The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-03-30
CHAPTER V--contlnued.

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. II 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 dismal propensity for discov-
eries-the twins had often suffered
from 1t.
Then they all three went to bed. To
be sure It was rldiculously early, but
they were all 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.
"Asleepl" 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 a peculiar manner as he entered
the room.
"pll 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 hospl-
tably, and closed the door upon him.
Fairy was tripping down the stairs,
very tall, very handsome, very gay.
She pinched her sisters arm rs 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 a Window" he sug-
gested finally. "It's rather-er--hot
in here"
"Yes do" she urged. "Raise all of
them. It's--do you--do you notice u
n funny smell in here? Or am l imag-
lining it? It-lt 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. Were 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
didn't notice anything. What does 1t
smell likeT M.
"It's new smell to me-" laughed
Fairy, "but something about 1t is
strangely suggestive of our angel
twins"
Prudence went to investigate, and
Fairy showed big chair near the
table, waving her hand toward It light
ly with smile at Babbie. Then she
sank into low rocker, and leaned
one arm on the table. She wrlnkled
her forehead thoughtfully.
"That smell,' she began. 81 am
very suspicious about it, 1t was not at
NIL natural"
"EScuse me, Fairy" he said, III at
ease for the first time In her knowl-
edge of him. "Dld you know your
sleeve was coming outp"
Fairy gasped and raised her arm.
Both arms, apparently" he con-
tlnued smiling, but his face was
flushed.
"ENcusc me Just minute. Will your"
Fairy was unruilled. She sought her
sister. Look here, prue--what do
you make of this? I'm coming to
pieces I'm hanging by single thread
us II WERE"
Her sleeves were undoubtedly ready
to drop Off ut seconds notlcel Pru.
dence was shocked. She grew posi-
lively white IN the face.
"oh, Felry," she walled. ave are
disgraced"
mot bit OF It." said Fairy coolly,
81 remember now that Lark was look.
ing for the scissors before supper.
Aren't those twins unique? This is
almost bordering onNalent isn't It?
Don't look so distressed, prue. Eth
quette itself must be subservlent to
twins, II seems. Don't forget to bring
In the ste at quarter past nine, and
have II us good us possible-please,
dear"
II WILL" vowed Prudence. "Tll--rn
use cream, oh, those horrible twins |"
"Go In and entertain Babbie till