The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-08-17
umped aboard a car and reached the

house almost as quickly. 1t was still
boarded up and repeated pressures on
the push button elected no response.
For half an hour Blair patrolled the
street in front of the house, then a
private Waterman warned him away
and as he did not care to offer expla-
nation he had to go.
The next morning as he was dress
ing he glanced out of the window and
on passing car beheld Mrs. Story in
an end seat on the open car and next
to her was Billy. 1t was easy to
imagine that Bell and her father were
further along on the seat and with
scowling face Blair went down to
breakfast.
Now he was certain that they were
in town and hiding from him and he
determined to find them if he had to
engage the services of detectives. 1t
was a dirty trick, he told himself, and
the more he thought about it the more
angry he grew.
Half a dozen times that afternoon
he passed the Story home, and each
time the temptation to press the but
ton was too strong to be resisted.
There was no answer and Blair went
sullenly to dinner, and later in the
evening he resumed his watch.
This time he had not been on guard
ten minutes when he beheld Billy hur-
rying toward him conveying huge
pitcher. He smiled on Blair as he ap-
preached and shouted greeting.
Looking for u.s." he cried. Il guess
mall let you come in"
Il scarcely think So" responded
Blair coldly. 81 rang for about five
minutes"
1--WE took the wires off the bell"
explained Billy with another grin.
"You have to go down to the base
ment and knock five times. We're on
a vacation. You've been missin' lots
of fun.
i "You see pa wanted to go to the
mountains and ma wanted to go to
the shore. Ma most always gets her
way, but pa gave in last year, and he
said that he'd go to the mountains or
he'd go nowhere. Ma, she said she'd
go to Atlantic City or she'd go no.
where. Pa, he smiles and says all
right. Well play the second choice
Well go nowhere Then we boarded
up the house and we're Twin out in
the backyard in tents half the time,
and the other half the time we live on
the roof. We have ice cream for din
ner every day, and we rush the pitch
er to the soda fountain for root beer
when we stay home. 1t costs lot OF
money to go away, and pas spending
that on fun instead. We wrote you to
come back"
81 never got the letter" said Blair
acidly.
.Not even the invitation to Bells
wedding?" asked Billy in surprise.
| cts one of that sort of invitation that
you get after it happens. Fred Wild
mer took Bell out for trolley ride
and they came back married. He said
/ Bell wanted to go to Saratoga and
that was as good place as any Tor a
honeymoon"
For moment Blair was speechless,
then he said something under his
breath.
What did you say z" asked Billy, re-
garding him with mild curiosity. He
had never seen Blair look like that be-
fore.
Il said there was such a thing as
being too diplomatic" explained Blair,
editing out the dashes on the boys &C,
count. 'sYou tell your mother | won't
come in. i don't feel very we'll!
Billy, suddenly remembering his
soda, hurried into the house, and Blair
headed for his apartments where he
could comfortably curse the strategy
BY which he hoped to steal a march
on his rival and the stubbornness OF
the Storys.'