The state herald., 1915-04-09


She slipped away and the Water
melon was again alone.
She's right II you don't like
your pottags, you can get your birth.
right back. can leave note" he
thought and laughed.bitterly. Haven't
thing, name, clothes, honor. Sneak
away like whipped cur. Gosh, I'll
be hanged II / can't do something re-
spectacle. will tell them In the
morning and they can do and say
what they please. II you've sold your
birthright to the Old Man, you have
to go after 1t In person to get 1t back.
Why the deuce did fall In love with
Billy? / had fun In the beginning
but now!"
When the Watermelon awoke next
morning he lay for time. stretching
and yawning In the comfortable bed
and the pea.green silk pajamas he had
found In the suitcase In Bachelors
car. He glanced at the general slum-
bering beside him, his mouth open and
his round fat face as pink as the pink
cotton pajamas he wore.
Here's me In silk and him In cot
ton," thought the Watermelon He
couldn't tell lie to save his soul, and
L Stick to your pink cotton, gen
eral." he whispered and slipped qui-
to the bureau where he had left the
watch the night before to see the
time. The watch was not there and
he turned to look In his trousers
pockets. thinking he might have left
1t In them. But his pockets were
empty, save for few old keys. his
knife and "the makings." Money.
watch. cigarette case, all were gone.
He turned to the bureau. Cuff links
and stick pin were also gone. Ginger
ly he felt In the generals pockets.
They, too, were empty. He stood a
moment in the middle of the room In
his pea-green silk pajamas and gently
stroked his back hair. then he chuckled
softly and glanced at the bed.
The general was awake. looking at
him with half-shut. sleepy eyes.
Robbed, General" said the Water.
melon.
"Robbed?" repeated the general, sit.
ting up.
Everything gone" said the Water
melon, "or I'll eat my hat"
The general rose and they made a
systematic search through empty pock.
cts and rifled bureau.
Bartlett came In gloomily. without
cent among them they could not
continue the trip. They would have
to make for the nearest telegraph sta
ton and wire for help. and Bachelor.
his whereabouts known to his brokers,
would probably receive an urgent call
to return at once.
"Robbed?" asked the general.
They left me my name," said Bart
lett grimly. who steals your purse
steals trash. ! suppose. We have that
comfort"
Not my purse" said the Watermel
on. Mine had money In It."
My watch" said the general, was
a family heirloom. My great grand.
father carried it." .
ri wonder II the girls lost Any-
tHluB, bulu DhIlctt.
I'VE will have to 20 to the nearest
telegraph station and telegraph for
money" declared the general.
Il suppose So" srowled Bartlett.
and trailed from the room to finish
dressing.
They found the girls in the dining.
room. unaware OF what had befallen
them. They had slept late and the
clock on the mantel registered half.
past nine as the three men filed into
the room. The general was calm.
pompous. austere. but Henrietta had
not lived with him for five and thirty
years without having acquired the
ability to read his every mood.
Father she asked. what's the
matter7 Have your sins found you
out7"
The general waited for the slattern.
ly maid.servant to give them their
breakfast and leave the room before
he spoke.
We have been robbed" he said
calmly. casually. as one would men.
ton the weather.
Henrietta and Billy stared.
IT'S the stable-boy." said the gen.
eral. II noticed him carefully last
night He would not look any one In
the face"
He goes home every night" OBJ
jected Henrietta. Mrs. Parker told
me So
That's no reason he couldn't come
back" said the general.
1T was clever In him to take our
check. books" said Bartlett
He will forge our names" declared
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