The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-02-02
CHAPTER IN,
MIGHT Have Known n.

'SN' -
The minute | had consented re-
GREETED 1t. After ell, what were jim.
my's troubles to me? Why should
help him impose on an unsuspecting
elderly woman? And It was only put
ting OF discovery anyhow. Sooner or
later, she would learn of the divorce.
and-Just at that instant my eyes fell
on Mr.. Harbison-Tom HARRISON. as
Anne called him. He was looking on
with an amused, half-puzzled smile,
while people were rushing around hid.
Ing the roulette wheel and things of
which Miss C%aruthers might disap-
prove, and Betty Mercer was on her
knees winding up a toy bear that Max
had brought her. What would he
think? II was evident that he thought
badly OF US already-that he was con-
t~emptuously amused. and then to
have to ask him to lend himself to the
deceptionl
With a gasp I hurled myself after
Jimmy, only to hear a strange voice
In the hall and to know that | was uoo
late. | was In for 1t, whatever was
coming, 1t was Aunt Selma who was
coming-along the hall, followed by
Jim, who was hopping his face and
trying not to notice the paralyzed ST.
lence In the library.
Aunt Selma met me in the doorway.
To my frantic eyes she seemed to
tower above us by at least a foot. and
beside her Jimmy was a red, perspir-
ing cherub.
Here she Is" Jimmy said. from be-
hind a temporary eclipse Of black
cloak and travelling bag. He was on
top of the situation now, and he was
mendaciously cheerful. He had not
said. Here is my wife," That would
have been a lie. No, Jimmy merely
said, Here she is" II Aunt Selma
chose to think me Bella, was 1t not
her responsibility? And If / chose to
accept the situation, was 1t not mine?
Dallas Brown came forward gravely
as Aunt Selma folded over and kissed
me, and surreptitiously patted me
with one hand while he held out the
other to Miss Caruthers. | loathed
himl
I'VE always expect something I'M
usual from James, Miss Caruthers,"
he said, with his best manner. shut
Is beyond our widest
dreams"
We is too awful to linger over.
Anne ook her upstairs and into
Bella's bedroom. 1t was a fancy of
Jim's to leave hat room just as Bella
had left 1t. dusty dance cards and ia
vors hanging around and a pair of dis
slippers under the bed. | don't
think it had been swept since Bella
eft 1t. | believe in sentiment. but |
like it brushed and busted and the
cobwebs of of it, and when Aunt Sc
lima put down her bonnet, it stirred
up a gray white cloud that made her
She did not say anything, but
she looked around the room grimly,
and / saw her run her finger owe
the back of a chair before she let
Hannah. the maid, put her cloak OIL 1t.
Anne looked frightened. She a
INTO Bella's bath and wet the end of
4 towel and when Hannah vas chang
ing Aunt Selina's collar-her conces
sion to evening dress-Anne wiped
on the obvious places on the furniture.
Whats that young woman's
she asked me sharply. when
Anne had taken the towel VI to hide
i.
Anne Brown, Mrs. Dallas Brown"
meekly. Every one replied
to Aunt Selma.
Does she live here?"
"Oh, no." l said airily, They are
here 20 dinner, she and her husband.
They are old friends of Jim's--and
nine"
Seeing to have a good " for
i.-t." said Aunt Selma and went on
49, A--- uykAA AkA -.A