The Holly chieftain., 1915-02-26
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IN bet your mother didn't talk
much" laughed Bartlett.
But the general had passed through
an unhappy half hour and had no
heart for jesting.
III you knew the Browns, Mr.. Batch
elor." said he. ut was your duty to
have told US So"
Yes" said Henrietta. Il have aged
ten years. and at my time of life that
is tragedy"
And why" asked Billy, "if you had
the key. didn't we go in by the front
door last night"
The Watermelon stared from one ac-
cusing face to the other In frank sur
prise. Even Mike with his fat wits
would have grasped the situation. Il
didn't know them." he protested.
When can go In by door, don't
choose the window"
But the key" objected Billy.
Dick and Lizzie," added Henrietta
Their very ages" climaxed the gen
eral.
ut was only bluff" said the Wa
termelon wearily. 81 remembered
their names and ages from books
had seen around the room last night
and on the dresser. sort of birthday
presents and things, you know. nev-
er saw one of them"
The general roared and loved the
boy. Henrietta leaned forward and pat
ted him on the shoulder. Wonderful,
wonderful. Holmes." said she.
Did you take the key on purpose 2"
asked Billy, all athrill with admiration
The Watermelon flushed. He had
taken the key IL by any chance he
should ever be in that neighborhood
again, and the family away, he could
spend the night in comfortable bed
instead of under hayrick. Besides
keys always came in handy. He didn't
look at Billy. He laughed and changed
his seat to the one between the two
girls.
When I locked the front door,
slipped the key out without thinking,
suppose" said he. Besides. keys are
handy. When you are stony broke,
you can rattle them and make the 9TH
er fellow think maybe they're the
mon" Ia. x,
Now for breakfast" cried the gem
eral gaily. never long forgetful OF his
meals.
Tell me- begged Henrietta. what
would father say?"
Grace" said the Watermelon.
The general, as he informed Henri
eta at the first roadhouse they came
to and at which they stopped for
breakfast, was full of the old Nick
He felt that there might be no limit to
his daring, he might go as far as to
rob an apple orchard and make no
attempt to repay the owner, that was,
II the apples were ripe Henrietta's
own spirits were rising. One never
realized what liberty was until one
threw aside observation-disclosures hon.
or, but conventionality, the silly, fool
ish laws Of senseless ages. Billy as
usual laughed at every remark. while
the general. the tramp and the finan-
cier grew fairly brilliant beneath the
spur of two pretty women's laughing
eyes.
The Watermelon, in his silk socks,
his soft panama and fine linen, was
too much in the habit OF taking fate
as he found 1t. without wonder or pro-
test, to marvel now at his change Of
fortune or to be disturbed or embar-
rassed at the unexpected society in
which he found himself Between him
and Bartlett was only the difference
of few millions, both lived by their
wits. and II one preferred to walk
while the other rode. 1t was merely q
matter OF choice-no sign OF inferior
ity between man and man.
They stopped that evening at q
small town In the north OF Vermont.
as far from a railway and telegraph
office as Bartlett could bring them. He
had watched Bachelor carefully for
signs of restlessness. but the young
man appeared absorbed in the pres.
ent, with no thought for anything but
the moment and Billy and Henrietta,
After supper. they loitered q while
on the porch. The night was dark
and warm. Across the road and over
the fields, the frogs in a distant pond
were croaking. and the air was thick
with frefies.
isn't II dark and STILL" said Billy.
her hands thrust into the pockets of
her linen coat, her feet slightly parted.
as boy would stand. her small head
thrown back.
The Watermelon watched her covert.
ly from the cigarette he was rolling.
the claar 0xal nH N. A.l-A..-