The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-08
He COMES UP SMILING sz eHARIES sHEN11N

the window. One merely got on,
oysin, quietly. and with no unayoid.
able delay.
| Ihs general, with rare nerve, took
bite from the sandwich and laid il
IN the table. He drew his handker-
chief and wiped his hands, Il will get
the blue book" he began busily, his
mouth still rather full
i I'VE don't need the blue book to tell
us to get out" said Henrietta, BIT
tartly She looked at the dainty pile
of sandwiches, the cold chicken, cakes
and olives on the table with the wooden
plates and gay paper napkins she had
arranged for the coming feast and hesi-
tated She wished some one was
courageous enough to suggest that they
eat before they leave.
Certainly not" said the general.
But il we had consulted them before
we left"
Sort of in the fashion of an oracle,
sneered Henrietta as she began slow
| ly to gather up the napkins, and the
wooden plates.
Tell me-" said Bartlett calmly. inn
personally, not as one desiring an ar
gument. but simply as humble seeker
after knowledge. with no prior views
on the subject, tell me, can ybu never
make mistake if you have blue
book"
NO said Henrietta. "never. With
the blue book one could go directly to
heaven. 1t would be impossible not to. y
Billy laughed
Billy would laugh at her funeraf,"
said Bartlett coldly.
I'VE haven't anything TO cry about.
said the Watermelon. frankly uncon-
ccrned. ITS for the man who owns
the house TO do the crying"
How did we get here" demanded
the general, as Alphonse went to get
the blue book, for the general could no
longer be gainsaid in his desire for
his book rs this where the Higgins
home should be:'
why, no, father" said Henrietta,
''or it would be here.
Il meant, Henrietta. did we come
the right way! If We took every turn
and have come far enough and not
too far, this should be the Higgins
house"
1t should be-" admitted Bartlett,
+, but it amt"
Through the open door came the
many noises OF the summer night,
the incessant hum of insects. the plain
tive cry of the whippoorwill. the stri-
dent chorus of the frogs in the pond
| back of the barn. A moth. fiuttcring
around the dingy lamp, fell on the
table with scorched wings and Billy
tenderly pushed it on a plate and car
ried it to the door.
why not eat here?" suggested the
Watermelon, unimpressed by the aspect
of the affair as It struck the others.
I'VE can hunt for the Higginses after
ward. They ought to be around some
where unless we're helplessly lost
Henrietta smiled and took out the
napkins she had laid in the basket.
1T won't take us long" she agreed
| We don't need to have any tea"
NO" protested Bartlett, glsncing at
the door and listening for-the crunch
of wheels on the gravel without, no,
We must leave at once. We aren't
lost. The Higginses' is probably the
next house"
Suppose it isn't" said Billy.
Just So" said the general. We will
return to the village and put up at the
hotel. 1t isn't late"
It's half past eleven" said Hen
rietta, glancing at her watch.
Alphonse returned. blase. indifferent
There are no books said he, devoid
of all interest in the affair
NO books ?" cried the general AL
phonse. what has become of them? Did
you take them out OF the car before
we left?"
No" said Alphonse, and violent,
positive protestations could not have
been more convincing.
But where are they: | left them in
the car"
They probably fell out. father" said
Henrietta.
They never have falten out before
snorted the general, with base sus-
picions against Henrietta.
We can get another Tomorrow
said Henrietta. we will simply re-
turn TO the hotel in the village for the
night" And once more she replaced
the napkins in the basket
Yes" agreed Bartlett There is a
good hotel near the railroad tracks"
Where are the railroad tracks,
asked the general, who had lost all
faith in Bartlett's knowledge of the
country. We passed no railroad
tracks"
Just before you come to the village"
retorted Bartlett. frritated as a bad
gered animal You have to cross
as you come up the main street"
I'VE crossed nonc," said the general,
with the indifference of one who real
ICES that there is no more to hope for.
The boat is sinking. let it sink The
last cent gone and the landlord coming
for two months rent Let him come.
NO" said Billy gently, we didn't,
father"
Why we did, we must have" pro-
tested Bartlett. Il always come here
on the railroad train. They have to
flag. it. but it stops. Why, ] know
there are tracks there"
The general did not attempt to ar
que. I'VE are lost" said he. and one
knew that the unfortunate event was
entirely due to the scorn of others for
the blue book.
NO" said Henrietta kindly, there
were no tracks. l remember saying to
Billy | was glad there was one town
not spoiled by the garish contamination
of the world Didn't |. Billy?"
YES. she did," admitted Billy, look
ing pityingly at her father
IF we didn't pass through Wayne,
we are lost and the Higgins home is