The Holbrook news., 1922-03-17

pTouetting about the upper hall with siphOn of soda water. Subdued giggles and smOthered gasps indicated that the young ladies were somewhere near, in hiding. Young Hopper, un- der Wards direction, was investigat- ing doors and alcoves.
 Amy Hawkes-Amy Hswkes-Amy Hawkes-come into court P Ward fin. toned. Drunk and disorderly r' ~
 Here, here, herei' Richard said "What's all this?"
 Amy and Nina, with hysteric shrieks, immediately fOrsook cover. and dashed down to him, clinging to him wildly
 "Oh, Father! Make them stop. Oh. Mr. Carter, save usr screamed the girls in delicious terror. 'Oh. they got poor Francesca-she's locked up in your room! They climbed up our porch, after they swore to Harriet that they wouldn't make another sound"
 Harriet now appeared in the hall- way, her hair falling in a braid over her shoulder, and the long lines of the black robe she wore giving her figure an unusual effect of height. She did not see Richard immediately. for she had eyes only for Ward, as she caught his shoulder. and took away the si- phon.
 "NOw. Ward-lOok here" she said. sternly. '"What sort of honor do you call this! Half an hour ago I thought all this nonsense was stopped. Shame on you. Those girls promised me"
 She saw Richard, and laughed, the color flooding her face.
 "Ai en't they simply shameless :" she said. T had them ali settled down, once! Nina, where's Francesca? You see," Harriet said, in rapid explana- ton 10 Richard. T gave the girls my room tonight, so that they could all be together, and this is my reward 1"
 The girls, entirely unalarmed by her severity, had deserted Richard now, and were clinging to her with weak laughter and feeble explana- tiOns.
 Francesca unlocked that door, and rushed into Mir. Carter's room!" Amy explained, wiping her eyes. "And then the boys locked her in there!"
 The composed reappearance of Fran cesca at this point, however, added to the general hilarity.
 'You did not lock me in, Smarties :" Francesca drawled, childishly. "They climbed to the balcony, and we were well, we were undressing" she said to Richard, "and here they were ham, mering and yelling like-like Si- washes ANe grabbed our wrappers, we wanted to-"
 we wanted to lock them out there!" Amy explained, laughing un- controllably. But"
 And I snapped off the light" Nina interposed, with deep satisfac- tion.
 And, mind you"
 And, Father"
 And the wonder was that we didn't die of fright"
 "Now, look here," Harriet said, in the babel, 'I'll give you all exactly two minutes to quiet down. Never in the course of my life"
 Richard thought her maternal indul- gence delightful; he thought the young people who clung about her charming in their apOlogetic and laughing promises. Ward and Bruce Hopper mounted to their own region; Richard went with the girls and Har- riet to the rooms that had been at tackled. Pilgrim, the tireless, wa- al- ready there, replacing pillows, straight ening beds, untwisting curtains. The girls, with reminiscent bubbles of laughter, began to help her.
 After the last good-nights Richard and Harriet had no choice but to cross the hall again, and they stood there for a moment, laughing at the recent excitement.
 After twelve" Harriet said, with smiling shake of her head. "Aren't they young demons However" she added in an undertOne, tits the best thing in the world for Nina! This sort of nonsense will blow cobwebs away!'
 Richard was only conscious of desire to prolong this intimate little moment of parental consultation.
 "She doesn't speak of Blondin?" he asked
 Not at all. The birthday came and went placidly enough" Harriet an- swered, suddenly intent after her laughing. And as he did not speak for second, she looked up at him, inno- gently. You don't think she's hiding anything?" she asked, anXiously.
 "I-no. I hardly think so," Richard answered, confusedly. Their eyes met. and he smiled vaguely. Then Harriet slowly crossed the hall to the door of the guest room, where she was spend- ing the night, and gave him an only half-audible goodnight. Richard stood watching the door for a moment or two after it had closed upon the slender, dimly seen figure. Then he went to his own room, and began briskly enough to move about between the mir TOTS and dressing room, windows and bed But two or three times he stopped short, and found himself staring vacantly into space, all move ment arrested, even thought arrested for whole long minutes at a time.
 Harriet, entering her room, closed the door noiselessly, and remained for long time standing with her hands