Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-01-08

wien inc l'IfIllplt Iuu-. lut Nhli
NOT being answered. the ring was re-
prated. not once, hut fully half Il dozen
times. M frequent intervals. Blissful-
~ ignorant Of The impatient calls,
Amy. with hands Safeguarded from
thornS by leather gauntlet gloves. was
training the ruSe-iuden vines over the
lattice Of her summer house. Tiiiie
supported the stcpladdcr and handed
mp ties of soft Irvine.
After u time the telephone renewed
rs impatient summons. The garden
erS worked on. obliyious. Presently
The telephone was re-enf0rccd by the
sharper ring of the doOrheii. The re-
suit was the same. Three times the
bells rang more or less in unison.
Still no response; still Amy remained
intent on her thorny blossomy task,
with only an occasional glance upward
at the rear window of her brothers
bedroom.
The doorbell ceased ringing. A few
moment later two persons Il keen-eyed.
suspicious young man and an agitated
young lady, came hurrying out of the
pergula into the garden.
There she is - exclaimed the young
lady. She waved her hand and called:
"O-hoi Amy"
Amy twisted about so suddenly that
she almost fell off the ladder.
Goodness :" she whispered. ITS
Ellen and Charle"
Pooh! Don't fret. Well fool them
easy" treasured Tillie.
The girl promptly recovered her bal
ance and her aplomb, and called ban
teringly: "Oh, is it really you? You
must be going for a foothill motor
drive to be out at this unearthly hour.
1t almost tumbled me over to see you"
Then you haven't heard, dearw ex-
claimed Ellen.
Your brother has escaped from the
sanitarium," BENIN bluntly stated the
news.
Amy threw up her hands In realis-
tic stage CONSERVATION. Escaped?
Will escaped? Oh! oh! Has he gone
daft again? How? Where did he GOT
When was it? Oh, dear Wandering
about, in his condition."
Hasn't he come homer"
"HOme!" scoffed Tillie. Don't you
know anything about crazy folks?
Don't you know they always try to get
away from their relations? Didn't he
want To run away from home the very
first night he Gamer"
Indeed. yes" agreed Ellen. You re-
member he even knocked you down. he
was so violent"
Bemm's face darkened. Hes a bit
too violent. The next time well put
him where he can't get out"
"'WeT" queried Amy.
"His-er-friends," BENIN FASTENED
to explain. Hell be apt TO do himself
harm. y know. if he's allowed to run
loose"
"Beford he is cured" added Ellen.
Amy rfiSed her flushed face. That
most eminent of scientists-Charles
Darwin-observed that the expression
al after-effects of spasms of fear, an
ger and mirth are remarkably similar
There were tears in Amy's Redeemed
eyes as she looked up past Bemm's
fashionable straw. Suddenly her half
compressed eyelids widened-she flung
up her hand and made a quick down
ward gesture.
BENIN spun about and stared up at
the rear window of CIinton's bedroom.
The shade was down. but the morning
light rippled on its watered surface as
if il were shaking. BENIN confronted
Amy.
Your brother is in his room" he
charged.
Really" she retoined with heavy
sarcasm. you don't Sayr'
He raised his shade. You waved
him to pull it down" shrewdly thrust
BENIN.
How clever" parted the girl. "One
might take you for Sherlock
Holmes"
The random shot hit BENIN so unex-
pectediy that he was Disconnected
Miss LOwrie!" ne snapped In angry
protest.
why. what Oh beg your pardon.
Charlie!" she replied. her look express
sive only of innosent contrition. Raj
tles was gentleman burglar. wasn't
he? And l meant a gentleman detec-
tive"
''Detective?" exclaimed Ellen.
Under her shocked gaze BENIN
flushed brick red. Tillie had unob-
trusively started up the garden to-
ward the kitchen door. Amy renewed
her attack.
"Oh, not common, low, ordinary de-
tective, Ellen" she protested. mo one
could dream of Charlie being that
could they? But a Sherlock Holmes
or a Gibberer-that famous French
detective. you know-that's altogether
different, isn't il? So romantic!"
Unable longer to endure the grilling
BENIN turned TO retreat. Titles head
appeared above the bloSsoming
shrubs; IL moved toward the kitchen
porch with marked rapidity. BE looked