Putnam patriot., 1912-11-01

| ne Sprang Forward and Caught her
About the Waist.
gone. Come into the sitting room.
light lamp, and let's talk it over"
The lamp was found and lighted at
last. It's radiance frightened the dingy
! sitting room. The sound of wheels
was heard in the lane by the front
gate. A vehicle stopped. Then some
one called a hurried good night. Mr..
| Peppers fear returned
Its herl" he cried. "She's been
ahuntin' for me. Now III get it! You
stand by me, Mr.. Ellery. You got to.
You said you would. But how ON earth
did she get out"
His sister appeared on the threshold.
She was dressed in her Sunday best,
lowered poke bonnet, mitts. imitation
| India shawl, rustling black bombazine
/ gown. She looked at Mr.. Pepper, then
at the minister.
20 Mr. Enery!" she exclaimed, be
/ you here?"
The Reverend John admitted his
presence. Miss Peppers demeanor
surprised him. She did not seem
angry; indeed, she acted embarrassed
and confused as il she, and not her
brother, We're the guilty party
I'm awfully sorry, Mr.. Ellery,"
gushed Lavinia. removing the bonnet.
You see, was invited out to ride
this afternoon and-and-I went"
She glanced at her brother. red
dened-yes, almost blushed-and con-
tinued
you know, 'Bishy." she said.
Thankful Payne's cousins home avis
itin' her. He come about that cousins
will-the other cousin that's just died.
| He's a real nice man-her live cousin
is-keeps a shoe store up to Sandwich.
and | used to know him years ago.
When was over to Thankful's t'other
day. him and me had quite talk. We
| got speakin' OF what nice drives there
was around Trumet and-and-er-
well. he asked me IL wouldn't like to
| go to ride next Sunday afternoon
/ that's today. And ride bein' a good
deal OF a treat to me, / said | would.
| Thankful was goin' too, but-er-er-
she couldn't very well. So Caleb
| that's his name. you remember. 'Bishy
he come round with his horse and
team about hat past three and we
started But I'd no idee twas SO late.
! I-T-meant to tell you | was goin'
'Bish, but l forgot"
I'm so sorry kept you waitin' sup
| per-" gushed Lavinia. III get you a
! good one now Oh. well, deary mel
must be gettin' absent-minded. | amt
asked you where you've been all the
| afternoon"
Abishai's eyes turned beseechingly
toward his promised hacker. Ellery
/ could not resist that mute appeal
your brother has been with me for
some time, Miss Pepper" he volun-
I teered.
ooh, has he? Amt that NIGEL He
couldn't have been in better comp'ny,
/ I'm sure. But, oh, say, 'Bishyl | amt
/ told you how nigh | come to not get
| tin out at all. Just afore Mr. Payne
come, was in that spare room and
you remember | put a spring lock on
| that door? Well, when ! was in there
this afternoon the wind blew the
door shut the lock clicked, and there
I was If I hadn't had the other key
in my pocket don't knows | wouldn't
have been in there yet. That would
have been a pretty mess. wouldn't 1t!
| Hei hei he!"
The Reverend John did not answer
| He could not trust himself to speak
| Just then. When he did 1t was to an
| nounce that he must be getting toward
| home. No, he couldn't stay for sup
| per.
| Miss Pepper went into the kitchen,
and Abishai saw the visitor to the
door Ellery extended his hand and
/ Ryan shook It with enthusiasm.
Want it fine?" he whispered. Talk
about your miracles! Godfreys
mighty, Say, Mr.. Ellery, don't you
ever tell soul how it really was. will
YOU"
mo, OF course not"
mo, know you won't You won't
tell on me and won't tell on you
That's a trade. hey?"
The minister stopped In the middle
Of his step.
What" he said. turning.
| Mr. Pepper merely smiled. wfnked,
and shut the door. John Eliery reflect
ed much during his homeward walk.
| The summer in Trumet drowsed on.
as Trumet summers did In those days.
, when there were no boarders from the
| city, no automobiles or telephones or
antique" collectors. The Sunday din
| ners with the Daniels family were al
most regular weekly functions now.
| He lodged them when he could. but
| he could not do so often without tell
| ing an absolute lie. and this he would
| not do. And, regularly, when the sol
emn meal was eaten, Captain Elkanan
vent upstairs for his nap and the Rev
erend John was left alone with Anna
bel. Miss Daniels did her best to be
entertaining, was. In fact, embarrass-
| iagly confidential and cordial II was
| hard work to get away. and yet. some
how or other at the stroke or four.
the minister always said good-by and
took his departure.
What is your hurry. Mr.. ElieryF
| begged AnnabeI on one occasion when
the reading OF Moore's. poems had
been interrupted in the middle oy the
guests sudden rising and reaching TOT
ais hat Il don't see why you always