The Detroit times., 1912-10-21

their food.
Want anything?" asked the girl.
No, thank you" replied Henrietta
gently, feeling that In Judging the
s.sbleboy she had somehow injured
the girl.
The girl fingered a moment. glanced
Significantly at the clock, and went
out.
who could 1t be?" asked Billy.
pleasantly excited.
why, this is terrible" said Henri
eta. ''If the boy didn't do II. there
Is no one else who could have, but
the family"
1T looks that way" admitted the
Watermelon.
What shall we dor" gasped Billy.
What shall we pay them within"
The slatternly girl again appeared
In the doorway much to the generals
nervousness.
Want anything?" she asked. and
glanced again at the clock.
NO" said Henrietta. no, thank
you"
IL will speak to Parker" declared
the general as the girl left.
'T wish you didn't have to-" sighed
Henrietta. Its horrid to lose your
money, but II must be 30 much worse
to need money 80 that you would steal
It."
But that's the test Of honesty" de-
clared the general. ITO need money
and not steal"
II know" admitted Henrietta, push
Ing aside her coffee cup. Il do ad-
mire strong people who can resist.
but I'm so much sorrier for the weak
who cant. It's pitiful, that's what
II is"
"Yes." cried Billy, an usual carried
away by her feelings. "Let'D not say
q thing"
The door opened for the third time,
but instead of the ineffective maid
servant, the farmers wife, fat, red
checked, good-natured. entered.
SRv approached the table and
smiled jovially from one to the other.
II hope you liked everything she
said with q gentle hint in her tones
that they had fingered around the
breakfast table long enough. "Have
you had plenty, General? Can't I get
you some more coffee, Miss Cross
man?"
GA LTwo-25 Story --Snitz :. -.
"No, thank you," said the general,
confused and unhappy.
Mrs. Parker smiled still. 'T am
glad you liked everything. Your man
should be back soon. He hasn't had
any breakfast yet"
"Where'd he go?" asked the gen.
eral, feeling that that was safe enough
ground.
my husband thinks that he went
out In one Of the automobiles very
early, for he found one OF them gone"
did your husband see him go?"
asked Bartlett
"Oh. no. but he thinks he must
have gone because there Is only one
automobile"
"Oh, yes" said Henrietta, and
stared at the others, fearful Of read
Ing her own crushing suspicion In
their eyes.
Alphonse, the quiet, blase, peerless
Alphonse? Could II be he? That Al
phonse had gone for an early morn
Ing spin lured by the dew on the
clover fields, by the sweet chorus OF
awakening birds, borne by the unsup-
pressible desire to see the shy, sweet
advent of new day creeping up the
flushed and rosy sky, was wholly out
of the question. Alphonse's soul, in
the early morning hours, was filled
only with the beauty and glory OF
bed. The general had always been
forced to arouse his serving-man and
the process had often been painful.
calling for sternness and suppressed
wrath on the generals part. Alphonse
thief was more believable than Al
phonse getting out OF bed uncalled.
Billy was the first to speak.
The car" she whispered.
"Oh, yes" said the landlady hastily,
not quite sure what had happened or
was to happen by the expression on
the faces before her. "Oh, yes" reas-
suringly, "he took the car. My hus-
band wasn't up when he went"
The general rose, his face red with
anger. "If he has taken my car" he
thundered, II shall have him prose-
cuted whether Henrietta likes It or
not"
"It's an outrage" sympathized Bart
lett. I'VE can telegraph the police"
oh" moaned Henrietta, "I did love
that car"
The landlady sought to reassure
them in a calm, placid manner that
savored OF big, gentle-eyed COW.
why, he has only gone for a ride.
He went"
The general paused In the doorway.
He went last night, madam" said he
coldly, and slightly dramatically. for
the general never believed In spelling
q good story by mild delivery. And
he took not only the car, but all our
money"
Led by the general and followed by
the landlady, they made for the barn.
There, In the middle of the floor
where last night two cars had stood
side by side, q red and a blue, was
now only one, q big, blue Packard. A
.fcw hens stepped dalntily here and
there. around and under II, while the
cat cleaned her paws contentedly1
from her seat on the running.board.
The general stopped In the doorway
and stared. His mar? And such
wave of thanksgiving rushed over him
that Il was not his car that was miss
ing that he felt he owed Alphonse
debt OF gratitude and forgave him I'M
mediately. i
my car" said he, and chuckled
with relief.
where's miner" demanded Bart
lett, growing red and angry.
'sWhere's Alphonser suggested the