Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-08-26

alfred Quigg." gasped Fenells
sinking into a chair and quite pal
with alarm.
And i guess Miss Tabby remem
bers me by this time" smiled Alfred
agreeably nodding at Miss Way
Last recollection l have of Miss Tab
by is that she chased me around th
mill pond and told me I'd end on tn,
gallows. all because 1 leased her OLE
turkey gobbler!"
Fenella Mason looked at Tabith:
Way, and Tabitha stared back at he
with questioning eyes.
Come inside, Aired whispered
Fenella. 1--WE got something impor
tant to tell you"
Thanks" said Alfred, going roun(
to the screen door and letting himself
inside.
AS he stood there hat in hand. smil
ing good naturally around at the ia.
miliar old fashioned room, he was
startled at the actions of the two good
spinsters whose earnest gossip he had
interrupted.
Fenella flew to the door through
which he had just entered and slam.
med it tight shut and locked it. Tab
by pulled down the window sash,
locked it and pulled the shade to the
sill. Then from window to window
OF the little house flew the two wom-
en-. pulling down shades and drawing
curtains until from without the place
looked deserted.
WHATS up"' demanded Alfred
Quigg when they rushed breathlessly
back to the kitchen and caught him
by either arm.
They're coming, Alfred, and YOU
must hide warned Fenella. RE
member. Tabby and l don't believe Il
word OF it, but You don't want to be
caught. Remember your poor parents.
You just hide until the worst blows
over, and then We'll know what to do.
LIN so thankful you came to my house
first. You will be safe here. No one
would dream of looking for you in
Tenella Mason'S house. Gomez"
SO. half explaining, they dragged the
beWlldered young man up the narrow
back stairway to the little closet in the
loft room over the kitchen. Here they
locked him in. confident that he could
not ~Sutfocate, for the tiny diamond
shaped ventilator would let in sufficient
air.
They're Il pair of crazy looms, and l
may as we'll let them have their own
way until dark" decided Alfred when
his Indignation had cooled. Then l
can push out of this place and go
home
1t was drawing toward sunset, and
Henella Mason and Tabby Way still
sat in Fenella's kitchen discussing the
fugitive concealed in the loft room
closet.
They had been up there once and
handed Alfred a Well laden tray of
food, for which he had given them
scanty thanks.
I'm glad he came here first F'enel-
la was saying for the hundredth time
that afternoon when there came Il
laundering knock at the kitchen door.
It's them" Kissed Tabby.
Eenella went to the door and peeped
through an opening in the shade.
faint no II but Alfred'S "a. the
Deacon she whispered. Guess ! bet
let him ill.,"
She cautiously opened the door and
permitted the amazed old man to en-
ter the darkened room.
What in tarnation pumpkins is the
matter with you, Fenny:" he asked
Locked up here tight as a
drum. You old maids air the CON
foundedest critters. You act as if Il
hull regiment Of ~marriageable men was
lurking around the yard waiting to
break into the house and elope with
you. Have YOU seen Alfredo"
"Alfred?" gasped Fenella.
"Alfred?' echoed Tabitha.
Yes, -Alfred..' parked the deacon,
tiinGing his cap down on the table.
I'VE had a telegram from him saying
he'd just got back from Patagonia.
You know he went as first mate on a
freight steamer. Station master has
just told me Alfred arrived on the IL
O'Clock train this morning and some
body said they saw him coming into
your gate. Ma and l are worn out
waiting for him. Where is Alfredo
up III the loft room c~loset,'' said
Fenella family.
Why" Numbered the deacon.
1t was Tabitha who told him the
news Of the bank robbery aud how AL
fred Quigg, scapegrace son Of Deacon
Quigg of Lilibridge, had become an alb
sconder and that the detectives were
close on his trail.
"Bosh! snorted the deacon when
Tabby had concluded her tale. 81 read
that rubbish in the paper myself.
Name was Twigg, not Quigg, and
'twasn't this Lilibridge he was from;
it was Lilibridge in Connecticut.
Where's my Alfred-the best sailor
boy in the whole world?"
He stamped upstairs, and the two
chagrined women heard him arguing
rryS+I JF~eI rl.---