The Washington herald., 1910-06-17

Aunt Selma had me by the arm, and
any moment ] expected Bella 70 pounce
on US through the doorway and the
whole situation 10 explode with bang.
It was after II before they were ration
al enough to discuss ways and means,
and, of course, the first thing suggested
was that we all adjourn beiow-stairs
and clean up after dinner, I could have
slain Max Reed for the notion, and the
Mercer girls for taking him up.
"Of course we viii" they said in a
duet. What a lark!' And they actually
began TO pin up their dinner gowns. II
was Jim who stopped that
''Oh. look here. you people," he OBJ
jected, I'm not going to let you do that
Well get some servants In tomorrow
I'll go down Ind put out the lights. There
win be enough clean dishes for break
fast"
It was lucky for me that they started a
new discussion then and there about who
would get the breakfast. In the midst
OF the excitement slipped away 10 carry
the news 20 Bella. She was where I had
left her. and she had made herself a
cup of tea, and was very much at home,
which was natural.
DO you know" she said ominousiy
that you have been away for two hours
and that l have gone through agonies OF
nervousness for fear Jim Wilson would
come down and think I came here to
see him7"
mo one would think that. Bella" ]
soothed her Everybody knows you
loathe him-Jim. too" She looked at me
over the edge of her cup.
''Fil run along now" she said, since
Takahiro isn't here. And II Jim has any
sense at ALL he will clear out every maid
in the house. never saw such kitch-
en- in all my life Well. lead the way
Kit. l suppose they are deep In bridge
or roulette. or something
She was fixing her veil, and I saw
would have 10 tell her. Personally,
would much rather have told her tie
house was on fire.
''Wait minute, Bella / said ''You
see, something queer has happened. You
know this is the anniYersary-weu. you
know what IL Island Jim was awfully
glum. So we thought we would come
What are you driving et9'' she de-
manded. You are sea-green. Kit
What's the matter? You needn't think J
mind because Jim has a Jollihcation to
celebrate his divorce"
Tilt was Takahiro-in the ambu-
lance" blurted. Smallpox. We-Bella,
we are shut In, quarantined."
She didn't faint. She just sat down and
stared at me, and I stared back at her
Then a miserable alarm clock on the
table suddenly went of Ike an explo-
sion, and Bella hegn 10 laugh. / knew
what that was-hysteria She always
had attacks Ike that when things went
wrong. I was quite despairing by that
time; ! hoped they would all hear her
and come down stairs and take her uT
and put her to bed like a Christian, Sc
she could giggie her soul out. But after
a bit she quoted down ana began to cry
softly. and / knew the worst was over
/ gave her a shake. and she was SC
angry that she got over 1t altogether
Kit, you are horTid." she choked
Don't you see what a position I am IN
/ am not going upstairs to face Anne
and the rest of them. You can Just put
me In the coal cellar"
isn't there a window you could Ee'
through" I asked desperately. Lock
ing the door doesn't shut up a whole
house"
Bella's courage revived at that, and
she said yes. there were windows. plenty
OF them. only she didn't see how she
could get out And I said she would
Bella In the performance. and I didn'
care to have an undeFstudy. Then The
situation dawned on her. and she sal
down and laughed herself weak in The
knees. OF course she wanted 10 stay
then, and see the fun out. But I was
firm; she would have TO so, and ! told
her so. Things were complicated enough
without her
Well. we looked funny. no doubt Bella
In Russian pony automobile coat over
the black satin she had worn at the
Clevelands dinner. and ! in cream lace
the skirt gathered Up from the kitchen
floor. with Bellas ermsne pelerine around
my bare shoulders, and dishes and over
turned chairs everywhere.
Bella knew more about the lower re-
gions Of her ex-home IMAM I would have
thought. She opened d aoor IN a corner
and led the way through a narrow hal
past the refrigerating room, TO a huge
cemented cellar. with a furnace in tbs
center, and half dozen electric lights
making It really brilliant
Get a chair" Bella said over hei
shoulder, excitediy. II can get out cas-
fly here. through the coal hole. Imag.
Inc my"
But It was my turn TO grip Bella. From
behind the furnace were coming the most
terrible sounds. rasplng noises that fairly
frayed the silk Of my nerves. We stood
petrifed for an instant. Then Bella
laughed. They are not al gone" she
said carefully. Some one Is asleeI
there"
We tiptced to whers we could see
around the furnace. and. sure enough
some one was asleep there. Only, 1t was
- 81 10
policeman. with a newspaper and ar
empty plate on the floor on one side
and a champagne bottle on the other
He had slid down IN MS chair. with bis
chin on his brass buttons. and his he'll.
met had rolled a dozen feet away. Bella
had to clap her hand over her mouth
Fairly caughti she whispered. "Sar-
tor Resartus. the arrester arrested. Oh
Jim and his fiawiess Eervicei"
But after we got over our surprise. We
saw the situation was ssr=ous The po-
liceman was threatening to awaken
Once he stopped snoring TO yawn noisily,
and we beat a hasty retreat. Bella
switched off the lights in q hurry and
locked the door behind us. We hardly
breathed until we were back In the
kitchen again. and everything quiet. And
then Jimmy called my name from VI
above somewhere.
Il am going to can him down, Bella.
said firmly LET him help you out
I'm sure don't see why should have
all this when the two of you"
''Oh, no, no! Surely, Kit. you wouldn't
be so crueir' she whispered pleadingly
You know what he would think. He
oh, Kit, let them all get settled for the
night, and then come Gown. like a dear
and help me out. I know loads of way!
honestly do
eff leave you here" debated, what
about the policeman
Never mind him '-frantfcaiiy. Ills
ten! There's Jim up In the pantry. Run
for the sake OF heavens"
Sol ran. At the top OF the stairs
met Jimmy, very crzmpled as 10 shirt
front and detected as 10 face
I've been hunting everywhere FOL
YOU" he said dismaliy. IT thought got
had added to the general merriment by
falling down stairs and breaking your