The Ordway new era., 1915-03-19

| IF you'll recall" she said, Il came
into the springhouse. and Arabells
pulled that-garment of Miss Cobb'i
OF a table. It was early-nobody wai
out yet. You were alone. Minnie, OF
no." she said suddenly. you were moi
alone. Minnie, who was in the pan
try"
What has that to do with IT."
managed. with my feet as cold al
stone.
She, got up and buttoned her sweat
| er. ."sl
Don't trouble to lie." she said. 81
can see through stone wall as well
rs most people. Whoever got those
letters thought they were stealing
mine. and there are only two people
who would try to steal my letters;
one Is Dick Carter, and the other Is
his brother-in-law 1t wasn't Sam In
the pantry-he came in just after with
his little snip of wife,"
"Well?" managed. EH
But she was smiling again. not SO
pleasantly.
II might have known it," she said.
What fool I've been, Minnie. and
how clever you are under that red
thatch of yours! Dicky cannot appear
as long as am here. and Pierce takes
his place. and help to keep the SECRET
and to play the game! Well. can ap-
preciate joke on myself as well as
most people, but-Minnie, Minnie.
think of that guilty wretch of a Dicky
Carter shaking in the pantry!"
h hat NJ ro "a IN o
about" l said, but she only winked and
went to the door.
Don't take It too much to heart" "
she advised. 'Too much loyalty is a
vice, not virtue. And another piece
OF adviae, Minnie--when fnd Dicky
Carter stand from under; something
will fall"
They had charades during the rest
hour that afternoon. the overweights
headed by the bishop. against the un-
derweights headed by Mr.. Moody. They
selected their words from one Of Hor-
ace Fletcher's books. and as Mr.. Pierce
wasn't either over or underweight.
they asked him to be referee.
Oh, they were crazy about him by
that time. 1t was "Mr. Carter" here
and dear Mr.. Carer" there, with the
women knitting him neckties and the
men coming up to be bullied and ask
ing for more. And he kept the upper
hand. too, once he got IT.
But II Mr.. Pierce was making hit
with the guests. he wasn't 80 popular
With the Van Alstynes or the Carters.
The night the cigar stand was closed
Mr.. Sam came to me and leaned over
the counter.
"Put the key in drawer" he said.
II can slip down here after the lights
are out and get smoke"
Cant do It, Mr.. Van Alstyne." 1
said. Got positive orders"
THAT doesn't include me-" He was
still perfectly goodhumored.
Sorry" said. "Have to have a
written order from Mr.. Pierce"
He put q silver dollar on the desk
between us and looked at me over II.
"Will that open the case?" he asked.
But shook my head.
well. I'll be banged! What the
devil sort of order did he give you"
He said" repeated. that I'd be
coaxed and probably bribed to open
the cigar case. and that you'd prob
ably be the first one to do 1t, but l
was to stick firm: you've been smok-
ing too much. and your nerves are 60
Ing"
'Insolent young puppy!" he ex-
claimed angrily. and stamped away.
So that l was not surprised when
on that night. Friday. was told to
be at the shelter-house at ten o'clock
for protest meeting. Mrs. Sam told
me.
Something has to be done," she
said. 81 don't intend to stand much
more. Nobody has the right to say
when shall eat or what. II ? want to
eat fried shoe leather, that's my af-
fair"
We met at ten O'Clock at the shelter
house, everybody having gone to bed
Miss Patty. the Van Alstynes and
myself. The .Dickys were on good
terms again, for a wonder, and when
Are, she on a box and he at her feet,
with his head buried in her lap. He
didn't even look up when we entered.
They're here. Dicky." she said.
"All right" he answered in smoth-
cred voice. How many Of emf"
-Four" she said. and kissed the tip
of his ear.
For goodness sake. Dick!" Mrs.
Sam snapped in a disgusted tone,
stop that spooning and get us some
thing to sit on"
Help yourself" he replied, still
from his wife's lap. "and don't be
jealous, sis. II the sight of married
happiness upsets you. go away. Go
away, anyhow"
Mr.. Sam came over and jerked him
into a sitting position. Either you'll
sit up and take part in this discus
sion," he said angrily. ''or you'll go
out in the snow until it's over"
Mr.. Dick leaned over and kissed his
w1fe's hand.
"A cruel fate Ia separat{nx us" he