The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-08
CHAPTER K.
The Deserted House.

XIV FOND Full, won
NAf derfulp murmured Hen
wv rietta in the tones of the
famous Watson.
Bartlett looked at the house and nod
ded gloomily Il guess you are right.
Funny they should have left without
writing me about it. have known
them for years"
/ Il will get the blue book" said the
general, with the calm satisfaction OF
one who at last comes into his own.
I'VE can return to the nearest vii
lage-"
What do we want blue book to
do that for?" sneered Bartlett. Il
should think two motor cars could do
it, provided we followed the road
Hold on a shake" said the Water
melon. II will get in window and
open the door"
1--WE had better not" objected Hem
rietta. Wouldn't that be housebreak-
ing?'
The general agreed Certainly. 1t
is warm and we can spend the night
outside quite comfortably if you do not
want to return to the village"
Billy shuddered and glanced appeal
| ingly at the Watermelon. A deserted
house was bad enough, but outside
where the owls called dismally from
the woods and where bats fitted by
in the dark held possibilities infinitely
worse.
Il have known these people longer
than d have Billy" said Bartlett. /
used to come here when | was kid.
1t will be all right to break in. They
are like my own folks"
The Watermelon Immediately jump
ed to the porch, disdaining the few
steps. and disappeared behind the vines
which covered one end and concealed
the window
Bartlett turned reassuringly to the
] general. 1T will be all right, Charlie.
Don't worry about it. Why. I've al
ways called Mrs. Higgins Aunt Sally"
Visions of hot sausages, bread, and
milk die hard when one is hungry and
the general snorted. That's all right.
am hungry enough to break into the
BiSk of England if it resulted in some
| thing to eat, but what can We md IN
an empty house"
4
Billy pinched her. If you think there
are ghosts in there, Henrietta, SIM
ply won't go in"
Certainly there are ghosts" said
Henrietta. There always are in empty
houses. Where else do you find
them"
1--WE will return to the village" de-
clared the general, and get something
to eat. | will get the book"
An empty house is better than the
countryside" said Bartlett. "And we
have plenty to cat in that basket Hen
rietta put up
IF there is something to cat wav-
cred the general :.
A light cleaned a moment through
the crack of the door and then the
door opened and the Watermelon grim
ned at them in the light of small
smoky lamp he held
| Where did you get the lamp
asked the general as the Watermelon
led the way in.
Found it." said the Watermelon.
The place is furnished The family
is probably only away for visit He
set the lamp on the table and from
long habit wiped his dusty hand on his
trouser leg. Il fell over everything in
the room before l got next to the
fact"
He glanced about with some pride
and the others stood in a semi-circle
and stared around The room was
typical country kitchen, huge stove
side by side with large chintz-covered
rocking chair. A dress for the
crockery and haircloth lounge took
up one side. There was center table
with a red checked cloth, few chairs
and a sewing machine near the win
dow. On the walls were number of
! cheap prints and several huge adver-
Using calendars with gay pictures of
Young women in large hats and low
cut dresses.
Bartlett glanced around and at every
unfamiliar object his heart sank lower
and lower and his first sickening sus-
picion became painful fact. He had
never been IN that room before. The
Higginses had never lived there. Every
thing was strange, the furniture. the
rugs, the very shape of the room.
Where were they? Whose house had
they unceremoniously broken into? A
clammy chill crept down Bartlett's back
and his ford face grew still redder.
None of the others was noticing him.
The general was proving around to
see that the enemy could not come
upon them unawares The Watermelon
had lifted the basket on to the table
and the girls were preparing gayly to
set forth the repast, all three rum
maging in closets and drawers for
plates and knives and forks
The general returned to the table
"All serene along the Potomac" said
L. L l. l.. Il
cts and peering into the basket with
renewed hope Henrietta smiled gay
ly. She had pushed aside her auto
veil, her checks were flushed with the
Joy of the adventure and her eyes
bright.
Father" said she. Gin all our lives,
we have never had an adventure be-
fore, because you persist in using those
blue books"