The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-16
CHAPTER v. lcontlnued.)

mo one would think that. Bella"
soothed her. Everybody knows you
ioathe him-sJim, too" She looked at
me over the edge of her cup.
I'll run along now" she said, since
Takahfro isn't here. And IL Jim has
any sense at all. he will clear out
every maid In the house. never saw
such a kitchen in all my life. Well,
lead the way. Kit. suppose they are
deep in bridge, or roulette, or some
thing"
She was fixing her veil. and l saw
would have to tell her. Personally
4 would much rather have told her
the house was on fire.
Wait minute, Bella" said. you
see, something queer has happened
You know this is the anniversary
well, you know what 1t is-and Jim
was awfully glum. So we thought
we would come"
What are you driving att" she de
manded. You are sea-green, Kit.
What's the matterf You needn't
think | mind because Jim has q jolli
fcation to celebrate his divorce"
TIT was Takahiro-in the am
bulance." l blurtedA Smallpox. We
Bella. we are shut IN, quarantined."
She didn't faint. She Just sat
down and stared at me. and | stared
back at her. Then miserable alarm
clock on the table suddenly went of
like an explosion. and Bella began te
laugh. knew what that was-hys
terra. She always had attacks like
that when things wentnwrong. Iwas
quite despafring by fethat times
hoped they would all hear her and
come downstairs and take her up and
put her to bed like a Christian, sc
she could giggle her soul out. But
after a bit she quieted down and be.
gan to cry softly, and knew the
worst was over. gave her shake
and she was so angry that she go,
over 1t altogether.
Exit, you are horrid." she choked
sDon't you see what a position an
I'm? am not going upstairs to face
Anne and the rest of them. You can
Just put me in the coal cellar
isn't there window you could gel
through" | 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 said
she would have to get out, because
was playing Bella in the performance
and didn't care to have an under
study Then the situation dawned
on her, and she sat down and laughed
herself weak in the knees. or course
she wanted to stay. then. and see the
fun out. Bu- I was firm; she would
have to go. and l told her so. Things
were complicated enough without her
Well, we looked funny. no doubt
Bella In a Russian pony automobile
coat over the black satin she had
worn at the Cleveland's dinner, and
in cream lace. the skirt gathered up
from the kitchen floor, with Bella's
ermine pelerine around my bare shout
hers, and dishes and overturned chairs
everywhere.
Bella knew more about the lower re.
gions Of her ex-home than | would
have thought. She opened door In
p corner and led the way through a
marrow hall past the refrigerating
room. to huge. cemented cellar
with furnace In the center, and q
half-dozen electric lights making II
really brilliant
"Ctet a chair" Bella said over her
shoulder. excitedly. Il can get out
easily here. through the coal hole.
Imagine my"
But 1t was my turn to grip Bella.
From behind the furnace were coming
the most terrible sounds, rasping
noises that fairly frayed the silk of
my nerves. We stood petrifed for an
instant. Then Bella laughed. They
are not all gone." she said carefully.
Some one Is asleep, there"
We tiptoed to where we could see
around the furnace. and, sure enough,
some one was asleep there. Onls, 1t
was not one of the servants; 1t was
q portiy policeman, with a newspa->
per and an empty plate on the floor
on one side, md a champagne bottle
on the other. He had sid down in his
chair. with his chiA on bis brass but
tons. and his helmet had rolled a
dozen feet away. Bella had to clap
her mouth.
Fairly caught" she whispered.
-Sartor Resartus. the arrester ar
rested On. Jim andvhis fawless serv-
lcei"
But after we got over our surprise.
we saw the situation was serious. The
,oiicsnan was threatening to awaken.