The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-07-07
CHAPTER XXI. (cOntlnued.)

AuRk Selma put her clothes in a tub
In the laundry and proceeded to dress
them like a vegetable. She threw in
handful OF salt, some kerosene oil
and little ammonia. The result was
villainous, but after she tasted it-or
snufed it-she said It needed bar
Of soap cut up to give It strengthen
iavor-and went into the store-room
for It.
The laundry soap was in a box. l
took In a silver fork, for I hated to
touch the stuff, and jabbed a bar sue
eessfully In the semi-darkness. Then
carried 1t back to the laundry and
dropped it on the table. Aunt Selma
looked at the fork with disgust, then
we both looked at the soap. One side
Of 1t was covered with round holes
that curved around on each other like
coiled snake.
ran back to the store-room. and
there, little bit sticky and smelling
terribly of rosin, lay Annes pearl
necklacel
/ was so excited that seized Aunt
Selma by the hands and danced her
all over the place. Then I left her.
trying to find her hairpins on the floor,
and ran up to tell the others. met
Betty in the hall, and waved the
pearls at her. But she did not notice
them.
rs Mr.. HARRISON down there?" she
asked breathlessly. Il left him on the
roof and went down to my room for
my scarf, and when l went back he
had disappeared. He-he doesn't
seem to be in the house." She tried
TO laugh, but her voice was shaky
HE couldn't have got down without
passing me, anyhow" she supplements
ed. Il suppose I'm silly, but SO many
queer things have happened, Kit"
Il wouldn't worry, Betty" I soothed
her. He is big enough to take care
Of himself. And with the best inten-
tons in the world, you can't have him
all the time, you know"
She was too much startled to he in.
aignant. She followed me into the
library, where the sight of the pearls
produced tremendous excitement.
and then every one had to 20 down
TO the store-room, and see where the
necklace had been hidden, and Max
examined all the bars of soap for
thumb prints.
Mr.. HARRISON did not appear MAY
commented on the fact caustically.
but Dal hushed him up.
/ was almost ready for bed when
Jim tapped at my door. l had been
very cool to him since the night in
the library when was publicly staked
and martyred and he was almost
eringing when l opened the door.
What is It now?" l asked cruelty.
Has Bella tired of it already, or has
somebody else a rash?"
Don't be shrew, Kit" he said. II
don't want you to do anything. 1
only-when did you see HARRISON
last?"
IF you mean last" retorted, I'm
afraid l haven't seen the last Of him
yet" Then 1 saw that he was really
worried. Betty was leading him to
the roof" | added. why? Is he
missing?"
HE isn't anywhere in the house
Dal and l have been over every inch |
Of IT," Max had come up, in dress
Ing gown, and was watching me in
solently.
Il think we have seen the last Of
him." he said. I'm sorry, Kit, to nip |
the little romance in the bud. The
fellow was crazy about you-there's
no doubt Of it. But I've been watch
ing him from the beginning, and l |
think I'm upheld. Whether he went |
Gown the water-spout, or across a
board to the next house"
tt dislike him intensely" I said
Rngrily, "but you would not dare to
say that to his face. He could stran-
gle you with one hand"
Max laughed disagreeably.
well, / only hope he is gone" he
threw at me over his shoulder, Il
wouldn't want to be responsible to
your father If he had stayed" was
speechless with wrath.
They went away then, and could
haar them going over the house. Az
pao ocloCll 1lm went up to bed. the