Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22

ndNu EulI d MOIu W uS duOuU III.
said Erebus. That's what looks so
bad 1t looks as il she'd made up her
mind already: and II she has, it's no
use talking to her."
They were silent: and the bright
eyes Of Virgins moved expectantly
backwards and forwards from one to
the other. He preserved a decOrous,
sympathetic silence.
mo; it's no good talking to Num-"
said Erebus presently.
well, We must leave her out Of it.
and just squash the Cruncher," said
the Terror.
But you can't squash the Cruncher.
He's too thick skinned" cried Erebus.
"We'vc squashed other people,
haven't we?" said the Terror in tone
OF reproof. "And I've been thinking.
II stepchildren don't like stepfathers,
there's no reason why stepfnthers
should like stepchildren-at least they
needn't. The Cruncher doesn't really
know us. That's what's wrong. If he
saw the kind of stepchildren he was
in for. it might choke him off,"
but he must see we hate him" said
Erebus.
He doesn't. He can't see anything
And he wouldn't mind If he did: he'd
think 1t joke. My idea isn't to show
him what we feel. but to show him
what we can do. II we give our minds
to it." said the Terror in very sin,
lister tone.
"Oh, yes" cried Erebus; and a daz
zling smile illumined her charming
face. Lets give him socks Let.
begin Mt once!"
They plunged into deep thought, end
ceiling their brains for some signal ex
plot with which to open hostilities.
You might make him an apple-pit
bed. They're very annoying wher
you're sleepy" said Virgins with ar
air of experience.
"What's an apple-pie bed" said
Erebus scornfully.
Virgins hung his head. abashed.
"It's beginning" said the Terror
firmly. little things and big things
they all count"
II was trying to think how to breal
his leg; but l can't" said Erebus bit
terly.
"Come on; let's 90 and make hin
that applc-pie bed. We shall think o
heaps of things II we don't WORT!
about them. They'll occur to us. The!
always do" said the Terror. combining
the practical and the psychologist.
They walked brlskly down to tn
Plough. the inn Of Little Deeping an,
in at the front door. The landlad,
hustled out Of the bar.
"Oh, Mrs. Pittaway, we've come 10
Captain Baster's cigarette case. He
left 1t on his dressing table," said tn
Terror.
Bother! And the bar full too =" sal,
Mrs. Pittaway with frown; but he
eyes frightened as they rested on tn
fair. guileless face Of the Terror.
Don't you trouble; I'll get IT,
know the bedroom" said the Terror
} and he was halfway up the stairs be
fore the last words we're out of hi
mouth.
"Oh, thank you. sir," said Mrs. Pitt
away. bustllng back to the bar.
} Erebus and Virgins dashed light
! W the stairs to the bedroom. In tw
mirUtes the deft hands of the Twin
! had dealt with the bed and their In
, telligent eyes roved round the unprc
tected room. Erebus sprang to tn
shaving-brush on the mantel-piece an
, thrust It under the mattress; the Tel
| ror locked Captain Baster's portmar
tenu. and. az he placed the keys besid
, the shaving brush, said coldly. 9TH
. will give him II lesson In carefulness,
, Erebus giggled then she took tn
, Watering and filled one Of Capital
Baster's inviting dress-bOots with WI;
ter Virgins rocked with laughter.
Then he said: "A clothes-brush |
bed il very annoying when "ou site
= your foot against it."
At once the Terror set the clothe'
brush bristles outward, In the middl
Of the apple-pied sheet, where one G
other of Captain Baster's feet W.
sure to find it. They did not car
, which.
A. they came softly out of the In