The St. Mary banner., 1921-01-29

Mickin," the stranger shook hands and
then sat down In the empty seat be-
side Katherine
Jolly play, isn't it?" he asked.
"Why, really, Mr.. Trent" replied
Katherine, Il hardly know what's been
going on. Tm-Ive-there's something
worrying me and l can't seem to get
my mind on the play"
That's too bad" said Mr.. Trent
cheerfully. There are su.h lot of
worries fitting round loose, one Is sure
to butt up against one sooner or later.
Now, there's your friend, Miss Mac
LeOd-"
Katherine drew a quick breath.
II suppose, between the afternoon
edition, announcing the terrible accl'
dent to young Dale Brinton, and the
evening, contradicting it-she felt as
if she had butted up against 1t hard''
"Contradicting it? Did you say con-
tradicting it?" gasped katherine.
Haven't you heardf" asked Trent.
You read the afternoon account OF
how Brinton attempted record night!
While FIVE thousand three hundred 1eet
up the motor went wrong. Ihere was
no time to learn how serious the accl-
dent really was, but the worst was
feared"
"Yes, yes" broke in Katherine I'M
patiently, II read all of that.
well, the sequel in the later edlt Oh
was that Brinton, in some marveioes
manner, escaped, entirely unlnJured.
You don't suppose by any chance Mss
Macleod didn't see that later EDITION
Pshaw. She must have. She surely
wouldn't be here If she hadn't
Here? Did you say hereT asked
Katherine eagerly.
"Saw her Just a few minutes ago
sitting In another part Of the mousse
Come to think of it. she did look Wor-
ried; real sort of anxious"
| at isn't over Dale's accident. ohe
doesn't know anything about that.
didn't see any use of Mariana Wor-
rying before all the facts OF the case
were known"
Trent hastened to offer to go IN pur-
suit of the lost Mariana, and prom
ised to restore her to her vacant place
In short order.
"Remember." warned Katherine
mariana doesn't know anything about
Dale's accident"
Katherine waited lmpatiently foE
Mariana's arrival.
Just as the curtain went up Cor he
second act Mariana slid into the va
cant seat.
"Well, Mariana" whispered kath
crime, "for PHYS sake tell me "ha'
happenedT'
"Just what I want TO know," sait
Mariana.
"As agreed upon. for similar emer
gencies," replied katherine. Il came
directly here-bought the tickets-re
turned one to the box office 10 ps
called for by you"
II handed two back, TO bt called sol
nv Aunt Matilda end you," broke u
Mariana.
"But. Mariana, why didn't you asi
for the one ! left for your" gaspe'
Katherine.
"Buf Katherine, why didn't you asl
for the two left for your" repeate'
Mariana.
Because we got here .frst," an
swered Katherine.
"Just shed tear over that secon'
set OF seats going TO waste" groane'
Mariana. 1--WE had enough excite
: ment TO last me for some few days
"Meaning?" whispered Katherine.
"Why, first Dale's accident, o
course, then this"
."You know" gasped Katherine.
"My dear Katherine" replied Mar
ana. "you don't suppose for one sex
, ond that that news was allowed t
escape my attention Fourteen pei
fectly good friends at the boarding
house let their soup get cold Will
! thew waited for me to return. Wit
one accord they asked If l had hear
the news-first and second edition" !"
"If | had only taken time for ar
other guess" said Katherine wearil!
ave about decided" whispere
Mariana, "to tell Dale that he'll hav
: to get either new fad or new far
, Gee"
Katherine didn't reply, but sh
thought it would also be much easie
Oh her friends.
IL