Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-28

why is IT," she complained. that you
never get anywhere without talking ali
around Robin Hoods barn7"
objection" Mr.. Savage offered prompt
ly "on the ground Of mixed metaphor"
objection sustained" his sister con-
ceded. But do come TO the point"
'1 wish only to remind you Of the news
impaired by our respected aunt in her let
ter OF recent date"
The woman frowned slightly. as with
mental effort; then a flash of comprehen-
sion lightened her blue eyes Immediately
her brows mutely cIrcumflexed a question.
look of profound but illegibe signf-
canoe passed between the two Mr.. Saw
age nodded Mrs. Standish pursed specu-
latlvely her thin, well-made-up lips and
Nisibly took thought, according to the
habit of her sex. by means of a series of
intuitive explosions. Then she nodded
vigorously and turned upon Miss Manvers
bewilderinS smile, for the first time ad-
dressing her directly.
MY dear" she said pleasantly enough
though, of course, the term had no ac-
cent whatever Of affection-"this half
witted brother of mine once in a while
stumbles upon the most brilliant inspra-
tion imaginable. I'm sure he has seen
enough of you in this last hour to he
making no mistake In offering you as one
answer to a very delicate question which
has been distressing us both for a long
time. If you're not overscrupulous--"
She paused with a receptive air.
I'm sure ! don't know what you're
driving at" Sally said. bluntly but I'm
hardly in position 10 be nice-minded
about triCles."
ITS this way" Savage interposed
we're Offering you chance to get away
to enjoy a summer by the seashorc to
mix with a lot of mighty interesting peo-
pie. and all that sort of thing--everything
you tell me you've been pining for-if
you'll consent to sail under false colors"
"Please!" Sally begged with a confused
and excited little laugh.
"He simply cant help IL: indirection is
Walters long suit" Mrs. Standish took
UP the tale. First Of ALL you must know
this aunt OF ours Is rather an eccentric
friehtfully well Off spoiled, self-willed
and quite Hind to her best interests She's
been widow so long she doesn't know
the meaning of wholesome restraint She's
got all the high-knee action of a thor
oushbred never properly broken to har-
ness, She sets her own pace--and heaven
help the hindermost! All in all. l think
Aunt Abby's the most devil-may-care per-
son I've ever met"
You're too modest" Mr.. Savage COM
mented abstructedly.
BE quiet, Walter. Aunt Abby's pas
sionately fond of two things-cards and
what she calls interesting people.
Neither would matter much but for the
other She CANDLES for sheer love of it,
and doesn't care a rap whether she wins
or loses, And her notion of an interesting
person Is anybody fortunate or misfortu-
nate enough to be noticed by the news
papers. a bit of scandal Is sure bait
for her regard"
Pausing, Mrs. Standsh smiled coolly
"'Takc me, for example Until | found It
necessary to get unmarried my aunt
never could find time to waste on me
But now. In spite of the fact that the de-
cree was in my favcr. I'm the object of
her mad attachment And if Walter
hadn't come into the limelight through a
Senatorial inquiry into high finance and
made such a sick witness, and got so de-
SerVedly roasted by the newspaperS-well
now nothing is too good for him. So. you
see. the people Aunt Abby insists on en-
tertaining are apt to be rather dubious
lot. don't mean she'd pick up with any
body openly immoral. you know; but she
certainly manages TO fill her houses-she's
got several-with wild crew of adven-
turers and-esses-to call 'em by their
first names.
They're smart enough, God knows,
and they do make things hum. but they
charge her-some of them--fat fees for
the privilege of entertaining them. Funny
things have happened at her card tables
So Walter and I have been schemng to
find some way to protect her without
rousing her resentment by seeming 10
interfere. If we could only get evidence
enough to talk privately to some of her
friends-about time tables, for instance
1t would be all right, And only recently
she herself showed us the way-wrote me
that she had quarreled with her corre-
spending secretary. a spinster of acid ma
turity and discharged her; and would we
please look round for somebody to re-
place Miss Matring. Do you see?'
You mean" Sally suggested, dunn
founded you mean you'll recommend
me for the posltion?"
"I'n do more. I'll see that you get it;
I'll take you with me tonight, and by to-
morrow noon you'll be engaged. But you
must understand we're giving you the
chance solely that you may serve us as
well as Aunt Abby by keeping your eyes
and ears wide open and reporting to us in
strlctest confidence and secrecy anything
that doesn't look right to you"
"But--but I-but how-why do you think
you can trust me?" the girl faltered,
knowing what you do"