The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-02-15
CHAPTER xii.

The Key 20 the Situation.
: The Watermelon accepted the mex.
orable with the tramps sang-froid;
Henrietta with a sweet dignity. though
slightly flushed: The door had been
shut before the conference began and
theperson on the porch had not come
IN sight; of the windows. With slow
wink at Henrietta, the Watermelon
STROBE to the door. Instinctively the
general started to lay his hand on the
young mans arm as he passed, to de.
tain him a moment, but instead picked
up his hat from the table and hoped
that no one had seen that involuntary
little gesture. The Watermelon threw
open the door with a bit of flourish
and Alphonse,, stolid, unsmiling, en-,
tered. -
There was an involuntary sigh Of re-
lief from all, even the general.
WELL" asked the Watermelon,
what are the sleuths doing"
Where are the cars, Alphonse? ?.
asked the general sternly, in the re-
action Of the suspense of the momen,
before.
II left them at the back door," an,
swered Alphonse, as one who under
stood perfectly the whole aspect of the
case and realized that sometimes
quiet exit is more to be desired than
great acclaim. II thought you would
not want them seen from the 'front.'"
Il have no objection to my car be.
ing seen by everybody" returned the
general with wave Of his hand, which
appeared to include the universe.
The back door was locked and the
key gone, and the Watermelon had
hurried Is the door into the sheds and
was struggling with the rusty lock.
This is the way" said he, Through
the woodshed. That doors locked and
there amt q key; family probably left
that way. I noticed the woodshed
route this morning.
I'VE can shut this door on the side
porch and lock It Just as we found
It." said Henrietta.
She shut the door and Alphonse a.
quietly turned the key. She lowered
the window the Watermelon had
opened and. finding that he had broken
the lock In doing it, she slipped dol
lar from her purse and left it ON the
ledge. It seemed to Henrietta to
leave more, to pay for their nights
lodging, would simply be adding insult
TO injury. One cannot take unpar-
donable liberties with another's DOS.
sessions and then pay for it In the
gold Of the land.
Come" said she.
The Watermelon had already opened
the door and was working on the lock
af the one in the woodshed. Henriet-
= paused in the house door, the bas-
ket on her arm, and glanced back at
The others. "Come on" said she.
Il will explain" began the general.
with q drmness that was fast weaken
Ing.
Father" said Henrietta, you can
not explain. Graft is dishonest. The
only thing we can do is to rum"
Billy grabbed up her gloves ana
obeyed with alacrity. Bartlett and
the general followed in dignifled ma
iesty. Alphonse came last and shut
each door as they passed through.
With no undue haste, and yet with no
lettering to admire perfect summer.
morning. they climbed into the cars;
Alphonse alone in the generals, the
other fve in Bartlett's, with Bartlett
1t the wheel.
"Shall we rush them!" suggested
the Watermelon with happy anticipa.
ton. ..5
Alphonse. like the voice Of reason.
calm, Unconditional, blase, spoke:
There is COW lane back Of the barn.
It 10 wide enough for the. cars. It
leads into the road farther on. left
The bars down."
you're man, Alphonse," said the
Watermelon.
They glided without further com
ment through the barnyard into the
rocky. treeshaded COW lane. The gen.
eral glanced behind. No one was in
sight. The lane was narrow and
rough. last springs mud having hard.
ened into humps and ridges from the
passing of many feet. The cars ran
slowly Of necessity. and while the
engines throbbed, the. noise was not
loud, and the slight hill on which the
house stood deadened the sound and
concealed the cars from anyone in
front
Henrietta leaned toward the Water.
melon, who sat on the small seat Just
in front Of her and just behind the
general. ION such an occasion az
this" she asked. what did father
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