Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-02
CHAPTER IN
Conspiracy

And WE'LL" shouted Billy.
Thank God!' He knew it even
before Billy had spoken. knew it be-
fore he had seen Billy's face, knew
1t from Billy's tread in the hall and
his vigorous throwing open of. the
door, knew that at last they had been
found, that they were alive, that they
were Well! He buried his face in
his hands; but he Strengthened up
quickly. Oh, yes, Strengthened and
smiled; though the tears were stream
ing down his cheeks. 1t was a smile
OF such heartfelt thanksgiving that no
verbal prayer of praises could have
expressed it.
Now, tell met" He sat down, to
show that he could be perfectly quiet,
and he put his hands on his knees.
Tell me all about it. Tell me every
thing! Sit down, Billy" and the
older man hitched his chair closer.
How do they look? How have they
prospered? Jean, my wife? And
what is my little Tavy like? Billy!
I'm a minute" laughed Billy. "I'll
have to sort those questions, Stuart.
what is her regular name?"
"Octavia. What about her?"
well, she's a beauty! A regular
sumner, Stuart! Big, dark eyes. but
l couldn't tell exactly what color thew
are. Dark gray, like yours, 1 think.
never saw eyes so changeable; and
they seem to read a fellow through
and through! She must think I'm
bllthering idiot. the way l stam-
mered around when she came to the
door. You see, I had just climbed
Tour flights of stairs -"
The old man, who had been listen
ing with every expression of delight.
suddenly held out his hand, and his
face paled. ---'
Wait" he interrupted. "You say
you had climbed four flights of stairs
Where were they?
Billy gulped and thought quickly.
In some mighty cozy apartments
downtown. l never saw a more
cheerful and homelike room in INV
me than the one l was in!" and he
looked with disdain on his quarters
Ihere was a world of ease in them.
but no home. "They had your ma,
hogany drawing-desk in that room
It's handsome thing!"
Ihe old mans face softened. At
least they were not poor! If the
apartment corresponded to that ma
hogany desk, and he we'll knew the
good taste of Jean, they were in COM
Portable circumstances. No doubt
apartments would be more conven-
"Jean!" he begged. What of her?,
She is beautiful, too, and sweet.
or course her hair is gray"
Tell me, Billy" The words faI+-
cred on his tongue. Her face: does
it show much suffering?"
No" Billy smiled reassuringly,
though remembering the pathos in
the patient eyes. She has suffered
to be sure, but her smile is angelic
ha
smile. She has the blackest hair that
1 have ever seen! 1t curls all over
her head, little curls and big curls and
tight curls and soft rolling ones. 1
never saw so many curls!"
Stuart, too, was laughing. rocking
backward and forward in his chair
and slapping his waxen white hands
on his knees.
Just like when she was a kiddie!"
he exclaimed. She was five years old
when l last saw her, and bright as a
dollar! Just about this high" and
he stretched out his hand as il she
were standing at his knee, and he
were patting her head. "I used to
call her all sorts of names based on
those kinky curls, but she would
have none of them. "Tayy was her
name. and nothing else would do!
She couldn't say octavia." He unused.
and smiled in fondness. What did
you think of my library?"
/ wasn't in the library" Billy ack-
nowledged slowly, feeling that he
was on dangerous ground.
But the drawing desk" puzzled
Stuart. THAT was always kept with
the library. It fitted so well with the
old mahogany bookcases. In what
room was the desk %
"Oh, just a sort of general room,"
evaded the young man.
"I know" smiled Stuart, quite con-
tent. but 1t will be all strange to
me, for the taste of Jean will be sup
plemented by the taste of Tavy, and of
course she has ideas of her own. She
had them even as a kiddie. Are her
cheeks as red as ever ?'
Red? MOI" vigorously denied