The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-03-11
M Jane Bunker
Copyright Tho robbs-herrin Co

.Yes-but never found out"
| She looked as if she were dying to
ask, "Have you found out?"
| / was so afraid she would that /
ended the croSs-examinatiOn hastily by
asking her what she heard from her
mother and signaled Billy to chip into
! the conversation and make talk as fast
as he could; and after she'd replied
about her mother-that her GRANDPA
| Their was still dying and her mother
dared not leave-she turned to Billy
as though she had really only just then
become aware of his presence, and
they soon were chattering away like
magpies and the bushes were mostly
on Billy's cheeks. For which he might
be forgiven. He was just twenty-five
and she was just sixteen but in three
yearS--dear me, what a beauty she
was going to be-what man-killer!
left them to themselves, going to
my bedroom on some pretext or an
other while one quarter of an hour fol-
lowed another. and still monsieur did
not return. At nine Claire began to
be restless; at quarter after she blurt-
ed out, ''Do you suppose anything has
happened to papa?"
had been supposing it for half an
hour-he'd had time to make twenty
trips to the telegraph office and back
but i managed to say reassuringly,
"Why, what could happen?" and Billy
supported me with fine courageous,
Nothing could have happened-hes
mamie knows how to take care of
himself" and was rewarded with a
look. Even at sixteen Claire's looks
were valuabe-Billy wouldn't have
sold that to another fellow for ten
dollar bill.
The elevator rumbled up, and l
cried, ''There he isl think"
George presented me with two
notes and the information that an au-
tomobile was downstairs waiting.
I handed one note to Claire, tore
open the one addressed to me, and
read:
I'm sending a car for my daughter.
Will you ask FIR. Rivers to escort her to
the hotel? 1T is necessary that / say some
few words to you alone. ! beg you to
await me.
1t was signed, III, de Ravenol."
had barely finished this when /
heard Claire give cry, Mamma is
dead!" and looked up just in time
to see her throw out her arms and
swoon away at my feet.
People faint away in this story like
the heroines of mid-Victorian ro-
nance, but can't help it. Anyway,
warned you there was another faint
coming, which faint was, under the
circumstances, natural enough.
To be exact, Claire swooned at my
feet via Billy's arms. The intention
was all on his side, however-he
caught her as she was regardlessly go
ing and let her down. A light bur-
den.
SCOT any smelling salts? Quick if
you have. Some water, if you haven't"
he ordered.
/ couldn't help an inward snort at
the cool way in which he took the pro-
prietorship of the situation in my
house-a snort tempered with good
rfatured elderly amusement at his i'm
petuosity and It's justifiable cause. He
was nearly as pale as Claire and
dreadfully agitated. But l was already
running to the bathroom for the water
to revive her, as twenty-four hours
previous I'd run for water to assuage
the ammoniacal agonies Of her dear
papa.
Billy was on his knees. From under
one prOtruded the note that had
caused the damage. I went down on
my knees and applied the wet towel.
Billy fished forth the note and with
out conjunction read it aloud.
My child: Ut was in French) Return to
the hotel Immediately. Ask Mr.. Rivers to
escort you. VOTRE PERE.
Nothing very nerve-shattering and not
a word about her mother; so evident
ly she'd been expecting something and
this had keeled her over on general
principles.
"What was in yours?" demanded
Billy.
I reached out and got it off the ia
bic where I'd thrown it and gave it
to him. Nothing about her MOTHER"
said ]. "This getting her away is just
a dodge to see me alone"
you're not going tor Billy ex-
claimed, with some dismay.
/ sopped at Claire's face and an
swered: II don't know-it depends
on how soon he comes"
81 wouldnt--it isn't safe for you"
"You come here the very first thing
in the morning, and II don't answer
your ring"
Claire just then stirred, and we
thought she was coming to. but she
relapsed again, and Billy doubled up
his fists and made motion toward the
front door, indicating that if didn't
answer he would break it in.
.That's it--and the very first thing
in the morning. don't know what
else to do--and-" leaned over Claire
anxiously. and whispered to myself
rather than Billy: "This is pretty
bad"
"Where's that ammoniaY' he de-
manded, making wry face and adding
in whisper: "Do you suppose she
knows?"
"Of course not" rctorted. "You
don't suppose he was such fool as