The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-01-16
CHAPTER VI.
Twin Stars.


Another week has passed. and the
police still report mo progress" on
the Wade ElanGka murder case. now
back number with the newspapcrs--a
story laid aside. The week has been
equally quiet at tho select boarding
house maintained By Rosalie Lo
Grange---a quiet Overlain with gloom
and yet illuminated with human sym.
patty and even gaiety
Out OF the shadows twinkle two
atars-Betsy. Barbara and Tommy
North. Rosalio in jest. and Professor
Noll In earnest call Betsy.Barbara
the little household fairy Engaged
though she is in tragic guardianship.
she IL also young and sprlghtly and
village girl fresh to the wonder OF
New York Resale Ia the quiet force,
but BetsyBarbara 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 Resale Lo Grange
meantime those condolences which
flow at sewIng.beos The orphan OF
country clergyman and a Bchoolmis.
tress, she has ut her flngertips all the
arts of play. Whenever the household
! stays in Of nights, she gathers them
together over hearts or bridge: when
carda grow stale, she is capable of
getting contagious fun out Of charades
or anagrama.
More and more the boarders take to
staying at home. This charming life
domestic Ia novelty in New York II
seems; they rovcl in the fad. Mr. rs.
trilla has developed n way Of Joining
them after his evening visits TO his
sister; and he brings euch spirit OF
Latin gaiety that they quit their for.
NAL games. aud take always to music
and conversation when he enters. 10.
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 boy.and.Eirl spirit very charming
and amusing-to evory one but Tom.
my North All speak we'll OF Estrilla
IL guess he's regular man all right
II he is a wop," says even Tommy
Miss Estrlla alone never joins the
group downstairs. Though her eyes
are better. though she can bear some
| light, she shows a state OF debility puz-
cling to her physician and alarming to
| her watcher and attendant. Rosalie lie
Grange. The doctor advises her to re-
| turn to warmer climate before the
New York winter sets in--like all
transplanted Latlns, she is very
shivery person. She answers that she
/ cannot. her brothers business lies In
New York, and she would be unhappy
away from him
|
The time came when Resale lie
| Grange determined to visit Inspector
McGee she wished 10 unload some
/, theories OF her own concerning the
lanska case. Such visits must be
made with all due precaution of Sc.
crccy. She chose an evening when, as
happened seldom nowadays, nearly all
the boarders had engagements else
where. AZ step preliminary to her
dlplomacies. she telephoned to McGee
and made with him an appointment far
from the Office. Then she approached
Betsy-Barbara.
tits asking n lot OF you, my dear"
she said. but I've been so busy gettin'
this place shook together that |
haven't had time to mind my own at.
fairs. I've cousin in town an Jest
haven't had time to pay her any at.
tentlon. Miss Estrllla is kind OF nerv.
Gus tonight, an hate to leave ner
alone until her brother comes-any.
how, he misses come evenings. Just
sit by her-an' II he shows up you
don't have to do even that"
Betsy-Barbara accepted the new re-
sponsibillty.
I'D love It," she said almost cheer.
fully. "Conetance 10 going to try to
get some sleep tonight, apd I'll put her
to bed right after dinner And I've
been dying to meet Miss Estrilla."
Miss Estrllla's appearance appealed
at once TO Betsy-Barbara's quick sym
pathies. Her eyes were shaded
further she wore heavy colored glass
es. She was rather tall and slender
woman, Betsy-Barbara decided. There
was kind of exquisite shyness about