The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-19
CHAPTER XIV. (cOntInued.)


It 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 we're 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. 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 a motor veil on her head, the
glare at the front of the house was
beginning to die away. She didn't un-
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 Selina's COM
fort like a sail. Then, with our feet,
30 to speak, on the first rung of the
ladder of liberty, 1t slipped. A half
dozen guards and reporters came
around the house and drove US back
like sheep into a slaughter pen. It
was the most humiliating moment Of
my life.
Dal had been for fighting a way
through, and Just for a minute
think l went Berserk myself. But
Max spied one Of the reporters setting
up a fash-light as we stood, unde-
cided, at the top Of the steps, and
after 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
had turned on the lights and Bella
was crying with her head against Mr..
Harbison's arm, Dal sAid, cheerfully:
well, it has done some good, any
how. We have loaG Aunt Selma"
And we oil shock hands on 1t, al
though we we're sorry about Jim. And
Dal said we wQuld have some cham
payne and drinR to Aunt Selina's COM
fort, and We could have her teeth
fumigated End send them to her.
Somebody said Poor old Jim," and at |
that Bella looked up
She stared around the group, and
then sne went quite pale.
"Jim!" she gasped. do you mean
that Jim is-out there, too?"
"Jim and Aunt Selinai" said as
calmly as could for Joy. You see
how It simplified the situation for me.
"By this time they are a mile away,
and going!"
Everybody shook hands 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 lot Of cowards," she
stormed. "You deserted them out
there, left them. Heaven knows
where they area defenseless old
woman, and--and a man who did not
even have an overcoat. And 1t is
Never mind" DaI said, reassuring-
ly. "He can borrow Aunt Selina's
comfort. Make the old lady discard
from weakness. Anyhow, Bella, If l
know anything of human nature, the
old lady will make It hot enough for
him. Poor old Jim!"
Then they shook hands again, and
With that there came a terrible bang
Ing at the door, which we had locked.
"Open the door!" some one com
It was one Of the guards.
"Open It yourself!" Dallas called,
moving a kitchen table to re-enforco
he lock. =