Tombstone epitaph., 1917-09-02
CHAPTER II-continued.

She came up TO him ana, AZ arm
length. touched him with cautious
fihGer-tips. And do. please, there's a
dear boy" she pleaded, hurry as fast
as you can. and then come down and
be a. nice as you can"-she hesitated
especially 10 Hermione Woodruff.
Sic thinks you're a wonder and l
don't want her to be disappointed"
THE widdy?" he asked. "Sure I'll
be- nice To her"
She looked after him rather dubious
ly as he disappeared in the direction
of her husbands bathroom. There WAS
sort OF hilarious contentment about
,im which filled her with miSgivinss.
Well they were justified!
According to Violet Williamson's &C
>1Int. given conhdentially in the draw
Eng room afterward. II was really Her
sione's fault. -She just wouldn't let
Rodney aione-would keep talking
about crimes and Lombros& and
psychiatric laboratories-l'n bet she'd
got hold of paper of his somewhere
and read il. Anyway, at last she
said. 4 believe Doctor Randolph would
agree with me- He was talking TO
me then. but maybe that isn't why
she did ii. Well. and Rodney straight
ened up and said as that Randolph,
the alienist:' You see he hadn't
caught his nam. when they were in
PRODUCED. AM that's how il started.
Herrnione wigs game-Ill admit that.
She listened and KEEP, looking inter
ested. and every nov and then said
something. Sometimes they'd take the
trouble To smile and say Yes. indeed :.
politely. you know. but other times
they wouldn't pay any attention al all.
jus, roll along over her and smash
her fat-like what's his name-Jus-
gernaut.'
"You don't need to tell me that"
said Frederick. "All | didn't know
was how it started. Didn't ! sit there
aud watch for u mortal hour. not able
to do a thing? / tried to signal to
Martin, but Of course he wasn't oppo-
site TO me, and
"He did all he could. really" Violet
assured her II told him 10 go to
the rescue. and ne did. bravely. But
what with HermiOne being so nifty
about getting frozen out, ard Martin
himself being SO Interested in what
they were shouting at each other
because il was frightfully interest
inC. you know, if you don't have to
pretend you understood it-why. there
wasn't much he could do.
In the Light of this disaster. she
was rather glad the men fingered in
the dining room as long as they did
glad that Herrnione had ordered her
car for ten and took the odd girl with
her. She made no effort TO resist the
departure OF the others, with reason-
abIe promptitude. in their train
When. after the front door had closed
for the last time. Martin released
long yawn. she told him to run along
TO bed she wanted to talk to Rodney,
who was 20 spend the night while his
own clothes were drying out in the
laundry.
Good night, old chap" said Martin
in accents Of lively commiseTation.
Tin glad I'm not in for what you are"
Rodney found a pipe. sat down
astride spindling little chair. settled
his elbows comfortably on the back OF
IL, and then asked his sister what Mar
tin had meant-what was he in for?
Frederick. curled up in corner OF
the sofa. looked az him at first with
vry pucker between her eyebrows.
then with a smile. and finally answered
his question. Nothing" she said Il
mean. I was going TO Sold you, but
Tn not"
Then. "Oh. I was furious with you
an hour ago." she went on. I'D made
such q really beautiful plan for you.
and then sat and watched you in that
thoroushgoing way Of yours kicking
II all to bits. The plan was. Of course.
to marry you of to Hermione Wood
ruff"
He turned this over In his deliberate
way during the process of blowing
two or three smoke rings, began
gradually to grin. and said at last:
THAT was some plan. little sister.
How do you think of things like thatl
You ought to write romances for the
magazincs-"
Il don't know" she objected If
,ea-onableness counted for anything
In thinSs ike that. 1t was a pretty
>,od pIsz II would have to BE- some