The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-05

"Then she's not doubtful now. She
hasn't said a word TO US about it,"
said Erebus That's what looks so
bad. IL looks as If she'd made up her
mind already; and if 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. lie preserved a decorous,
sympathetic silence.
no; 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've squashed other people,
haven't WEI" said the Terror In tone
Of reproor "And I've been thinking.
lf stcpchildren don't like stepfathers,
there's no reason why stepfathers
should like stepchlldren-at least they
needn't, The Crunchcr doesn't really
know ms. That's what's wrong. If he
cav The Kind Of stepchlldren he was
In for. 1t might t'choke him Of"
but he must see we hate him." said
Erebus.
"IIe doesn't. He can't see anything.
And he wouldn't mind If he did he'd
think II joke, My idea isn't 20 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 daZ-
Zling smile illumined her charming
face. lets give him socks Let's
begin at once !"
They plunged into deep thought, cud-
ceiling their brains for some signal eX-
plOlt with which 10 open hostillties.
You might make him an applc-pie
bed. They're very annoying when
you're sleepy" said Virgins with an
air of experience.
whats an apple-pie bedy' said
Erebus scornfully,
Wlggins hung his head, abashod.
It's beginning" said the Terror
firmly. Little things and big things ;
they all count"
~ was trying TO think how to brenl,
his leg but l can't" said Erebus BIT
terly.
"Come on: let's go and make him
that applc-ple bed We shall think of
heaps Of things If we don't worry
about them. They'll occur 10 us They
always do" said the Terror combining
the practical ana the psychologist,
They walked brlsllly down TO the
Plough, the inn Of Little Deeplng, and
in at the front door. The landlady
hustled out of the bar.
"Oh, Mrs. Pittaway, we've come for
Captain Baster's cigarette case. He's
left II on his dressing table" said the
Terror
Bother! And the bar full too !" said
Mrs. Pittaway with frOwn but her
eyes frightened as they rested on the
fair, gulleless face OF the Terror.
Don't you trouble; I'll get II. |
know the bedroom" said the Terror
and he was halfway up the stairs be-
fore the last words were out Of his
mouth
"Oh thank you, sir" said Mrs. Pitt
away, bustling back TO the bur,
Erebus and Virgins dashed lightly
up the stairs TO the bedroom. In two
nmltes the deft hands OF the Twins
had dealt with the bed; and their in
teligent eyes royed round the unpro'
tected room. Erebus sprang to the
shaving brush on the mantel-plece and
thrust Il under the mattress; the Ter
ror locked Captain Baster's portman
teNu, and. as he placed the keys beside
the shavlng-brush, said coldly, "fhiS
will give him a lesson In carefulness.'
Erebus glggled; then she took the
Watering and filled one of Captain
Baster's inviting dress-boots with wa
ter Virgins rocked with laughter
Then he said: "a clothes-brush In
bed Is very annoying when you stics
your foot against H."
AT once the Terror set the clothes
brush brlstles outward In the middle
of the apple-pied sheet, where one OF
other of Captain Basters feet was
sure TO find It, They did not care
which.
As they came softly out Of the Inn