The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-03-24
Copyright. by Short Stories Co., Ltd


oh what is so rare as a day-a de-
cent day-in November" said Kate
fervently. She stood In the warmth
of the little side porch and smiled
approvingly at the yellow light.
Margaret appeared at the dining
room door, her apron over her arm,
obliglngly ready for conversation.
Il suppose" said Kate, that moth
er would be worried if she knew that
we we're alone" She smiled with
gentle tolerance at this weakness Of
her parent. II don't feel in the least
afraid, do you, Margaret"
mot mel" said Margaret, stoutly.
The young girl leaned against the
hammock rope and gaEed off across
the landscape. 81 think will go for
a walk" she said do look at the
purple on those hills, Margaret"
Miss Flynns countenance became
dubious.
IT'S gettin a deal colder" she OBJ
served, ignoring the purple on the
hills.
"II get my jacket. 1t is too fine
an afternoon to waste indoors"
The sun had all but gone when she
returned. Rose color lay in her
cheeks; her eyes were shining.
still on the porch, Margaret" she
called, gaily. as she spied that dam
sells robust form what is the mat
teri" She had come close enough to
see the expression on Miss Flynn's
map-of-Ireland countenance.
ITS a thramp!" said Margaret,
sepulchrally.
The rose color fed Miss Fara-
leigh's cheeks.
"Where?" she breathed.
He's in the kitchen eatin' dough-
nuts and maxim up lies" said Mar
garet, with the grim quiet of one
whose message needs no added force
of words.
For a moment Kate was lost in
deep, strategic thought. Then she
bent forward and whispered:
I'VE must lock him in.
you must get him up the back
stairs" continued the commanding
general, hurriedly. "Tell him the lady
of the house wishes to see him. Then
you must go through into the blue
room and lock the door on that side.
Meanwhile will go after and lock the
door of the back stairs behind him"
Margaret's face was a study as
Miss Faraleigh evolved this mastery
scheme, and she realized that hers
was to be the leading role, but all her
objections were overruled, and with
blank face and tagging steps she
moved kitchenward.
The dining-room lay between the
kitchen and the piazza, and Kate,
pausing there, had just glimpse of a
big, red-faced man as he got up and
with a slight limp followed Margaret.
She crept across the kitchen and lis
tened at the door. She heard Mar
garet say, wait here till speak to
the missus" Then she heard the door
slam and the bolt shoot.
The tramp appeared to realize the
situation He turned instantly and
was halfway down the stairs before
Kate could get the door shut. What
a wicked, face!" she thought, with a
shudder, as she turned the key and
fled back to the side porch. Margaret
came around from the front part of
the house, smile of self-gratulation
broadly
81 think I'll offer him a chair, Kate
said.
She rose and went bravely back to
the kitchen, picturing, pityingly, a |
worn and tattered vagrant standing |
wearily at the top of her back stairs. |
look of perplexity perched upon her
brow as she paused with a prelimi- |
nary little cough.
What shall l call him?" she quer
led, glancing back at Margaret, who |
had followed as far as the door.
Call me BERTHE" suggested voice,
so close that they both started
'He is listening" whispered Kate. |
as one who imparts strange fact. |
DO you want chair?" aloud.
'Yes." eagerly. but in a half-choked
Il do" was the answer, but there
was fiippancy about the tone that
did not inspire confidence. She hesi-
tated, thought it over, looked at Mar
garets uncompromising face, and |
waited She heard him go up the
steps, but he could so easily come
down, and it takes so long to put a
chair through a door Pity struggled