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

bank presiden. and corporation diree-
tor. felt slow, cold, cian1my chill
creeping up his spinal column. His
/ FIRST instructive desi,r, like that of the
small boy caught robbing an apple or
chard, was to hide. Last night was
one of those unfortunate occurrences
il were best to pass over IN silence. He
turned and glanced at the house. The
general and the girls apparently still
slept. and no country variety of New
Yorks finest" with warrant and shot
gun could be seen approaching. Al
phonse looked up from the car and
gazed a moment at the house with the
t-scornful indifference for the law and
its minions of the confirmed joy-rider.
Il do not see any one" said Bart
lett. with calm dignity.
They are creeping up on u.s. said
the Watermelon cheerfully. Trust the
rube to do the thing up in style. Three
by the gate and talked, pointing up
help, / suppose, and the other two
are waiting down there"
Il will go and explain that it was
mistake said Bartlett
Now, don't do that adjured the
Watermelon II was Just possible that
the police had already picked up his
trail and he preferred the chance of
escaping in a car TO stealing away by
himself, through the woods, tramp
again, leaving behind him Billy and a
week of fun "Alphonse can bring up
the cars and we can slip away before
the re-enforcements come. See"
Il will explain that it was mis-
take"
Mistakes" said the Watermelon
coldly. aren't on the cards in school
and the law Come up to the house
and see the others first. anyway"
One can afford mistakes as well as
any other luxury said Bartlett.
Money is all the fellows want"
Lets talk it over first with the
others. anyway urged the Water
melon. feeling that It might be that
money was not all they wanted
They found the general and the girls
in the kitchen putting it in order.
Certainly" said the general with
the calmness of one immune from the
law. We will explain"
WHAT asked Henrietta, as she
drew shut the basket lid and slipped
in the catch.
Father used to say that If what
you've done makes fight, explana-
tons will only make another" said
the Watermelon. While he had the
time he realized that he should slip
away, but there was a chance that the
police, finding their youthful quarry in
the society OF general and a reputa-
bic and wealthy citizen of New York.
could be impressed with the belief that
they had made mistake, and the
Watermelon was always ready to take
chances. Still, there was no need OF
running needless risk, and If he could
persuade them all to escape with him in
the cars, he would do it
Henrietta nodded. Billy was for an
instant fight we might as we'll she
explained lucidly, cycling her father
questioningly.
Not at all" said Bartlett Money
is all they want"
An explanation" said the general,
will be sufficient We do not want
any tampering with the law He pick
ed up his hat and started Tor the door
as he would sally forth and demand
the surrender of beaten foe.
But. father" Henrietta's clear voice
made him pause, what can we ex-
plain?" She pushed back her auto veil
and gazed from one to the other in
gentle depreciation. How We got in,
But they wouldn't want US to explain
that You see, they can surmise that
q. The general came back to the table.
a little firmness, tempered with a lucid
explanation in words of one syllable
had always been his method in deal
ing with the weaker sex. My dear
Henrietta, we can explain why We are
here"
Why are WEI" asked Henrietta
meekly.
"Why are we:" demanded the gen.
eral Because we took it for the house
OF a very old and dear friend"
But as soon as we entered, father,
we knew our mistake
Henrietta" said the general, "1 can
not argue with you.
NO. father agreed Henrietta. But
when We found out our mistake. why
didn't we leave:'
Il cannot argue with YOU. Hen
rietta." repeated the general
Money" said Bartlett, is all they
want. They always fine all motorists
for breaking speed laws. 1t becomes a
sort of habit with them.
This amt breaking the speed laws.
warned the Watermelon. This is
HOUSEKEEPING
Sir" demanded the general, do
you accuse me. me. of HOUSEKEEPING:
The whole damn family" said the
Watermelon bruskly. He wanted to
slip away quietly. whether the men at
the gate were waiting for him alone or
for all of them, having tramp's dis
like for anything that smacked of
possibility OF falling into the hands Of
the law. This is some different from
speedbreaking' he added gloomily.
This Is preposterous cried the
general. That l, /. should be arrested!
Why, refuse to be. No one has a
right to arrest me"
IF you break into another persons
house, father began Henrietta.
But. Henrietta, am not house
breaker. l deny the charge"
I'VE all are" said Henrietta. That
is all | can see to it."
Money began Bartlett again, the
refrain Of his life He felt he could
not be arrested and hailed before mag
istrate, even such an humble one as
country justice of the peace. His
whole scheme would be ruined Batch
elor would probably want to return
to the city as soon as he could bail