The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-06-23
CHAPTER XIV. (continued.)

1t was a transparent plot on Bella's
part: Two elderly ladies, house miles
from anywhere, long evenings in the
music room with an open fire and
Bella at the harp playing the two
songs she knows.
When we were ready and gathered
in the kitchen, in the darkness, of
course, Dal went up on the roof and
signaled with a lantern to the cars
on the drive. Then he went down
stairs, took last look at the draw
ing-room, fired the papers, shook the
powder, opened the windows and
yelled 'fire!"
Of course, huddled in the kitchen,
we had heard little or nothing. But
we plainly heard Dal 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 Selma!
That was the cause of the whole
trouble I don't know why they turned
on me; she wasn't my aunt. But by
the time they had got her out of bed,
and had wrapped her in an eiderdown
comfort. and stuck slippers on her
feet and motor veil on her head, the
glare at the front of the house was
derstand at all, and we had no time to
explain. remember that she wanted to
go back and get her plate" whatever
that may be, but 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 a fence and a gate, which
opened on a side street. Jim and
Aunt Selma ran straight for the gate );
the wind blowing Aunt Selinas COM
fort like a sail Then, with our feet,
so to speak, on the first rung of the
ladder of liberty, it slipped half
dozen guards and reporters came
around the house and drove us back
like sheep into a slaughter pen. 1t
vas the most humiliating moment of
my life.
Dal had been for fighting a way
through. and just for a minute I
think | went Berserk myself But
Max spied one of the reporters setting
up a flash-light as we stood, unde-
cided at the top Of the steps, and
safter that there was nothing to do but
retreat. We backed slowly, to show
them we were not afraid. And when
we were all in the kitchen again, and
lad turned on the lights and Bella
was crying with her head against Mr.
Harbison's arm. Dal said cheerfully:
We'll. 1t has done some good, any
how. We have lost Aunt Selma"
And we all shook hands on 1t, al
though we were sorry about Jim. And
Dal said we would have some cham
2agne and drink to Aunt Selina's COM
fort, and we could have her teeth
fumigated and send them to her.
Somebody said Poor old JIM" and at
that Bella looked up.
She stared around the group, and
then she went quite pale.
"Jim." she gasped DO you mean
-thct jim is-out there, too?"
I'm and Aunt Selina," said as
calmly as could for Joy. You see
how it simplified the situation for me.
by this time they are mile away.
and going,"
Everybody shook bands again ex-
cept Bella. She had dropped into a
chair. and sat biting her lip and
breathing hard. and she would not
Join in any of the hilarity at getting
rid of Aunt Selma Finally she got
up and knocked over her chair.
You are a lot of cowards,' she
stormed You deserted them out
there. left them. Heaven knows
where they area defenseless old
woman, ard-and a man who did not
even have an overcoat And 1t is
snowingH
Never mind" Dal said. reassuring-
sly. "He can borrow Aunt Selma g
comfort. Make the old lady discard
from weakness. Anyhow, Bella, if
{ know anything of human nature, the
old lady will make it hot enough for
/, him Poor old JIM"
' Then they shook hands again, and
kwith that there came a terrible bang
ing at the door, which we had locked.
open the door" some one COM
marded. 1t was one of the guards.
"Oren it YOURSELF" Dallas called,
moving kitchen table to re~enforce
the lock