, 1922-06-08
We're Three of
a Kind"
BY MARTHA C. WILLIAMS

Diu you ever really tnlnk, Bruce
began pompously. Anne Maria inter
rupted him with her LATEST laugh.
Never. Thinking is so bad for the
compleXion-and l haven't too much
compleNion'-unless l go buy it,"
Anne Maria For shame" Aunt
Massey interjected, bristling with hor-
rified propriety. Again Anna Maria
laughed, this time roguishly. You're
forgetting things, Tanty. shouldn't
not so young as you are. But l re-
membe for both of us.
With reason. You shut me up in
the closet n whole half hour for spoil
ing your pink saucer-I wanted n bath
for my redblrds-and didn't dream it
would make any difference even
though Mr.. Jacks was coming to court
you. And he didn't do it-said he
wasn't out for no pale, sickly woman
and you hadn't any health certifi-
cate. | could have told him you were
as hardy as "A pine knot" she retort-
ed. Miss Massey stood up almost weep
ing. "Please go!" she said to Bruce.
Il don't know what alls this wicked
girl"
"Oh. she is just being naughty-as
spoiled children always are before
company Bruce broke in calamity.
Anne Maria turned upon him eyes of
grave %reproach. Company You're
no company-not enough to deserve
fried chicken she said. But you're
always held up as the pattern of truth
TO the rest of us. How dare you dis
credit your reputation"
where you are concerned l dare
anything" Bruce said with his most
Impressive bow. 1t set Anne Maria to
giggling wildly-she darted through
the side door. and half n minute later
was safe in her treehouse. her refuge
since she was five. Bruce looked at
Miss Massey, doubtfully. How ever
can l tame herr" he asked shaking his
head Her head also shook. II don't
know" she said stonlly. "But-you
have got to do it. 1t means salvation
to-both of us"
81 know" Bruce sighed. Haven't
drawn an easy breath since she came
home so changed. And sha'n't until
we are married-it is the one way
out"
you love herr" Miss Massey uues-
toned. Bruce sighed again, saying
Yes. And hate her like poison. She
she seems somehow to see through
me as though l were made of glass
n finds only things to laugh at. Can
you understand how that gals and
cuts?"
Miss Massey nodded. Same here
h has surely changed. So sweet
and biddable and confiding she was.
Why did 1 eve let her go to West
rand? | ought to have known 1t would
wake up her wild blood, to hear about
her father, see his picture"
Tell me-was he n great adven-
turer?" Bruce asked slowly.
Miss Massey was silent n minute,
then went on. nodding: Judge for
yourself-he made seven fortunes
and lost six of them. If he had not
died when he did. there would have
been no money TO tempt us to the
depths. He married my sisters daugh-
ter hardly younger han myself.
The shock of his death in that burn
ing building-he was trying to save
NN ~ tiiplAR titH say ItdllN hllltu
her, though she fingered years in n
sanitarium. That's how / came by
Anne Maria. She was still In arms-I
have tried honestly toto do right by
her. But II was so easy to do other
wise-all her money in my hands
and the first | borrowed came back
treble. Then | thought when she mar
ried or came of age | should have
nothing but her charity TO save me
from the old grinding poverty. You
know the rest-how we have rlsked.
and won, and lost, until we must keen
on. or lose everything, for her as well
as ourselves.
III | could tell her what ] had done
and that 1t was all for myself. she
would forgive me. But | can't-she
would know 1t was mainly for you"
The last word was n groan SO low
and hollow 1t startled Bruce. He tried
to speak some soothing commonplace,
as though he had not understood-she
would not have 1t so. "For you :" she
repeated almost bitterly. "Of course
! am a fool-but not so much as |
seem Seven years older-but at first
you seemed not to mind. And-and-
| did want TO help you-to give you
the chance | thought you deserved
never dreaming how things would
turn
stop" Bruce said hoarsely. his
fnce ashen. you shall not suffer
further-whatever happens to me-"
What do you menn?" Miss Mnssy
asked doubtfully. He braced himself.
took both her hands and said slowly
Il am going straight to Anne Maria
and tell her the exact truth. II /
know her. 1t is truth that will make
us free"
mo, no! had rather die, | could
never race herl Never In the world I"
AIlss MnasY mnnnnh hnf IN ,rnn III