sissoving Kitchen table to reinforce the
lock.
n .sopen that door or we will break
81 int
Daiisa put his hands In HIS pockets
seated himself ON the table. and whis-
tied cheerfully. We could hear them
ceEferr1rg outside. and they made an
Other appeal. which was refused. SUD-
deuIy Hal1A cenae over and confronted
I