Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-05-01
CHAPTER Vll-Continued.

Mr. Starr had gone to Burlington
that morning to attend special revival
services for three days, and Prudence
had fifty whole dollars in the house.
an unwonted sum in that parsonage
And the dungeon was not locked. With
out word, she slipped softly out of
the room, ran down the stairs, making
never sound in her bare feet, and
saw, somewhat to her surprise, that
the dungeon door was Open Quickly
she flung it shut, pushed the tiny key
that moved the "catch," and was rush
ing up the stairs again with never
pause for breath.
A strange sight met her eyes in the
twins room. The twins themselves
were in each others arms, sobbing bit
terly. Fairy was still looking hurried
ly through the dresser drawers.
"They are gone" walled Carol, "our
beautiful ruby rings that belonged to
grandmother"
Nonsense" cried Prue with nervous
anger, you've left them in the bath
room, or on the kitchen shelves.
You're always leaving them somewhere
over the place. Come on, and We'll
search the house just to convince you"
mo, no." shrieked the twins. Lets
lock the door and get under the bed"
The rings were really valuable.
Their grandmother, their mothers
mother, whom they had never seen,
had divided her real jewelry" between
her two daughters. And the mother of
these parsonage girls, had further di-
vided her portion to make 1t reach
through her own family of girlsl
"Our rings Our ringsl" the twins
were wailing, and Connie, awakened
by the noise, was crying beneath the
covers of her bed.
Maybe we'd better phone for Mr.
Allan" suggested Fairy. "The girls are
so nervous they will be hysterical by
the time W. finish searching the
house"
"Well, let's 90 the upstairs then"
said Prudence Get your slippers and
kimonos, and Wen so into daddys
room"
But inside the door of daddy's ROOM
with the younger girls clinging to her.
and Fairy looking odd and disturbed,
Prudence stamped abruptly and stared
about the room curiously.
'Falry, didn't father leave his watch
hanging IN that nall by the table?
Seom5 ia me saw j there this morn
ing. remember thinking 1 would
| t,ocn ~ for h..trrr ruaff,,l
And the watch VS. not there.
81 think it was SrGtcy he left It,"
answered. FAIRY In low voice. II re-
member seeing it on the rail, and think
ing he would need it-b~t believe it
was Sunday"
Prudence looked under the bed, and
in the closet, but their fathers room
was empty. Should they 20 farther?
For n moment, tie girls stood looking
at one smother C'i-stioning,y. Then
they heard Il ln.:d thud downstairs, as
of someone pounding on n InoT. There
was no lcnsrr any doubt. Someone
was In pc house! Connie and the
twins .c-same1 again and chung to
Prudence franc-ally. And Fairy said.
II thihk we'd better loci. the door and
stay riga: here until morning. Prue."
But Prudence faced them stubborn
ly. "If you think I'm goiag to let any
one steal that fifty dollars, you are
mistaken. Fifty dollars does not come
often enough for that, can tell you"
TITS probably stolen already" OBJ
> jected Fairy.
|
) "Well, IL 1t is, wen End out who did
, 1t, and have them arrested. I'm going
} down to telephone to the police. You