Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-18

drop.
1t all hinged on old Hazeltine.
Somehow I began to wonder on the
way home from Lottie's that after
noon whether the old man was as
innocent as Martin and the little girl
thought he was. He'd shown a pretty
considerable degree of inventive skill.
Why couldn't he have sent up. in
stead of the messenger. some sort OF
arrangement to cut the wire and drop
1t where he wanted?
didn't think, of course, that 1t was
the old chap himself who'd lined up
the Mater and the others. But there
are such things as accomplfces.
Let 1t drop, Oliver" I said to my
self. Forget it. And forget the
little girl too. She's in better hands
than yours"
But couldn't forget her. That was
the devil of it 1t shows how far gone
l was when the sight of a girl who
walked like her took me a block out
of my way.
Things thickened up that night, as
If they hadn't been bad enough al
ready.
The evening started out we'll We
all dined at home, which hadn't hap
peneo IN u plue moon. anu IL was
pleasant meal. although l thought
both the Mater and Sis were overdo-
| ing 1t a bit.
The governor was feeling very fit.
He called me partner" once or twice.
and began to reminisce with the
roast. Good company. the governor,
when he wants to be.
But / can tell you my feet got cold
when Sis observed that there was to
be box party to see Lottie Murray
dance the next night. She looked at
me when she said it.
You saw her dance last night"
said. II should think you'd be
sick of seeing silly girl dancing
things you can do better yourself"
rs she siliy?" Sis asked quickly.
We'll, she's nothing extraordinary,
either for brains or looks. Why?"
But she went on eating, or pre-
| tending to eat, without replying
must say she had me guessing.
At $50 Sis went upstairs.
'Tll catch up with my sleep, faith
err" she said. You don't mind, do
you?"
He kissed her goodnight. and she
went upstairs. At I went to her
door and knocked. I knew there was
something on her mind, something
about Lottie Murray. thought it was
probably about Martin, too.
1 III lOHQ VI DIS, ana L CnOuSnt
better tell her about Hazel and Mar
| tin, and get it over with. She's better
put Martin out of her mind and begin
over again.
Curious, isn't it? There were the
two of us-most people would have
said we had everything we ought to
have, and more. And the cold fact
was that each of us was about as
wretched as it was possible to be.
| Gee, it's a queer world!
Well, to get on. Sis was not in her
room. She wasn't in the house. 1
sat in her boudoir and smoked and
waited, and my imagination, having
been overfed for several days. took
to having convulsions.
l rang for her maid, but Sis had
sent her out. That made me worse
didn't want to worry the Mater But
1 knew Sis had never been out alone
after o'clock since the day she was
| born.
At 1890. after I'd worn a path in
the rug, she came in. She was dressed
for the street, and she'd come so
quietly that 1 didn't hear her until
she had opened the door and closed it
behind her.
"Well?" she said, when she saw
me.
| Where have you been?"
I'm not going to tell you"
ou are gong TO tell me-"
Don't try any big brother stuff"
pin. By Jove, her hands were shak-
| ingi
Does the Mater know?"
That's not your affair, either"
It's curious thing about our fam
lily. When we're worried we snap at
each other I've seen the Mater on
the edge of hydrophobia when Sis was
a naN nrtc oh
the diningroom.
Don't bite" I said to Sis. "I had
some sort of a silly idea of helping il
| If you were in any sort of trouble
That is. if anything was worrying you.
But l guess I'll go to bed"
l turned at the door. Sis was
standing in front of a mirror, and
could see that she was crying. Can
you beat it?
l went back. We're an undemon-
strative bunch, and l was a bit awk-
ward about it. But l got an arm
around her somehow, and she put her
head on my shoulder.
Tell me about it, old girl," said.
But she wouldn't
I'm just fool, Ollie" she said
You go to bed and forget about me
II I'm worried, it's my own fault"
She had a lot of spunk. I'd never
thought she had, particularly. But
afterward l had to take off my hat
to her. Shed made a clutch at han
plness, as you may say, and lost II.
Ill skip Monday 1t was a full day
We had a girl in HazeIs place who
looked exactly like a mouse.
IF / yell cat she'll run" said
to the governor. BET you so cents
there's cheese in that lunch she's
| brought"
Well, there was cheese. but that has
nothing to do with the story.
l sent around to the dealers In the
morning for the camera, and got
word in reply that the dealer wished
to see me. He didn't send the camera
1t made a happy start for the day'
There was no chance of a word
alone with Martin, and what couId 7
have said, anyhow? He looked nrettv
tired. / thought. 1 got in Something
however, about hating to step into his
shoes, and that the mill Wouldn't he
the same without him. That got hin,
rather, for he held out his hand and
| shook it, and we both felt fooIi.h
Things were doing in the mill he
lieve me. New men were lined nm he
| fore the employment office. and nv
old friend the yard engine had pone
crazy, and was barking around the
yard like pup just let out of the
house.
(To Be Continued.)