The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-02
CHAPTER v-consinusd.


AS soon as they finished supper Lark
said. Don't you think we'd better 80
right to bed, Prue1 We don't want
20 faint the atmosphere OF the par
,sonnge. or course Fairy win want TO
wash the dishes herself 10 make sure
they are clean and shining
"0h, no. disclnimed Fairy, good.
naturedly. Il can give an extra rub
40 the ones we want to use--that Is
enough. I do appreciate the thought
though. thanks very much"
so the twins plunged In. carefully
keeping Connie beside them. Connie
aad q dismal propensity for dIscoy-
.eries-the twins had often suffered
from II.
Then they all three went to bed. To
he sure II was rsdiculously early, but
they were nl determined.
"You keep your eyes open, Fairy"
prudence whispered mechanically.
-'Tiose girls do not look right And
SHE added n%nxlously. "Oh, Ill be SO
disappointed IL things so badly"
kFniry was a little late getting up
stairs TO dress. but she took time to
drop into her sisters room. They we're
nll In bed, breathing heavily. She
walked from one to another, and
stood above them majestically.
Asleep" she cried. "Ah, fortune
~ kind. They are asleep. How
ioye these darling little twinnies-in
their sleept"
An audible gniff from beneath the
covers, and Fairy, smiling msschieyous-
nv, went Into the front TO prepare
for her caller.
The bell rang as she was dressing.
Prudence went to the door, preternat-
suraily ceremonIous. and ushered Mr..
Bnbier into the front room. She did
NOT observe that the young mar shifted
IA a peculiar manner as he entered
the room.
~'ril call Fairy" she said demurely.
-sTen her she needn't prlmp for
me" he answered, laughing. Il know
5ust how she looks already"
But Prudence was too heavily bur
dened 20 laugh. She smiled hospl-
tably. and closed the door upon him.
Fairy was tripping dow the stairs.
very tall. very handsome. very gay.
;She pinched her sisters arm as she
Epassed, and the front room door
swung behind. But she did not greet
her friend. she stood erect by the
door. her head tilted on n side,
smiling. smiling.
.'What IN the worldf' she wondered.
eugene Babler was strangely quiet.
lie looked about the room In a pc.
rullar. questioning way.
s;Shall / raise a Window" he, sug-
gested finally. ats rather-er-hot
IN here"
eyes. do" she urged. "Tsalse all OF
them. It's--do you-do you notice a.
a funny smell in here7 Or am l lmag-
fning ltf It-it almost makes me
sick 7"
eyes, there Is n 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 elsef"
.Come on" She opened the door
into the sitting room. "We're coming
out here IL you do not mind. Prue.'
and Fairy explained the difficulty.
"why, that's very strange" said
Prudence. knitting her hrows. y
was In there right after supper, and
didn't notice anything. What does Il
smell likef"
Its a new smell to me-" laughed
Fairy, 'but something about 1t Il
strangely suggestive Of our ange
twins"
Prudence vent to investigate, and
Fairy showed n big chair near thu
table, waving her hand toward It light
sy with a smile at Babbie. Then SHE
sank into a low rocker, and leanes
one arm on the table. She wrlnkles
her forehead thoughtfully.
'+That smell,r she began. 81 an
very suspicious about 1t. 1t was not a
all natural"
Excuse me, Fairy" he said, i'll a
ease for the first time in her know
edge of him. "Did you know you
sleeve was coming out?"
Fairy gasped and raised her arm
Both arms, apparently" he cor
tinued. smiling, but his face wa
flushed.
Excuse me just a minute, will you
Fairy was unruffied. She sought he
sister. eLook here, Prue-what d
you make of this7 I'm coming
piecesl I'm hanging by a single threa
as it were."
Her sleeves were undoubtedly reat
to drop of at a seconds noticeI Pr
dence was shocked. She grew po.
lively white In the face.