The Washington herald., 1916-02-07

the little roadster with the provisions
and therenl be just room for you girls
In the big car" And then she flounced
away, taking the key of the side door
with her. She must have called back
telling the girls that she had this key.
but they lid not hear her.
1t took at least five minutes more for
the cousins to bid each other farewell
and then Abby started. IN take this
key" she said, and you can leave by
the side door Yes, you had better lock
it. Mrs. Torrey was so particular. No.
| wouldn't leave the key with the cook.
for she might be the very one feels
things. No, you'd better take 1t and
mail it back. l can just use this one
door all the time. The other one on the
back stairs might just as we'll be lock-
ed, anyway. Mrs. Torrey might have
known we wouldn't ever use it" And
then Abby left her cousin and for a half
hour or more Ida spent her time pack
ing her belongings.
Then she wrote letter to her hostess
explaining her regret that she had has
tily been summoned home. She thought
for full five minutes OF writing a letter
to Tom, too. Without the slightest idea
Of the preteXt on which to write II, she
wanted him to know that she was leav-
ing for his sake. But she thought better,
and after spelling half dozen sheets
of paper she gave up the attempt.
1t was about II o'clock when she de-
cided to make her exit. There was a
train at a quarter of noon, and thus
she had ample time to walk to the sta
tion. buy her ticket and catch that
train. But the side door OF the room
was locked. OF course it was be-
cause Mrs. TOrrey had locked it. The
front door was locked. too. This Ida
knew, for Abby had locked it and had
the key with her.
For the first few minutes Ida sim
ply sat down and wept, and then she
decided to use her wits. There were
no transoms over the doors and there
wasn't a sign of balcony or vine
anywhere near the windows. To cs-
cape that way, Ida would simply havs
to leap, and that was out of the Ques-
ton. There was no use trying to at
tract the attention of the neighbors
for the house was surrounded by pine
trees that cut off a view of the road
and neighboring houses. and the
cooks quarters were in the opposite
wing. The man of all work had gone
TO the picnic. so there would be no
chance of summoning him to her aid.
The only thing, obviously, to do was
to break down the door or pick the
lock. What If she did ruin a perfectly
good door? 1t was surely not her
fault if her hostess had locked her in
her room
A few minutes after that Tom nurs-
ing his grievance and feigning a
toothache, in the opposite wing of the
house. heard strange rappings. a per-
sistent scraping and scratching that,
as he listened intently. he convinced
himself could not be caused simply by
the wind. He followed the sound to
its source. and listened at the keyhole
whence the sounds came.
Sugar" he heard in very much
irritated feminine voice and then
OUCH" followed by sobs.
Who's there" he asked and then
in Ida Vinton's voice came back dis
tinctly, Tom. you dear, you angel!
How good of you"
It's all right, dearie," he was sooth-
ing, and then as he heard the sobs
again: Don't worry, dear. I'll get YOU
out somehow II I have to smash the
door in. Just slip a hairpin through
the crack under the door. Now keep
stiff upper lip, Ida, dear, and I'll
get you out all right"
How dare you call me that" Ida
asked. with an attempt at indignation.
why shouldn't l if l want to? If YOU
knew that | had come down TO this
house party especially to see you, that
the house party was given just because
! asked Mrs. TOrrey to give 1t and If vo,.
knew that l had fixed it up with her
especially to have the picnic on the beach
so that / would have chance to see
you alone-if you knew that l knew
that you wouldn't go on that account.
and if you knew that l can unlock the
door, not with the hairpin, but with the
key that Mrs. Torrey took out and gave
to me before she went. what would you
say? You are really my prisoner, now,
and unless you promise to come out and
kiss and makeup l am not going to let
you out at ALL / am not travelling under
false colors. l am not making you think
that l am rescuing you. That was Mrs.
Torrey's idea. ] like my own method
better"
Tom listened eagerly through the key
hole First there was a low sob and then:
Tom l can't stay in here any longer.
want to come out and make up. I'm
sorry
And Tom opened the door,
Copyright, 1861