The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-10-10
"Why, yes, granny. dear, told you

give him the opportunity"
do you mean that you would rather
I married George Fenwick for his
money than-than Dick Asse ore, be-
cause love him?" fared Mar.
Love him, do your quavere Mrs
Knight wrathfully. Marry him, %Aen
and go to the poorhouse, for you will
never get one penny of my money!
She arose and thumped her cane an.
grily on the floor.
Tears came to Mabel's lovely eyes,
but she winked them away from the
long, jetty lashes, and when she spoke
her voice was so like that of her dead
father that Flora knight was shaken
to the soul.
every we'll, grandmother, 1 will re-
spect your wishes until your stay at
Rose Hall is ended, but then I will
leave you and go away, because l love
Dick and l shall marry him."
"And leave me all alonew demanded
Mrs. Knight in an odd tone.
"You cannot miss me, granny, be-
cause you are rich, and money will
make up to you for lack of love and
everything. It's what you want me to
throw away! Cousin Susie will be
glad to come"
81 dare say she will. She's been
pulling wires to that end for five
years." snapped Mrs. Knight GROSSLY.
Remember, Mabel, don't let that
young man come near me. l shall GER
tainly be rude to him."
II am quite sure he will not intrude,
grandmother" said Mabel coldly, and
she did not turn her head as the old
lady battered away toward the dining
room. for the luncheon bell was sound
ing.
Luncheon over, the older boarders
scattered to their rooms for the mid
day siesta, while the young people
started on a long talked of tramp up
East mountain. Mabel Knight did not
60. She sat in her room and read and
dreamed until a sharp cry echoed
through the house. woman's shrill
cry Of alarm.
"Fire! Fire! Firev'
Mabel leaped to the door and found
the hall filled with a thick yellow
smoke. The. cook was crying hysteric-
ally in the hall below, and doors were
popping open. and other shrill fem
mime voices were added to the alarm.
Mabel went to her grandmother s
room and found it empty. She was re-
leved. because she thought Mrs.
Knight was safely out Of danger on
the front piazza.
So, picking up her own valuables
and her grandmother's leather travel
ing. box that contained precious be-
longings, Mabel hurried downstairs
after knocking at the different closed
doors along the hall.
Half choking and gasping for breath,
she fought her way down to the piazza
to find that among all the other board
ers two were missing. No one had
seen Mrs. Knight or Mrs. Tillerby
since luncheon.
Mabel thrust her bundles into some
body's trembling hands and dashed
back to the house.
II must get grandmother she called
back. And there was no one to stop
her going, for the only man left on the
place had gone to ring the village fire
alarm, and Mrs. Brownlee had gone
over to Brookedge station to meet
some expected guests.
Smoke was pouring from the rear Of
the big white house. and every door
and window belched forth yellow
clouds.
Mabel CROPPED her way into the hall,
crept upstairs on her hands and knees
and so along to Mrs. Knights room.
Here she found the valiant old lady
holding wet towel before her face
while she sought frantically through
drawers and closets for something.
"Come, granny; come! l will carry
you down." cried Mabel, tugging at
her arm.
eco away. dor grumbled Mrs.
Knight from her muff1ed lips. I'm
trying to find Wrinkles leash. The
poor darling Is frightened to deathw
Mabel saw that Granny's pet Pomera-
nian was shivering under her arm.
"Oh, granny; take him as he is. Don't
wait Why, you will be burned to
deathr' begged the girl.
go yourself. Nobody cares If l do
burn upp retorted granny obstinately.
but she caught her breath sharply.
A big form dashed into the room and
gathered granny in his strong arms,
Winkie and all.
"Come, darlingv' he shouted, and he
wasn't talking to granny, either. Ma
bel followed. only pausing to help poor
Mrs. Tillerby down the stairs.
An hour afterward it was all over.
The fire was confined to the kitchen,
and the boarders gathered on the grass
and voted to camp out there under the
naples until the house should be free
from smoke once more.
Dick Ashmore, who had carried off
granny against her strong wishes, con-
tinued to 60 to and fro, bringing va
rious comforts from their room, until
Mrs. Knight laid a trembling hand on
his sooty shirt sleeve.
"DO stop this running about, Mr.
sr, Dick" she said sharply. "You re-
mind me so much of Mabel's father.
She hesitated and coughed. "Mabeps
been telling me some things, and some
how I'd rather like to have masterful
man about. and, well, Mabel, you need
not hug me to death, and l declare,
Dick AshmOre. do believe YOU kissed
me. sir! Everybody's looking on too.
Well, suppose we might as well an
nounce the engagement that way?'
And strong willed granny stroked
Wrinkle and rocked contentedly in her
own chair, which Dick had brought
from the piazza.
One of the great drawbacks to
war is the number of unexpected
~ ;poe - 1oouon f1oofipo oround IN