The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-09-12

ben. Jack swung about impatiently.
You'll have to come with me-" he
said. tits the front door,"
Deliberately Miss Celia Celtone set
tied herself in great chair, her hands
firmly grasping its sides. 81 won't go
STEP" she affirmed
"Very we'll" Jack answered Fhor VI,
and advanced to the open window. I
am here" he called mo, this way
round to the right. That's 1t. Now,
who is thereY
Messenger" answered a concise
voice from below. Come down and
sign for q package"
Jack muttered an imprecation as his
sleeve caught upon a nail "You will
have to come with me now" he stern
" told hts prisoner; but, as he released
his sleeve and turned about, no rebel
hous young woman awaited in the
great chair. The room was empty.
Headlong he rushed down the stair.
The street door stood open. (Which
way" he wildly inquired Of the mes+
senger, but as that person was just
rounding the path information could
not be gained from that source.
Mechanically Jack signed the book
held out to him, Tuning silently that
this hooking, reckless naid should
have so outwitted him. Still absorbed,
he drew the wrappings from the bum
die delivered at so late an hour, fail
ing to notice in his abstraction that
the name of the address was not his
own. A woman's dainty purse pre-
scented itself to his view, while nom
its violet interior he brought forth a.
note. The handwriting was unmis-
takably his sisters. He read perplex-
eddy,
Dearest Celia-we are rushing on to-
word Buffalo, and from there will for
ward your purse with its valuables and
very necessaries. 1 have scandalized the
passengers by laughing continually, since
our haSty parting at the station ] can't
forget the panic-stricken expression of
your face as my train moved of 50 un-
expectedly-you reaching after your de-
parting purse, I waving It frantically in
your direction. declare I should have
thrown Il at you had 1t not been for your
watch inside. Why, oh. why. dear girl,
could you not have been satisfied with my
assurance that had dropped the house
key into your purse, without handing 1t
| through the car window that I might
| show you Just where had placed it2 i
can only hope that you, poor, pennilsss
child in an unknown town, will at least
| have the courage to wait upon my door
| step until the messenger brings this to
you. Remember I shall not rest until
| you telegraph tomorrow. Lovingly,
CYNTHIA
Helplessly big Jack Hayden col
lapsed into a chair Remorse and
shame and regret settled deeply upon
him. And he had held this plucky, re.
sourceful little woman at the muzzle
Of a six shooter, had sneered at her
unfortunately truthful tale, had driven
her from her only possible shelter
alone into the night. Her little white
blouse was very thin, be remembered,
and her jacket sti1l chung to the porch
palings where she had relieved herself
Of it. Re gods and little fishes, but
he had been an ass and several kinds
Of fooll Where could she go at this
hour of the night?
Desperately Jack wandered among
the flowers Of the garden. Something
moving at its farther end attracted his
attention, but it was only the ham,
mock swayed by breeze Closer In
spection revealed a white object In the
depth Of the hammock and-yes-it
was she, the little outcast girl, a
Persian kitten cuddled drowsily against
her cheek. With sudden, overwhelm-
ing wave of tenderness Jack bent and
picked the girl up in his arms. No
word he spoke until he had placed her
safely inside the house.
Good night" said Jack, 'Tu be
back tomorrow"
Just one week later Miss Cynthia,
receiving no response to her insistent
ringing of the front door bell, passed
inquirtngly round to the rear. A
swaying hammock here gave the only
evidence of life about the place. A
mans broad and strangely familiar
shoulders showed above the back Of
the hammock, and against one Of these
shoulders rested a woman's fair head.
Jack" cried Miss Cynthia aghast,
"and Celia Celtone! didn't know you
had met. Who could have introduced
your
mo one could" Jack answered
pleasantly, $50 we waited for you. Our
meeting was-er-rather unexpected"