Evening star., 1922-09-10

ber. who was ir charge in Miss Mer-
ricks absence. being in her room.
| was petrif1ed at the thought OF
actually getting on a trolley. because
our teachers simply live on them free
days But Hlda soaded me on
Even if we did meet a teacher. she
wouldn't know you with that VEIL" she
said
A car came just then. Thank
heaven there were no teachers on 1t
I began to feel more like myself then.
thinking that everything would come
out all right.
At Pennington Heights. some boys
from the prep school there got on.
They started at US and acted smart.
the way boys do when there's a girl
around.
IF you hadn't come to take me
away from that awful school," Hilda
said. In a perfectly audible voice, Il
would have committed suicide
She gave me a poke with her elbow,
to make me understand
II never had any idea you were suf-
fering so. my dear" l said.
Sine shuddered, very realistically. ]
thought. until she sneezed. too. and !
realized the draft from the door was
too much for her.
Il did not want to bother you. dear
sister," she said. You have had
trouble enough Of your own. 1 stood
it when they put me in the dungeon
on bread and water. but when Miss
Merrick started sticking pins in me to
break my spirit. 1 could stand it no
longer"
l looked out Of the corner Of my
eyes. Those prep-school boys we're abb
solutely goggle-eyed 1t was a scream
II will take you to Europe, and we
will visit Venice and Egypt and India.
and amidst new scenes you will for
get this awful month" told her.
Hilda shuddered. and sneexed again.
Never" she said Not as long as l
live"
Just then the car reached Philadel-
phia. and we get out, the prep-school
boys following US, open -mouthed. As
soon as they were out Of sight We be-
gan giggling. After awhile Hilda said
we might as we'll be hanged for d
theater. So We did.
1t was dark. as they were showing &
a movie, the girl usher using a
searchlight to find our seats. We
could not make anything out Of the
picture, which was a serial with a
beautiful Russian countess about to
kill the hero. but it made no differ
ence. anyway. Our attention was i'm
mediately attracted by what some
boys in front Of US were saying. They
were the same boys who had been on
the car.
THE police ought to be notified"
ono Of them said.
bird, but 1 never thought she'd stick
pins in a girl" said another. DO you
really believe she did?"
Il was talking to a girl from the
Eaves at my sisters coming-out
dance" said the first one. "and she
told me lots of things almost as bad"
Hilda nudged me, and nudged her.
and we were having a lovely time
when, Just as the Russian countess
was setting the clockwork bomb
which would kill the hero in seven
hours, ITO be continued" appeared on
the screen. and the lights were turn
ed on. And, simultaneously, Hilda
and ducked down.
The woman in front Of the boys
had turned and was glaring at them.
Egypts's queen! It was Miss Merrick!
THE lights stayed on, as the next
act was song-and-dance. We
dared not raise our heads. although
people either side Of US were staring
at US curiously. ana . man beside
Hilda wanted to know what 1t was
she had lost and started to help u.s.
please DON'T" Hilda said. IT'S
nothing-I mean, I'd rather you
didn't"
He looked surprised and somewhat
hurt
Luckily. the song was something
about the moonlight. % that the
NIGHTS were turned down. and we
managed to get out, though more
dead than alive.
wanted to 70 back to the Eayes
the minute we left the theater. But
Hirda wanted to telephone . girl she
knows in Philadelphia first As she
10 one Of the longest-winded tele-
phons takers In the world, told her
would drop into Sohuyler's ana inset
her in half an hour. Ever since last
night she has been at me- to find out
why did not meet her.
Very we'll" she keeps saying, you
neadn,t tell me. But I know perfectly