The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-03-02
CHAPTER VIl-continued.


Mfr. 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 a word, she slipped softly out of
Ehe room, ran down the stairs, making
never a 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 a
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
ream, or on the kitchen shelves.
You're always leaving them somewhere
over the place. Come on, and Wen
search the house just to convince you"
"NO, no." shrieked the twins. Let's
Jock the door and get under the bed"
The rings were really valuable.
Their grandmother, their mothers
mother, whom they had never seen,
mad divided her real jewelry" between
her two daughters. And the mother of
these parsonage girls had further di-
vided her portion to make it reach
Through her own family Of girls!
"Our rings Our rings!" the twins
were walling, and Connie, awakened
by the noise, was crying beneath the
covers of her bed.
e. Maybe we'd better phone for Mr..
Allan" suggested Fairy. "The girls are
so nervous they will be hysterical by
the time we finish searching the
house"
well, let's do the upstairs then"
said Prudence. Get your slippers and
llimonos, and Wen go into daddy's
EOOm."
But inside the door of daddy's room,
with the younger girls clinging to her,
and Fairy looking odd and disturbed,
Prudence stopped abruptly and stared
about the room curiOusly.
"Fairy, didn't father leave his watch
Hanging on that nail by the table?
Seems to me saw it there this morn
ing. l remember thinking 1 would
tease him for being forgetful."
And the watch was not there.
81 think it was Sunday he left It,"
answered Fairy in a low voice. 81 re-
member seeing it on the nail. and think
fng he would need it-but I believe it
was Sunday"
Prudence looked under the bed, and
In the closet but their fathers room
was empty. Should they go farther?
For a moment, the girls stood looking
at one another questioningly. Then
they heard a loud thud downstairs, as
of someone pounding on door There
was no longer any doubt. Someone
was in the house! Connie and the
twins screamed again and clung to
Prudence frantically. And Fairy said
''T think we'd better lock the door and
stay right here until morning, Prue.'
But Prudence faced them stubborn
gy. "If you think I'm going to let any
one steal that fifty dollars, you are
mistaken Fifty dollars does not come
often enough for that can tell you"
ITS probably stolen already" OBJ
Jected Fairy.
"Well, II it is, Wen find out who did
tt, and have them arrested. I'm going
down to telephone to the police. You
girls must lock the door after me, and
stay right here"
The little ones screamed again, and
FAIRY said: Don't be silly, Prue, If
you go I'm going with you, Of course.
Wen leaEe the kiddies here and they
can lock the door. They'll be perfectly
safe in here"
But the children loudly objected to
this, If Prue and Fairy went, they
would 60! SO down the stairs they
arooped, timorous trembling crowd
Prudence went at once to the tele'
sihone, and called up the residence OF
the AIlans. their nelghbors across the
street. After a seemingly neyer-ending