Charlevoix county herald., 1914-08-15

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whistle just now"
Ida famed herself idly, and re-
NAMED silent. She had no large
fund of conversation, and cast about
for some topic that might serve to
fill in the time till Howard should
arrive.
81 suppose you're all unstrung by
the hold-up?" she said at length to
Margaret, who laughed gaily.
mot at ALL" the other replied.
"He was. awfully polite, and said he
only wanted our jewelry and money
He took Jeannette's pearl pin, and
my mothers pocketbook with TWEEN
ty dollars in it."
"Did you have time to see him
closely?" Ida asked.
"Of course we did," said Jean
nette. "He was rather good-looking,
and not at all like the robbers you
read about"
Just then the first masculine guest
appeared. 1t was Farwell.
what resemblance Margaret
exclaimed.
"To whom ?" said Farwell.
"Why, you're the very image of
the highwayman," she answered
Farwell threw up his hands.
81 can prove an alibi," he said. II
didn't leave the bank all day."
In the midst of the laughing chat
ter that ensued, Dwight came in
with several men and girls who
formed little group in the shade of
the maple-tree under which Ida was
sitting.
"Where's Howard ?" she asked.
Dwight grinned.
'He stopped at the toy-store near
the station" he said. 81 fancy he has
some freak of joke to perpetrate
on US. Last night he gave Farwell
the benefit of his humor-didn't he,
old man ?"
Farwell forced difficult smile.
"He's young" he muttered. "Pos-
sibly he'll outgrow it."
Mrs. Finley came down from the
house and kissed Ida If only
Dwight would be more tractable, she
reflected and sighed, perhaps
"Tea isn't quite ready, girls and
boys" she said. Dwight, show as
your new litter of bull-terriers,
won't you ?"
They all moved off to the sta
BILE. AS they disappeared Howard
sneaked from the thicket of rhodo-
dendrons behind the tall maple and
climbed into it's lower branches,
where he was completely hidden by
the thick September foliage. He had
his pockets stuffed with confetti, ana
intended sprinkling the paper frag-
ments over the little gathering when
tea should be served.
Farwell, Finley, and his two sis
tiers returned first, and continued
conversation already begun.
"Pay him back in his o coin, of
course" Finley said.
What do you mean 2" Farwell
asked.
"Why, play some joke on him that
he won't forget in hurry Finley
replied.
Howard pricked up his ears and
Icy perfectly still.
"Here is my plan," Dwight went
on. well send him down to the
village for some. important mail
which | am supposed to have forgot
ten. can't leave the guests, you
know, and since the letter contains
money, the servants are not to be
trusted; so we ask him as an es-
pecial favor to get it for u.s."
"But there isn't letter." said
Margaret.
Certainly not, old stupid" said
Finley And we'll tell him not to
wait if it hasn't arrived. On his
way back, Farwell will meet him in
the drive and hold him up with my
old army revolvers. The rest of US
will hide behind the hedge and see
h.
Farwell slapped his thigh with en-
thusiasm.
"I'm on" he cried and all four re-
turned to the house for the pistols.
No sooner were their backs turned
the tree. When they came back he
was engaged in brushing the dust
from his trousers, as ii he had just
walked in from the road.
ooh, hello, Howard! Finley cried.
"Can | speak to you for moment ?"
Certainly" Howard said, and the
two held whispered consultation
apart from the others. Howard nod
ded his head in vigorous assent, and
returned to the maple-tree.
"I'm going down to the village"
he said gaily. "Ill be back in half
I'll join you as soon as | can"
much obliged, old chap" Finley
called after him as he passed down
the garden path.
Howard waved an airy farewell.
Don't mention it," he said, and
closed the gate behind him. He
walked about half mile along the
road to the village, and entered the
rear yard of his sisters house.
Here, Wilson," he called to sta
BILE assistant, "give me about twenty
feet of good strong clothesline."
The groom brought small coil of
rope, which Howard placed in his
breast pocket. Then he retraced his
steps to the Finley drive. He was
close to the gate when a figure, UNI
mistakably that of Farwell, darted
into the road. He wore linen dus-
ter, an automobile mask, and Cog
giles, below which the ends of his
long mustache projected in two
brown tufts.
"Hands upw he beloved fero-
ciously, and leveled two dangerous
II -