The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-02-16
CHAPTER V--cOntlnuod.

said, Don't you thlhk Weu Delter ~
right to bed, Prue? We don't want
to taint the atmosphere OF the par
sonage. OF course Fairy will want to
wash the dishes herself to make sure
they are clean and shining"
"Oh. no." disclaimed Fairy, good
naturedly. ~ can give an extra rub
to 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 n dismal propensity for dlscov-
eries--the twins had often suffered
from 1t.
Then they all three went to bed. To
be sure 1t was rldlculously early, but
they were all determined.
"You keep your eyes open, Fairy"
Prudence whispered mechanically.
"ThOse girls do not look right" And
she added anxiously. "Oh, I'll be so
disappointed If things go badly"
Fairy was a 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
love these darling little twinnies-in
their sleepW
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 a peculiar manner as he entered
the room.
"I'n call Fairy" she said demurely.
"Tell her she needn't primp for
me-" he answered, laughing. II 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 plnched 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. |
str
He looked about the room in a Pc
culiar, questioning way.
"Shall 1 raise Window" he sug-
gested finally. Its rather-er-hot
in here"
"Yes, do" she urged. "Raise all of
them. It's-dO you-do you notice a
funny smell in here2 Or am 1 imag-
lining it? lit almost makes me
sick !"
"Yes, there is SMELL" he said, in
evident relief. II thought maybe
you'd been cleaning the carpet with
something. It's CHASTITY. Can't we go
somewhere else?"
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. II
was in there right after supper, and l
didn't notice anything. What does it
smell llke?'
ITS a new smell to me-" laughed
Fairy, "but something about It is
strangely suggestive of our angel
twins"
Prudence went to investigate, and
Fairy showed big chair near the
table, waving her hand toward 1t light
ly with smile at Babbie Then she d
sank into low rocker and leaned +
Dne arm on the table. She wrinkled +
her forehead thoughtfully.
THAT SMELL" she began. II am d
very suspicious about it. 1t was not at
Ill natural" u
Excuse me, Fairy" he said, i'll at b
ease for the first time in her knowl-
edge Of him. 'Did you know your b
sleeve was coming Out?" n
Fairy gasped and raised her arm.
Both arms, apparently" he con- h
inued, smiling, but his face was q,
lushed. .,
Excuse me just minute, will your" IL
Fairy was unruffied. She sought her "
lister. Look here, Prue-what do :
'ou make of this? I'm coming to 81
ieces I'm hanging by single thread, Il
S It WERE" =,
Her sleeves were undoubtedly ready II
0 drop off at seconds notice Pru- o.,
ence was shocked. She grew posi- N
lvely white in the face. i,
"Oh, Fairy" she walled "We are a,
isgraced." :,
mot bit Of It," said Fairy coolly. m
remember now that Lark was look
lg for the scissors before supper. sc
rent those twins unique? This is on
lmost bordering on talent, isn't It?
'on't look so distressed, Prue. Eth a
uette itself must be subservient to IN
wins, 1t seems. Don't forget to bring cd
! the ste at a quarter past nine, and M
ave 1t as good as possible-please, 70
ear" Il.
Il WILL" vowed Prudence, "I1l-Pn III
Sc cream Oh, those horrible twins I" W,
60 In and entertain Babbie till th
'me down, won't your And Fairy all