The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-08-03

To my surprise. Aunt Harriet simply
chuckled when l reached the point
in my story where her niece had
forced us to come to Boston.
"Going to look up her lover, was
she?" she said. "Red-haired little
minx-a chip of the old block. Mr.,
Leigh, and bound to gain her OWL
ends by some means or other"
They were all gathered in the
lobby when we reached the house
Nancy, Julie Schuyler and Fergues-
son. plainly expecting US. Randy
rushed forward and relieved me OF
the bandboX.
"Allow me-" he cried. II feel lots
more at home with it than without
it,"
Guile Schuyler remarked Aunt
Harriet. come right upstairs and
tell me all about it,
Ferguesson told us his story as
soon as they disappeared. He said
Starr had insisted upon getting into
the cab which he (Randy) had
brought Nancy back in, and which
was to convey his lady and himself
to church. Neither Starr nor Fer
guesson would give up the cab, and
finally they agreed to take Aunt Har-
riet in also. and decide what to do
with her enroute.
you see." remarked Randy. 81
felt sorry for Starr. He and Mildred
were going to be married that night
also, and here was Aunt Harriet but
ting in and spelling everything. Starr
had engaged passage for Boston, and
we thought it would be a master
stroke of genius to put the old lady
aboard in his place and simply ship
her off. She couldn't get back under
three days, and by that time every
thing would be all right. Of course
it was not usual for the steamer to
sail in the evening, but for some rea-
son or other it went at that time and
everything seemed propitious.'
Eyes" said Nancy; "but why did
you go with herr
Ferguesson said he had not had
the least idea of going, but that Starr
requested him to explain that the
stateroom reserved for Mr.. and Mrs.
Starr. would be transferred to Miss
Schuyler, for they wished things to
be as comfortable as possible. While
he was arranging it Starr quietly got
off and the steamer started. The rest
we knew.
1--WE arranged to leave Boston last
he concluded. "but / hadn't
mentioned it to the clerk, because l
had not very much money with me
and he had already refused my check.
I was going to send it when I got
home. That was why I wanted five
hundred collars, because Aunt Har-
riet was a very expensive companion,
and I never knew what was going to
turn up"
He sat silent for a time, apparently
lost in retrospection.
1--WE had a parrot-and-monkey
time" remarked Randy briefly.
THAT BANKED cat!" .
CHAPTER XII.
We all went home the next morn
ing, and Randy and l took turns in
carrying the bandboX. Aunt Harriet
had subsidized into a rather genial
old lady, with a keen appreciation of
a joke. Although she insisted she
had many things to settle with Starr,
we felt that she might in time be
propitiated, and all united in making
much of her.
1t was agreed that we should go to
our old rooms and there procure a
minister, in order that Randy might
be married without further delay.
For" said Aunt Harriet, with a
twinkle in her eye, The ought to have
some reward. l made his life pretty
miserable, I can tell you"
At a public telephone booth in
Jersey City Station Aunt Harriet
paused.
II might just as we'll telephone to
police headquarters that I'm all
right" she remarked. What idiots
you were to imagine I couldn't take
care OF myself anyhow! I suppose
that unfortunate Mr.. Casey will be
glad to get out and tell you all his
opinion of you"
We laughed rather family. I, for
one, had no curiosity to hear Casey's
opinion, although l did not doubt he
would be glad to express it.
We went gaily enough up the long
flights of stairs, but at the top Nancy
paused, her hand on the door Of our
living-room.
I hear voices she said.
We all listened-Aunt Harriet most
%intently.
Yes, and l know them. too" she
said grimly, and, finging open the
door, marched in, while we trailed
along after her in single file, some
what suggesting the tail of a comet.
/ don't really think l was sur
prised when Starr rose and greeted
me. My capacity for surprises had
Eeen taxed to the utmost, 81 l merely
looked inquiringly at a hat with
long white feather that lay on the
table.
"Oh, yes, said Starr; that be-
longs to Mrs. Starr. III present you
Mildredi"
But Mildred did not answer, for she