The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-06

eyes, she saw the door slide aJar and
Nancy Wrigg's head come through
the opening, She turned over at that
and pulled the watch from under her
/ pillow.
Hello, Nanniel 'Cruelties' shut
DOWN" she called in greeting.
81 got off for a whlle," Miss Wrigg
answered. She shut the door and
came across TO the bed. Her prac-
tlcal, affeotionate voice shook a little
as she spoke. 81 don't suppose 1t
amounts to anything, but / thought
I'd come and tell you. I. seems
they've had-some kind of an earth
quake In San Francisco"
"They're addicted to them," Miss
Burke admitted. Much Of a one?
What did the paper say about it7"
ut said-the city was under water,
or course It's exaggerated"
Miss Burke sat up. Il want to see
the paper" she demanded, and the
newcomer fed to secure 1t.
When she returned her friend was
sitting on the edge Of the bed, feeling
her way languidly into a kimona, She
took in the faring headlines at
glance. "Tll get back into bed and
read t." she announced And can't
keep you from the 'Cruelties,' Mamie,
Run along and rescue a deserted in
FAINT"
She pushed her consider gently TO.
ward the door and closed II after her.
Then she stood still for an instant
with clenched hands.
ITS not true" she said under her
breath. San Francisco"
After a moment she gave herself
a little shake and began getting into
her clothes. Mamie had not gone
back to the "Cruelties." She heard
her moving about in the hall
and called to her: Come on In,
Nan. I'm nearly dressed. II you're
really going to take a day off, Wen
have breakfast downtown and go look
at the bulletins. You know you'd be
a dreadful temptation to the Philadel-
phia joke artist This might be called
a Quaker holiday"
"Oh, how can you2" cried Miss
Wrigg
She had occasion to repeat the ex-
clamation many times during the day
The black speculation of the bulletins
shook her so that she could scarcely
endure Eleanor's show of Indifference.
But then she's probably just show
ing off," she forced down her rising
anger, "and it is easier for her
friends"
s. She made a brief expedition of her
own before working hours the next
morning and went in at lunch time
to give Eleanor the information she
had cleaned
Was 1t Clay & Erlanger your
brother worked for? / went to see
Mr.. Cory this morning-he ships for
them-and he says there won't be a
chance of their resuming. He says
they always did handle too much
stock for their capital. ! didn't go
because ! was curious" she defended
herself against the others look. 81
thought perhaps-Mary Orr was
wired for from Charleston yesterday.
Her sister was in San Francisco, and
her mother had some kind of heart
attack And l thought possibly her
position-just till your brother gets
started at something again -"
81 believe you are that valuable
possession, a friend in need" Miss
Burke jeered gently. you're the best
fp I,,k
wouldn't it be premature? I'll prob
ably have a wire from Jimmy in a
day or two: San Francisco de-
stroyed Sending increased allowance
for nerve tonic and I'd hate to dis
appoint him" Her lips quivered lit
tie and she put up her hand to cover
them. 81 keep thinking Of the fun
niest things Just while was speak
ing I thought, Lotta's Fountains |
gone, and believe l care more about |
missing that than anything-and 1t |
was the ugliest fountain on earth"
81 should think you'd care more
about hearing from your brother"
Miss Wrigg demonstrated. 81 should |
think you'd be glad of the chance to |
help him. I would, and I'd send him |
word that things were turned about |
now, and all he'd done for me-"
Miss Burke sprang up from her |
chair. For the moment even her soft, |
lazy voice was sharpened with an
ger. ooh, / wish you'd be still" she |
cried shrilly. 81 wish you'd go to
your own room once in while. get |
so tired hearing you talk"
She apologized later for the out |
burst, but In such fashion that her |
friend was left uncertain whether |
she were more grieved or amused at |
her own loss of self-command uncer-
tain, too whether her mock-humble |
application for the proffered work |
were from desire or as a form of pen
ance.
OF one thing she was quickly made |
sure. Eleanor could do the work
And the dingy headquarters of the
"Cruelties"-the same being the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children-set her off gloriously. FL
eanor's manner too was as perfect as
her appearances compound Of en-
joying interest and respect Miss
Wrigg, observing it, jubilated inward
ly, and on the car going home passed
on her jubilation to its object
You'll get on" she replied. You'll
be ranking me in three months, and
then they'll give you one of their big
society positions, where all you have
to do Is to look nice and manage peo-