American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-02-19
CHAPTER vi.


Twin Stars.
Another week has passed, and the
police still report mo progress" on
the Wade-Hanska murder case, now a
pack number with the newspapers
story laid aside. The week has been
equally quiet at the select boarding
house maintained by Rosalie lie
Grange quiet overlain with gloom
and yet illuminated with human sym
pathy and even gaiety.
Out of the shadows twinkle two
stars-Betsy-Barbara and Tommy
North. Rosalie in jest, and Professor
Noll Ia earnest, call Betsy-Barbara
the little household fairy" Engaged
though she is in a tragic guardianship,
she is also young and sprightly and a
village girl fresh to the wonder of
New York. Rosalie is the quiet force,
but B~etsy-Barbara the visible focus,
which draws them all together. She
asks counsel of Miss Harding and Miss
Jones on her autumn clothes. In her
spare moments she sews industriously
with Rosalie lie Grange-dropping
meantime those condolences which
flow at sewing-bees. The orphan OF a
country clergyman and a schoolmis-
tress, she has at her fnger-tips all the
arts of play. Whenever the household
stays in of nights, she gathers them
together over hearts or bridge; when
cards grow stale, she is capable Of
getting contagious fun out Of charades
or anagrams.
More and more the boarders take to
staying at home. This charming life
domestic is a novelty in New York, 1t
seems; they revel in the fad. Mr.. Es-
trilla has developed a way Of joining
them after his evening visits to his
sister; and he brings such a spirit Of
Latin gaiety that they quit their for
NAL games, and take always to music
and conversation when he enters. Ro-
sale especially delights In him. He
has a quick turn of the tongue which
matches her own; and they fence with
~good-natured repartee. Whenever Els
trilla enters the room his eyes travel
to Betsy-Barbara and they two play
in a b~oy-and-girl spirit very charming
and amusing-to every n but Tom
my North. All speak well Of Estrilla.
Il guess he's a regular man all right,
if he is a wop." says even Tommy.
Miss Estrilla alone never joins the
group downstairs. Though her eyes
are better, though she a bear some
light. she shows a state Of debility puz
cling to her physician and alarming to
her watcher and attendant, Rosalie LIZ
Grange. The doctor advises her to re
turn to a warmer climate before the
New York winter sets in-like al
transplanted Latins, she is a very
shivery person. She answers that she
cannot; her brothers business lies IL
New York, and she would be unhappy
away from him.
The time came when Rosalie Ia
Grange determined to visit Inspecto.
MCGEE; she wished to unload som
theories OF her own concerning tn
Hanska case. Such visits must b
made with all due %precaution Of sc
crecy. She chose an evening when. q
happened seldom nowadays, nearly al
the boarders had engagements else
where. As a step preliminary to he
diplomacies, she telephoned to Niece
and made with him al appointment ia
from the office. Then she ~approache
Betsy-Barbara.
TITS asking a lot Of you. my dear,
she said, but I've been so busy gettir
ID this place shook together that
haven't had time to mind my own a
fairs. I've a cousin in town an | jes
Is haven't had time to pay her n a
s tention. Miss Estrilla Is kind OF ner
lie Gus tonight, an l hate TO leave hs
g. alone until her brother comes-an'
IS how, he misses some evenings. Jul
ut sit by her-an' II he shows up yo
lie don't have to do even that"
o. Betsy-Barbara accepted the new r
n sponsibility.
IN "Pd love IT," she said almost chez
e, fully. Constance is going to try
ne get some sleep tonight. and I'll put h
ut to bed right after dinner And ~
been dying to meet Miss Estrilla-"
cd Miss Estrilla's appearance appeal'
to at oncs to Betsy-Bsrbara's quick syI
lis pathies. Her eyes were shades
" further she wore heavy colored slas
ce es. She was a rather tall and slend
s- woman. B~etsy-Barbara decided. The
lt- vas a kind Of exquisite shyness abo