The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-02-08

the woods and where bats fitted by In
the dark held possibilities infinitely
worse.
II have known these people longer
than I have Billy" said Bartlett. Il
used to come here when I was a kid.
1t will be all right to. break in. They
are like my own folks
The Watermelon immediately
Jumped to the porch, disdaining the
few steps, and disappeared behind the
vines which covered one end and con.
cealed the window.
Bartlett turned reassuringly to the
general. ut will be all right, Charlie.
Don't worry about 1t. 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
Bank Of England If it resulted in some
thing to eat, but what can we find in
an empty house1''
/ Ghosts" said Henrietta.
Billy pinched her. "lf you think
there are ghosts in there, Henrietta,
I simply won't 90 In"
Certainly there are ghosts" said
Henrietta. '"There always are in
empty houses: Where else do you ind
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 eat In that basket Hen
rietta put up"
IF there is something to eat" wa
vered the general. j., e.
A light cleaned a moment through
the crack Of the door and then the
door opened and the Watermelon
grinned at them in the light Of small
smoky lamp he held. nv
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. II fell over, every
thing In the room before I got next to
the fact"
He glanced about with some pride
and the others stood in q semicircle
and stared around. The room was
typical country kitchen, a huge stove
side by side with a large chints-cov-
cred rocking-chair. A dresser for the
crockery and 1aircloth lounge took
up one side. There was center table
with red checked cloth, few chairs
and sewing machine near the win
dow.
Bartlett glanced around and at every
unfamiliar object his heart sank low
er and lower and his first sickening
suspicion became a. painful fact. He
had never lived there. Everything was
strange, the furniture, the rugs, the
very shape Of the room. Where were
they? Whose house had they uncere-
moniously broken into? A clammy
chill crept down Bartlett's back and
his horid face grew still redder.r :,
None of the others was noticing him.
The general was prowling 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 gaily 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.
" oil f14 Dat =
be-. thrusting his hands into his pock-
cts and peering into the basket with
renewed hope. Henrietta smiled gaily.
; She had pushed aside her auto veil
aer cheeks were flushed with the JOY
81 the adventure and her eyes bright.
Father" said she, "in all our lives.
we have never had an adventure be-
fore. because you persist in using
=, those blue books
The general laughed and helped
himself to sandwich.
Billy opened the dresser and peered
ginserly In. her small nose wrinkled
'or any unforeseen emergency. She
had taken of her hat, and her soft
yellow hair, bound back by black
velvet snood, escaped around her tenn
pies in tiny waves. Her eyes, thought
the Watermelon, were brighter than
the lamp Upon the table and her laugh.
ing. kissable mouth redder than the
crimson lips Of. the fair creatures in
the gay calendars on the wall Her
hand upon the latch of the door was
70 near his own, that he was tempted
+, to put his on It, but instead slipped
bis into his pocket with ., dslicacy he
:: did not recognize in himself. She was
F! girl, young and sweet and attractive,
and because she was attractive; she
had been flung into the NAV Of. the
! street, victim Of the ages insane de-
sire for money and moro money. Each
dainty curl, each fash and disappear.
ance Of her single Aimple had been
reckoned as 80 much in dollars and
cents. SO the Watermelon. put his
hand in his pocket and only watched
her with poorly yelled admiration.
do you know what I am looking