Evening star., 1913-12-09

hunt that had yielded only two small
'painkillers" and q cracked fruit jar. Billy
and Rosa added and counted as they
trudged along a cross-lots path
| Gee whosh!' said Billy, stopping aD-
ruptly. Il know a bully place!''
"Where?" demanded Rosa.
Miss Thompson's house."
| Rosa snorted her disgust. "Couldn GO
there" she objected. "Aunty woulun
let US. Nobody goes to her house"
Il do." assented Billy. Independently:
and say she's all right Folks are Jus.
jealous of her. Gee, amt her hair grand!'
Yes" agreed Rosa. soberly.
Hold this basket" ordered Billy, WIN q
around and ask. I'll bet we get slew.
Rosa waited. timorously. Miss Thomp.
son, it appeared, was not at home out
her maid good humoredly collected q
great many bottles. at least fifteen cents,
worth, they reckoned. as they trotted
home with the heavy basket They found
| the twins busily scrubbing the kitchen.
1t was Meg's afternoon out. and Eioise
had been seized with a brilliant notlon.
The bottle man might pay more for clean
| bottles. Billy and Rosa joyously agreed
| 1t was a splendid idea.
| "Ole Miss Johnsons rheumatism comes
in grand bottles chuckled Elsa as she
tried nutmeg crater on refractory
| label.
"Currycomb couldn't get that off, Billy
grunted. throwing down the can opener in
disgust. Gee, girls always want to wash
things. III bet he won't pay cent more.
go to the blacksmith's with him. Mind
you don't touch mine while I'm gone. .
But late in the afternoon. when he
counted up his bottles. he was certain
that one was gone. He wasn't exactly
sure but he thought it was very large,
two-cent one, and he vehemently accused
the twins of having smashed it.
IT was only two days more before
father comes!' Two days and a night.
and then he would come. Rosa asked shy
ly for light blue hair ribbons instead of
the customary dark ones.
And l want my birthday dollar" she
said. Il guess won't wait till Christmas
to spend it,
Aunt Remson patted her cheeks as she
gave her the money. rs father going to
have present, too. this time?" she
laughed.
Rosa nodded. her eyes shining. "A
that's a surprise. You couldn't guess it
at all!'
Mr.. Stephenson would arrive OH Z
o'clock train. That meant late supper
and maps for the girls. For dear Aunt
RemSon. who couldn't keep secrets at
all. limited broadly that Uncle Frederick
was planning an evening treat
Climbing the stairs for the nap, Rosa
looked down at her aunt in the hall and
kissed her hand prettily. She shut the
danced gleefully to the mirror.
Rosa Fredericks! Rosa F'redericks!
she whispered, you're going to be JUS
lovely! Perfectly loveiy!''
Aunt Remson tapped softly at her
door at 6 o'clock Wake UP, lazy bird.'
she cried.
muffled sound reached her. Rosa,
open the door for me. / want to help
bons."
II can't open the door" faItered
Rosa.
Cant open it. What did you lock
it for? Don't you know that lock sticks? :?
III shake and you lift up. That will
Il don't want to-" Rosa said, in a
very small voice. please don't ask me.
can't"
Rosa" said she. what is the mat
ter? Are you ill?''
mo, I'm. IL white envelope
was pushed under the door. II can't
see my father-I-you give him this let
ter"
Her puzzled aunt stared at the little
letter and sighed. She was too wise to
argue. but she was troubled; Mr.
Stephenson and his surprise arrived at
the same time. A great touring car
stopped in front of the house, long
coated figure leaped out and caught at
the twins and Billy.
Rosa stared through her peep-hole in
the blind.
where's my daughter?' cried the be-
loved voice. Who's hidden my daugh-
ter? She what?" he demanded-"a let
ter? Goodness, how formal
He read the letter standing on the
step below the window. Heavens,
Jane" he caught his sisters face in
his hands, what's all this about?'
'I don't know" she answered. kissing
him, with a smile of relief. Il thought
it must be serious. The poor child SEEM
ed to feel bad over it
He tucked the lettG into her hands.