News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-02-19

daddy, you have known these people
all your life"
That's the trouble" said Bartlett
desperately, with a rush, 81 don't know
these people. l have never been here
before" He glared defiantly at the
general, daring him to suggest the
blue book.
For moment no one spoke. Al
phonse at the door, hat in hand, the
general by the table, another prema-
turely acquired sandwich in his hand
half way to his mouth, Henrietta, busy
with the fame of the tiny alcohol
lamp, Billy before him, the Water
melon on the edge of the dresser
where he had seated himself, all stared
in dull surprise. The Watermelon
broke the silence.
Better to break into another mans
house than have him break into
yours" said he. He glanced at Bart
lett with just the flicker of amusement
in his mild gray eyes, thinking that
| Bartlett had got lost already, DELHI
erately, with the intention of spending
the greater part Of the following day
finding themselves, and so successful
| ly passing one day of the seven. Bart
lett glanced at the young man and
flushed 1t seemed to him for one
fleeting moment that the youth with
the sleepy eyes knew bit more than
Bartlett cared to have him know,
cared to have anyone know, that he
even seemed to suspect him of having
got lost on purpose. Then the sleepy
eyes turned again to Billy and the old
er man told himself that he was mis-
taken. He was growing nervous and
| reading his own intentions in every
ones eyes. He strove to regain the
mastery of his nerves by airy indiffer-
| ence.
"A slight mistake" said he.
"Ah, yes," said Henrietta, las when
you go off with another mans UNI
| brella."
The general, with rare nerve, took
bite from the sandwich and laid it
on the table. He drew his handker-
chief and wiped his hands. 81 will get
the blue book" he began busily, his
mouth still rather full
eve 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 wood
en- plates and gay paper napkins she
had arranged for the coming feast and
hesitated. She wished some one was
| courageous enough to suggest that
they eat before they leave.
Certainly not" said the general
"But if we had consulted them before
we left"
Sort of in the fashion of an oracle"
sneered Henrietta as she began slowly !
to gather up the napkins and the wood
en- plates.
Tell me-" said Bartlett calmly, i'm
personally, not as one desiring an ar
gument, but simply as an humble seek
er after knowledge, with no prior
views on the subject, tell me, can you
never make mistake If you have a
blue book?"
mo-" said Henrietta, never. With |
the blue book one could go directly to
heaven. 1t would be impossible not
to-"
Billy laughed.
BILLY would laugh at her funeral"
said Bartlett coldly.
1--WE haven't anything to cry about
said the Watermelon, frankly uncon |
cerned. IT'S for the man who owns |
the house to do the crying"
'How did you 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,
cor 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."
ut should be-" admitted Bartlett
But 1t isn't"
why not eat here?" suggested the i
Watermelon, unimpressed by the as.
pect of the affair as it struck the 9th.
ers. I'VE can hunt for the Higginses
afterward. They ought to be around
somewhere unless we're helplessly
lost"
Henrietta smiled and took out the
napkins she had laid back in the bas-
ket. at won't take us long," she
agreed. 1--WE don't need to have any
tea"
NO." protested Bartlett, glancing at
the door and listening for the crunch
of wheels on the gravel without, mo,
We must leave at once. We aren't
lost. The Higginses' is probably the
next house."
Suppose it isn't" said Billy. ]