The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-11-05

white butterflies over the keys. Only
a glimpse as he walked past the
door, but not many young girls
could play like that in these days
of canned music and the radio, and
he was interested.
"Who's that, Barney?" he asked.
"a pip" said Mulloy, grinning.
Names INA Burrage. She's got
a brother in the school"
SIS she staying here at Snodd's?"
"Oh, no. But Snodd's got sad
die horse she rides like a cowgirl,
and she's chummy with Belinda,
who's throwing a kitten party this
evening-no gents allowed. She ar
rived early"
"Who's Belinda?"
"Snodd's daughter. A good kid,
but bit of a bouncer. She'll pass
us our rations."
Belinda was serving Bart Hodge,
who had arrived ahead of them,
when they entered the dining room.
She was, as Barney had stated, "a
bit of a bouncer," but she had a
pleasant, intelligent face. Hodge
apparently was jollying her, but he
dropped it at once and put on an
air of dignity when they came in.
"Too bad about that old dog, Mer-
riwell," he said. Neither Bemis
nor I knew the truck hit him. Mr..
Snodd says that even you don't think
ran over him Intentionally"
-
or anybody else-would DELHI
erately kill a small boys pet dog,
no matter how worthless the crea-
ture might be, Hodge"
Thanks" acknowledged Bart. He
smiled as he said it, but it seemed
to Merry that there was sheer
hidden behind the smile.
After that Hodge took no part in
the conversation. He ate hurriedly
and left the table before Frank and
Barney were much more than half
through the meal. With show of
careless generosity, he dropped a
bill beside his plate as tip for
Belinda.
"I'm glad that baby's gone"
growled Mulloy. cts good food
Mrs. Snodd cooks, but the sight Of
him soured it for me-"
"Oh, forget him." advised Frank.
The sound of the piano, which had
continued at intervals, ceased en-
tirely a few moments after Hodge
left the room. But it was a sur
prise for Merriwell and Mulloy, re-
passing the door of the living room
little later, to see Bart stand
ing beside tha stool on which the
fair-haired girl was sitting. She
had turned from the instrument and
was listening as he talked to her
with the self-assurance of a fellow
who had no doubt of himself. Frank
got a good look at her now.
"a pip is right, Barney" he said.
"The nerve of that guy!" NUT
tered the Irish boy.
Merry pulled at his elbow.
LETS 60 for a walk" he proposed.
Far away in the east, the round
moon spilled silver over the still
bosom of the ocean. Golden lights
glowed warmly in the windows of
the school dormitories. The night
was as mild as a night in June,
but it's pleasant odors were those OF
September. Crickets were fiddling
in the roadside grass. Somewhere
from within the academy grounds
came a chorus of boyish voices
singing school song as Frank and
Barney walked slowly past the open
gate.
Sounds pretty" said Mulloy.
"Swell," said Frank.
They didn't talk much until they
had followed a well-trodden path
down to the shore, on which the gen.
tie rollers of a rising tide were
breaking white. Then their tongues
were loosened. For more than an
hour they sat there and chatted OF
many things that interested them
both. They joked and laughed a
great deal. And before they started
back for John Snodd's place they
felt as if they had known each other
all their lives.
On the road at the foot of the hill
Frank halted and stared at two