Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-12-18

/ OF table. III was early-nODOuy was
out yet You were alone, Minnie, or
no, she said suddenly you were not
alone. Minnie, who was in the pan
try?"
What has that to do with it?"
managed, with my feet as cold as
| stone.
She got up and buttoned her sweat
| err
Don't trouble to lle," she said. 81
can see through a stone wall as well
as most people. Whoever got those
letters thought they were stealing
mine, and there are only two people
who would try to steal my letters;
one is Dick Carter, and the other Is
his brother-in.law. 1t wasn't Sam In
the pantry--he came in just after with
his little snip of wife"
"Well?" ] managed.
But she was smiling again, not so
! pleasantly.
Il might have known i'll" she said.
What a fool I've been, Minnie, and
how clever you are under that red
thatch OF yours! Dicky cannot appear
as long as ! am here, and Pierce takes
his place. and help to keep the SECRET
and to play the game! Well, | can ap-
preciate a joke on myself as well as
most people, but-Minnie, Minnie,
think of that guilty wretch OF Dicky
Carter shaking In the pantry!"
81 don't know what you are talking
about" said, but she only winked and
went to the door.
Don't take 1t too much to heart"
she advised. TOO much loyalty is a
vice, not virtue. And another piece
of advice, Minnie-when / find Dtcky
Carter. stand from under; something
will fall"
They had charades during the rest
hour that afternoon, the overweights
headed by the bishop, against the I'M
derweights headed by Mr.. Moody. They
selected their words from one Of Hor-
ace Fletcher's books, and as Mr.. Pierce
wasn't either over or underweight,
they asked him to be referee.
Oh, they were crazy about him by
that time. 1t was Mr.. Carter" here
and dear Mr.. Carter" there. with the
women knitting him neckties and the
men coming up to be bullied and ask
ing for more. And he kept the upper
hand, too, once he got IT.
But II Mr.. Pierce was making a hit
with the guests, he wasn't so popular
with the Van Alstynes or the Carriers.
The night the cigar stand was closed
Mr.. Sam came to me and leaned over
the counter.
Put the key in a drawer" he said.
Il can slip down here after the lights
are out and get a smoke"
Cant do it. Mr.. Van Alstyne,"
said. Got positive orders"
That doesn't include me-" He was
still perfectly good-humored.
Sorry" l said. Have to have a
written order from Mr.. Pierce"
He put a silver dollar on the desk
between us and looked at me over II.
"Will that open the case?" he asked.
But shook my head
We'll, I'll be hanged! What the
devil sort Of order did he give your"
HE said" repeated, that I'd be
coaxed and probably bribed to open
the cigar case, and that you'd prob
ably be the first one to do 1t, but
was to stick Arm; you've been smok-
ing too much. and your nerves are 60
ing"
"Insolent young puppy" he ex-
claimed angrily, and stamped away.
So that l was not surprised when
on that night, Friday, / was told to
be at the shelter-house at ten o'clock
for protest meeting, Mrs. Sam told
me.
Something has to be DONE" she
said. Il don't intend to stand much
more. Nobody has the right to say
when I shall eat or what, II want to
eat fried shoe leather, that's my af-
fair"
We met at ten o'clock at the shelter
house, everybody having gone to bed
Miss Patty, the Van Alstynes and
myself The Dickys were on good
terms again, for a wonder, and when
we went In they were in front of the
fire. she on a box and he at her feet,
with his head buried in her lap. He
didn't even look up when we entered
They're here, Dicky," she said.
All AlBhls nC dubN6Icu III u bIlOIH-
cred voice. How many of 'em?"
-Four" she said, and kissed the tip
OF his ear.
For goodness sake, Dick!" Mrs.
Sam snapped in disguised tone,
stop that spooning and get us some
thing to sit on"
Help yourself" he replied. still
| from his wife's Ian "and don't ha
Jealous, sis. II the sight of married
happiness upsets you, go away. Go
away, anyhow"
Mr.. Sam came over and jerked him
into a sitting position. Either you'll
sit up and take part in this discus
sion." he said Engrily, cor you'll 20
out in the snow until it's over"
Mr.. Dick leaned over and kissed his
wife's hand.
"a cruel fate Ia Eanarattn0 ua" no