The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-07-08
CHAPTER I-Continued

CHAPTER CONTINUED
Mrs. Sentry poured coffee, and
Oscar, who had served them for a
dozen years, hesitated at the table as
Mr.. Sentry said: oscar, tell Eli
he'd better take me in today. I'll
be ready in five minutes" He be-
gan to eat, hurriedly Barbara not
awaken" he asked.
'Oh, she may sleep till noon. She
was probably late getting in. Did
you hear her, Mary?"
Mary shook her head. She asked
her father, Scan you drop me at
the hospital on the way to town."
''Of counsel" he told her. He
asked, a little impatiently. paper
not here yet, Oscar?"
II think the boy forgot us this
morning." the man replied. "Nel-
lie says she saw him go by, but
when looked, just before you came
down, the paper wasn't there" He
added, "The car is ready, sir"
''All right. Thanks" Mr.. Sentry
agreed. Ready, Mary?"
s'Soon as I get my hat on" She
went into the hall. l
He rose, stopped to kiss Mrs. SEN
try on the cheek she turned to him;
and she followed them to the door
to watch them drive away, in the
high topped old limousine with
brass side lamps, and with old Eli,
gardener, chauffeur, and general
handy man, who had served them
through all the years of their mar
riage, at the wheel. Mrs. Sentry
liked old things, things with dig
nifty, about her. The Sentrys were
an old, fine family. Mrs. Sentry
had been sea captains daughter,
had met Arthur during his youthful
summers on the Cape. She thought
this morning with a familiar con-
tent that she had married wisely
and well.
Turning back into the house, she
heard warning hiss, and Barbara
peered down at her from the upper
hall. Mrs. Sentry said: ''Oh, awake,
are you? Why didn't you come down
to breakfast"
SIS he gomez" Barbara demanded
in a dramatic whisper. "The coast
clear?"
"Your father? Of course
Barbara, with exaggerated eau
ton, on tiptoe, came down the
stairs. Mrs. Sentry, thinking proud
ay how pretty the girl was, smiled
at Barbara's pretended stealth and
asked:
'sWhat have you been up to now,
you irnp?"
II stole his morning paper" Bar
bara confessed. "Seel" She pro-
duced it from behind her. 81 was
watching for the boy, and when he
came slipped down and got it. I
even bolted the front door after
ward so Oscar wouldn't know
"Why?" her mother asked in sud-
den concern. Barbara! Have you
got yourself into the headlines?"
81 was afraid hadf" They were
at table now. "But didn't. There's
not even anything about Johnny"
'fWhat happened?"
Barbara laughed softly. ''It was
really exciting she declared.
''When Johnny hit the policeman I
fairly squealed. After that, of
course, he had to put poor Johnny
in Jail, and I'd have been stranded
If Professor Brace hadn't come
along"
Mrs. Sentry said drily, Suppose
you start at the beginning, Bar
bara.''
Barbara considered. "Well, Hell
en- F'rayne deliberately got Johnny
drunk" she said. 81 suppose that
was the beginning. So ! persuaded
him to start home. He was really
awfully nice about it."
"I'm sure he gets drunk in most
gentlemanly way!"
Barbara laughed. 'There, now
you're being severe! love to shock
you, mother! You ought to be sorry
for poor Johnny, instead of being
SO sarcastic!"
ST still don't know what hap
pened."
'sWell, when we started home,
0Okak11ty hllCW lag OOtkASAA 0A4vSS SO
he asked me to, and ! did, Of
course; but ! didn't want to take
him to Cambridge and then have to
take a taxi out here; and Johnny
was in no shape to drive. So !
turned down toward the ocean and
parked so he could get some air."
s'f he. was drunk, why not let
someone else take care of him?
Why did you have to-"
ssOh, ] had to stand byl"
''Noblesse oblige?" Mrs. Sentry's
tones were scornful. nj
81 thought it was up to me-" Bar
bara confessed simply.
Her mother relented. Perhaps
it was. Go on"
Barbara nodded. "But couldn't
wake him up. They say if you slap
their faces that helps: SO ! did, and
just then the biggest policeman in
the world came along and wanted
to know what the trouble was.