Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-20

le just heard me movin' about i'll
here. Stick to that"
The sound of voices in the distance
broke in on them.
They're COMM" said Peg any-
iously.
Take care, mater-keep back. Let
me deal with them" And Alaric, with
an electric fashlight, appeared at the
head OF the stairs, followed by his
mother and the servant Jarvis.
He began a systematic search OF the
room until suddenly the reflector from
the fashlight shone full on the two
girls.
Ethel was sitting back fainting in a
chair, clinging to Peg, who was stand
ing beside her trembling.
Ethel" cried Alaric in amazement.
"Margaret!' said Mrs. Chichester in
anger.
Well, l mean to say" calculated the
astounded young man as he walked
across to the switch and flooded the
room with light.
What does this mean?" asked Mrs.
Chichester severely.
Sure Ethel heard me here" answer
ed Peg. IAN she came in, AMI
What were you doing hereY"
II was goin' out, an Ethel heard me
an came in al stopped me, am
"NNhere were you going" persisted
the old lady.
Just out-out there" and Peg point
ed to the open windows.
Mrs. Chichester had been examining
Peg infinitely. She suddenly ex-
claimed:
why, that is Ethel's coat"
"Sure it is" replied Peg, AN this
is her hat I've got, an here's her bag"
Peg was striving her utmost to divert
Mrs. Chichester's attention from Ethel,
who was in SO tense and nervous a
condition that it seemed as if she
might faint at any moment. She
thrust the dressing bag into the old
lady's hand. Mrs. Chichester opened
it Immediately and found just inside it
EtheIs jewel box. She took it out and
held it up accusingly before Pegs
eyes. Her jewel box! Where did you
get this?"
Il took it," said Peg promptly.
Mrs. Chichester opened the box. 1t
was full. Every jewel that Ethel own
ed was in it.
"Her jewels-Ethel's jewels!"
Eyes, | took them too"
"You were stealing them?"
mo, l wasn't stealth them. l just
ton1Y 3npo rvop{o1 "a Dro,r Allow l,
answered Peg readily. Suddenly Peg
saw a way of escape. and she jumped
quickly at it. II wanted to wear them
at the dance"
"What dancer" demanded Mrs. Chi
chester.
Over therein the Assembly rooms
tonight. | went over there, an 1
danced, an when l came back ! made
a noise, an Ethel heard me, an she
threw on some clothes, an she came in
here to see who it was, an it was me.
an we We're both goin' up to bed when
l slipped an fell down the stairs. an
some noisy thing fell down with me,
an that's all"
Alaric called out from the window:
There's some one prowling in the
garden. He's on the path. He's CON-
ing here. Don't be frightened"
Alaric pushed his electric light full
into the visitors face and fell back.
Good heavens, Jerry!!" he calculated,
completely astonished. Il say, you
know" he went on. what is happen
ing in this house tonight?"
Jerry came straight down to Mrs.
Chichester. e.
II saw your lights so up, and l came
here on the run. l guessed something
like this had happened. Don't be hard
on your niece. Mrs. Chichester. The
whole thing was entirely my fault. l
asked her to 60"
Mrs. Chichester looked at him
%stonily.
"You took my niece to a dance in
spite Of my absolute refusal to allow
her to go?"
He had nothin' to do with it, said
Peg. II took him to that Dance"
Mrs. Chichester looked steadily at
Jerry for a few moments before she
spoke. When she did speak her voice
was cold and hard and accusatory.
Surely Sir Gerald Adair knows bet
ter than to take a girl of eighteen to Il
public ball without her relations sane
tion?"
IL thought only of the pleasure it
would give her." he answered. please
accept my sincerest apologies"
Peg looked at him in wonder.
"Sir Gerald Adair! Are you Sir
Gerald AdairY'
Eyes. Peg"
$50 We have Il title, have YEP"
Peg felt somehow that she had been
cheated. Why had he not told her?
Why did he let her play and romp and
joke and banter with him as though
they had been children and equals?
II am ashamed Of you. You have
disgraced us all" cried Mrs. Chiches-
ter at Peg.
Have ~" screamed Peg fiercely.