The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-04-06
CHAPTER V-Continued.


As soon as they finished supper Lark
said, Don't you think we'd better go
right 10 bed, Prue? We don't want
TO taint the atmosphere OF the par
sonage. OF course Fairy will want to
wash the dishes herself 10 make sure
they are clean and shining"
"Oh, no." dlsclalmed Fairy, good
naturedly. 81 can give an extra rub
10 the ones we want to use-that is
enough. do appreciate the thought,
though thanks very much"
So the twins plunged in, carefully
keeping Connie beside them. Connie
had a dismal propensity for discov-
eries-the twins had often suffered
from II.
Then they nll three went to bed. To
be sure 1t was rldicuously early, but
they were oil determined.
"You keep your eyes open, Fairy"
Prudence whispered melodramatically.
"'Those girls do not look right" And
she added anxiously. "Oh, I'll be so
disappointed if things go badly"
Fairy was little late getting up
stairs to dress, but she took time to
drop into her sisters room. They were
all In bed, breathing heavily. She
walked from one to another, and
stood above them majestically.
Asleep" she cried. "Ah, fortune
is kind. They are asleep. How l
love these darling little twinnies-in
their sleep!"
An audible sniff from beneath the
covers, and Fairy. smiling mischievous-
ly, went into the front room to prepare
for her caller.
The bell rang as she was dressing.
Prudence went to the door preternat-
urally ceremOnious, and ushered Mr..
Babler into the front room. She did
not observe that the young man shifted
in peculiar manner as he entered
the room.
"Tll call Fairy" she said demurely.
Tell her she needn't primp for
me-" he answered, laughing. 81 know
just how she looks already"
But Prudence was too heavily bur-
dened to laugh. She smiled hospi-
tably, and closed the door upon him.
Fairy was tripping down the stairs,
very tall, very handsome, very gay.
She pinched her sisters arm as she
passed, and the front room door
swung behind. But she did not greet
her friend. She stood erect by the
door, her head tilted on one side,
shifting, shifting.
what in the world?" she wondered.
Eugene Babler was strangely quiet.
He looked about the room In Pc
culiar, questioning way.
"Shall / raise Window" he sug-
gested finally. Its rather-er-hot
In here"
"Yes, do" she urged. "Ralse all Of
them. 1ts-do you-do you notice a
funny smell in here? Or AIN imag-
lining it? lit almost makes me
sick ~
"Yes. there is n SMELL" he said, in
evident relief. 81 thought maybe
you'd been cleaning the carpet with
something. It's CHASTITY. Can't we, so
somewhere elseT
"Come on" She opened the door
into the sitting room. 'We're coming
out here If you do not mind, Prue."
And Fairy explained the difficulty.
"Why, that's very strange" said
Prudence, knitting her brows. 81
was in there right after supper, and i
didn't notice anything. What does II
smell like?"
''It's a new smell to me-" laughed
Fniry, "but something about II is
strangely suggestive of our angel
twins"
Prudence went to investigate, and
Fairy showed n big chair near the
table, waving her hand toward IL light
ly with a smile at Babbie. Then she
sank into low rocker, and leaned
one arm on the table. She wrinkled
her forehead thoughtfully.
THAT SMELL" she began. II am
very suspicious about 1t. 1t was not at
sll natural"
Excuse me, Fairy" he said. III at
ease for the first time in her knowl-
edge Of him. did you know your
sleeve was coming out?'
Fairy gasped and raised her arm.
"Bo.h arms, apparently" he con-
nnued smiling, but his face was
flushed.
Excuse me just q minute. will your"
Fairy was unrufIled. She sought her
sister. Look here, Prue-what do
you mako of thisl I'm coming TO
pieces I'm hanging by a single thread,
as Ii were"
Her sleeves were undoubtedly ready
10 drop Off at a seconds noticel Pru-
dJnee was shocked. She grew posi-
tVoly white N the face.