The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-10-31

ION from the clutches Of the old hnltor
on which she had stumbled. I'm tho
haymow ladder they hurried. ana thon
siid recklessly down the hay chutcs.
presently the barn door was flung
open, and the society" knocked Con.
ME lying backward, ran madly around
the barn few times, and scurried nm
def the fence and into the chicken
coop.
little later Connie, assailed with
shots Oh corncobs, ran bitterly toward
tne mouse. "Peeking" was strictly for
D1dden when the twins werc engaged
In Skull and Crossbones activities.
ana Comics soul burned with de-
sire. She felt that this secret society
was threatening not only her happi-
ness, Dut also her health, for she could
not sleep for horrid dreams of Skulls
ana Crossbones at night, and could not
eat for enyying the twins their secret
ana mysterious joys. Finally she an
piled to Prudence, and received assist
ance.
The afternoon mail brought to tho
parsonage an envelope addressed to
Misses Carol and Lark Starr, the
Methodist Parsonage, Mount Mark,
Iowa." and in the lower lcft-hand cor
ncr was suggestive drawing of q
Skull and Crossbones. The eyes of the
mschievous twins twlnklcd with de-
light when they saw it, and they car
ried 1t to the barn for prompt pcrusnl.
1t read rs follows:
Miss Constance Starr humbly and re-
spcctfully Graves admlttance into tho An
cient and Honorable Organization of
Skull and Crossbones.
The twins pondcred long on fitting
reply, and the next afternoon the post
man brought q letter for Connie, wait
ing impatiently for it. She had an
preached the twins about It at noon
that day.
did YOU get my applications" she
had whispered nervously.
But the twins had stared her out of
countcnancc, and Connie realized that
she had committed Il serious breach Of
secret society etiquette.
But here was the letter! Her fin.
gers trcmbled as she opened it, 1t was
decorated lavishly with skulls and
crossbones, splashcd with red ink, SUP
poscdly blood, and written in the same
suggestive color.
Skull and Crossbones, great in mercy
and In condesccnsion, has listened graci-
ously to tho prayer Of Constance, the
Seeker. Hear the will of the Great Spirit
If the Seeker WILL for the length of two
weeks, submit herself to tho will of Skull
and Crossbones, she shall be admitted in
to the Ancient and Honorable Order
The week that followed was q gala
one for the twins of Skull and Cross
bones. Constance swept their room,
made their bed, washed their dishes.
did their chO. ), and in every way be-
haved as a model pledge Of the ancient
and honorable. The twins were gra-
ciOus but firm. There was no arguing
and no faltcring. "It is the will Of
Skull and CrOSsboncS that the damscl
do this" they would say. And thc
damscl did IT.
Prudence did not feel it was n case
that called for her interference. So
she sat back and watched, while the
twins told stories read and frolickcd.
and Constance did their daily tasks.
~ week passed, ten days, and twelve.
Then caric Il golden October afternoon
when the twins sat in the haynow
looking out upon mellow world. Con-
stance was in the yard, reading fairy
story. The situation was Il tense ne
Tor the twins were hungry, and nc
was heavy on their hands.
"Tho apple trees in Avcry's orchard
are just loaded" said Lark. "AnG
there are lots on the ground, too. I
saw them when l was out in the field
this morning"
Carol gazcd down into the yard
where Constance was absorbed in her
book. constance oughtn't to read as
much as She does" she argued. "Its
SO bad for the eyes"
Yes, and what's more, she's been
getting Off too easy for the last few
DAYS. The time is nearly up"
THAT'S So" said Lark. Lets call
her up here" This was done at once,
and the unfortunate Constance stood
before them respectfully, as they had
Instructed her to stand. The twins
hesltated, each secretly hoping the
other would voice the order But Lark,
rs usual, was obliged to be the spokcs-
man.
"Damscl," She said, ut Is the will of
Skull and Crossboncs that you HE yc
to yondcr orchard-Avery's I mean
ana bring hlthcr some Of the golden
apples basklng in the SUM-"
What" calculated Connie, startled
out of her respect.
Carol froWnnd