Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-11-23

BY the time that willy was ready ia
20 out to breakfast next morning l.
was o O'Clock. aud rs the hour struck
there came "a violent ringing Of the
bell at the. door of his apartment. He
opened it. and Priscilla rushed In. a
newspaper in her hand.
..Oh, this ia dreadful!" she cried.
What shall we do? Mother has read
this!'
She thrust the paper into his hand
and pointed to a loaded paragraph
which ran as follows. being part of
wireless message from the Carin-
thia:
Granville Bailey. who was private sec
retary to Irving Sweetzer and went ABROAD
somewhat hastily when Sweetzer got into
trouble. Is not among the Carinthia's pas
sengers. though he was supposed 10 nave
sailed on this vessel.
Willy cast one glance upon Priscilla.
and all thoughts except of comfort
and assistance vanished from his
mind.
"Oh. that's all right" he said. "Of
course your brother wouldn't sail un'
der his own name. He'd be inter
viewed and all that sort of thing.
which he'd naturally desire to avoid.
But he's aboard. just tell your moth
or not to worry for minute"
"You tell her!' exclaimed the girl.
"She has so much confidence In you"
"Why. with pleasure--of course he
said. There can't be the least doubt
Of 1t. you know"
Mrs Aailey was sitting up. support
ed by pillows and ciutching the bed
clothes with both hands. as II they
typified the world from which she was
slipping away. But the instant that
her eyes lighted on Willy Reeds face
she felt an accession OF courage.
I'm so sorry you were startled"
said Willy. but this is just the very
best thing that could have happened.
or course your son Is aboard the yes,
sci. but not under his own name be-
cause of the reporters and other nui'
sances that would infest his path"
"But why should he send SUCH a
message at all?" said Mrs. Bailey.
1T sounds 30 strange"
"He sent It because he was asked.
said Willy. "rhis paper made an In
quiry."
al didn't think OF that" said she
Naturally l know little about these
matters"
II was illustrator on II newspaper
for quite q long time" said Willy.
adding one more lie to his list land !
know just how it's done. So don't
give yourself a moments unensineSs.'
He took his leave. and Priscilla fol.
lowed him into the hall
How do you do it?" she said. In
admiration.
"Eh?" he cried. startled. II beg
your pardon. Do what|'
"lnspire such confidence. might
have talked to mother till was blue
in the face. and you-you did 1t all
with word. Is 1t because you are
so naturally truthful and sincere?'
81 think not" said Willy. ut
must be something else"
II thank you 80 much. You see,
mother simply lives for Granville's re
turn. She has lost all hope Of recov
cry
But she's going to Sc, well, for all
that" said he There can't be a
doubt Of It,"
"Is her illness like your aunts?'
Willy had forgotten for the moment
that he had an aunt whom his sisters
were supposed to be taking care or
but he remembered In time.
Just precisely" he said. but she
had 1t worse And now she's getting
along splendidly. The doctor writes
that her health will be better than
ever"
"Oh. wish you'd let me show that
letter to mother
II will II | can find IT," said he.
He ate very hasty breakfast and
returned to his apartment, where he
paced the floor In trouble with his con
science.
How did ! get into this habitT he
except when imagined things It's
my cursed Imagination that does this
to me-"
And he proceeded to imagine that he
had confessed every falsehood Of his
whole life to Priscilla and she had for
given him. He thought Of what she
said and CT what he said, and even in
this dream he was confessing lies that
he had never uttered and denying 9th
ers that he dared not confess.
He was interrupted In this moral ex
ercise by the sound of his bell. and
there was something In 1t that struck
to his heart. He admitted Priscilla. ut
terly distracted
"Father has telephoned me that
Granville In not on the Carinthia." she
gasped. but his things are there In
his cabin | made father tell me the
truth He tried to keep 1t from me-"
Ibid your mother hear anythingT
"No; was careful to close all the
doors. You know we had the tee
phone inclosed 80 that 1t would not dis
turb mother. and 1t Is a long way from
her room Father says that mother
must not be told anything. even that
Granville was not aboard. until the
doctor comes
"We'll say the vessel is detained at
quarantine yellow fever or something
Nobody allowed to leave until tomor
row. I'lLfix 1t. Did your father leave
word mt the doctors hOuseY'
"Yes; but. oh. Mr. Reed. know you
can't do this. Your power is In the
truth. and this is lie, You can't tell
itr'
at will come hard" said he. "but III
do It."