The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-04-05
THE PURPLE BUS

iii 90
Published by Special Advancement with The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate. Inc
Copyright: 1895: BY E. L. WHITE
PART TWO
As they rolled on through dark
macabre country she felt more and
more depressed, and disproportionately
apprehensive of the future, as though
an actual voice were warning her not
to leave the safety of the Purple bus.
Hell. mysterious warning had been dis
astrously fulfilled. She certainly would
not reach her journeys end. When the
bus stopped at Paddiscombe, outside
an ancient inn, she followed Miss Bat
out Of the bus.
us that all?" asked Miss Bat, in
rather a strained voice as Lucy's small
suitcase was dumped down on the damp
stones.
eyes" replied the girl. IT sent my
trunk luggage in advance"
Miss Bats lips frightened.
1T has just occurred to me that we
had better establish Olives mumps
These country folk are very ignorant
over illness. Suppose you send a vague
telegram to your school so as not to
JUN yOu poaIo. 4AleL!' IolllolIoW iIloI!!-
ing, I'll go over to Moone by the early
bus and Investigate the matter. I know
where Olive lives"
The good sense and kindly thought
of Miss Bats speech inspired Lucy tc
fresh hope. With luck She might re.
turn tomorrow to her post.
That's frightfully decent of you,'
she exclaimed. You're right, I did fly
off the handle Which Way?"
ITO the left, please"
In spite of the fresh development
however, Lucy had the exact sensation
of being entrapped in some nightmare
Presently they reached a small shop
which Miss Bat informed her was the
postoffice. Her head had begun to ache
so badly that she was scarcely conscious
of her action as she mechanically
scrawled a telegram to the school:
Detained. Bad news Writing"
1t was not until they were once agar
outside that she realized that Miss Bal
had dictated the message.
I'm letting myself be run by a little
faint flicker of amusement.
Suddenly Miss Bat pulled her arm.
Here we are at the Sundial house,
she said, her voice full of pride.
Lucy looked up at the outlines of {
beautiful Elizabethan mansion, sci
flush with the road. She had vaguel!
dreaded something damp and ivy
bound, so her spirits rose at the sight
"I've given my maid a holiday" ex
massive front door, which was whit
with age. THAT is why I had tea a
the cafe. But she will be back tonight.
In the light of a lamp Lucy saw al
oak paneled hall and the sweep of
gracious staircase. Then her hostes
led the way down a short passage.
1--WE will go into the library, which
is in a back wing" she said. "Sinct
motoring has become popular I can n!
Lucy followed Miss Bat into a long
narrow room, furnished in Victorian
style, with faded grass green carpe
and curtains and book cases filled witt
nineteenth century authors. There wer'
two narrow windows on n side ant
on the other a halfglass door. A fet
caked fire glowed in the steel crate.
Miss Bat turned up the wick of tn
lamp on the bureau and opened {
drawer, from which she took anothe
pair of glasses.
There" she said, laying the smash
ed pair in their place, only I can SCI
again. The blessed relief not to fee
helpless . . Do you like my house?
cts wonderful" Lucy assured hel
you must be very proud of it."
II nm. We have lived in it for owe
two hundred years. My family goe
back even farther. That is our tree.
She nodded towards a dim frame
chart which hung on a corner of tn
wall outside the radius of the lamp.
In these upstart days." she continu
ed, II feel that a long pedigree mean
everything"
IT don't agree" remarked Luc
thoughtlessly, as she remembered tn
snobbish atmosphere of the school. "
can't see why any one has a right t
feel elevated just because she stand
on a pile of moldy bones"
Moldy bones? The tinted glass hi
the venom of Miss Bats gaze. Blu
presently Lucy became uneaSily con
scious of her acute scrunity.
Are you looking at my bleache
streak?" she asked with a forced laugh
tits genuine and quite amusing. II
proud of being distinctive
In spite Of Miss Bats hospitality Sh
was aware of a cold, u~nfriendly atmo
sphere. There was something abou
the house and its mistress which at
fected her u~npleasantly.
Springing to her feet, she lit a Gig
aret and began to pace the library.
Does this door lead to the garden?
she asked.
mo, the courtyard" replied Miss Bat
a CLEAN suddenly lighting her eye:
and now I'm going to put a no
water bottle in your bed. viii 20