North Carolina Newspapers

JONGS. FOUNTAIN EZRALD, KINGS MOUNTAIN, N, 0. V h' at : .-' .. tsSBaKesn. I w keH- YNOP8I8. Vlnnle, spring-house girl at Hope sana torium, tulb the story. It opens with the arrival of Miss Patty Jennings, who ) r jportetl to be tnnKwl to marry a prince, i and the death of Uio old doctor who owns , the sanatorium. The estate Is left to a v capvxraoe grandson, Dicky Carter, who c must appear on a certain date and run . th sanatorium successfully lor two nonttis or forfeit the Inheritance. A case . of mumps delays lack's arrival. Mr. Tho . burn Is hovering about In hopes of sa curing the place for a summer hotel. . Pierce, a college man In hard luck. Is pre. . vailed upon by Van Alstyne. Dick's broth-r-ln-lnw, to Impersonate the missing heir . and take charge of the natorluiu until Carter Arrives. Dirk, whv has elupud with Patty's younger lister, Dorothy, ar - rives, and the couple go Into hiding la the old shelter house. Fearing to faoe IXirotlty's fattier, who ts at the sanator ium. Dick arranges with Pleroe to con . unus In the management of the property. Julia Bummers, leading lady of Pierce's ai randed theatrical company, arrive. 0ha Is suing rlcky for broach of promise. The prince, under the Incognito of Oakar Von Inwald, arrives at the sanatorium. Barnes, character man with Pleree'a show and a graduate M takes Ibe plaoe of sanatorium physician. Pierce, who Is. "vary much Interested la Patty, shows a trong dislike for luwald. Dick Wcomee peevish over the Independent manner In which Pleroe Is running the sanatorium. Mies Summers dlsoovers that the Dick Carter she Is seeking Is the owner of the Sanatorium. Dick, in attempting to steal Is love letters from Miss Summers, wreaks Into the wn-ng room and gte the Wrong letters. Mies Summers dug has Convulsions from overeating. The patients it ne mten pmnnM ny ine apea the truth shout thtmno Ivos and I ti.y snae proporaiione to loavt. a .no l-lrr. lays out a foam of rational, and tmol. Itvlnf and oil uw to five It e inoi. i n-T ion" tn tn. now oroor 01 . vhlnn enthustootlrally and tho efforts ero utokly soon. Mrh and hi. relnttvoo linwvver aro not Dlteord. Thoy hold : frotctt moMIn In tho sholtor hmioe and J4Im AuBint.r. walk. In on thorn. Mlos tt'imimri' vlndlellvriteea toward Ilrk dwindles away at slthl of hla wife'. Dor- winy. CHAPTER XIII. Contlnuad I did my boat to leave them alona on the way back, but Ml Patty atuck loae tq my heel. It was anowlng, and the, going wai alow. For too fin t lire mtrjutea ahe only ipoke once. .-"AmIjo Miaa Summera and Dicky Carter ifo old friends!" "It apUeara so," Mr, Pierce aaid. "8he'n;; rather magnanimous, under the clriiimstances," Mlaa Patty ra- narked 1 jiemurely. Undur what circumstances?" I heard her laugh a little, behind me. "Never mind, ane said, you needn't I tell me anything you don't ar to. But what a atew you must all bard-been in! Therej was a mlnute'i alienee behind sue, auui luea oir. ricivo muiuvu wu. "Stew)!'' he Bald. "For the laat few 4ayt I'w been either paralysed with fright cir electrified Into wild burst of mendlacfty. And I'm not naturally liar." "Realty!" she retorted. "What an tutor ylfu are!" They (laughed together at that, and I xatiied b little on them. At the cor ner where the path skirted the deer park and turned toward the house I lost thelm altogether and I floundered' on alonte. But I had not gone twenty feet whlett I stopped suddenly. About fifty yairds ahead a lantern was com ing towfcrd me through the snow, nad could jhear a man t voice, breathless and satining. The damned with lead," It another vole re- 'I told you take two trips." Thoburn retorted, breathing ns. "Stay up all night to get Had Stopped In the Shelter of the Fence Corner. Aimed stuff here, and then got dawn for a cold bath and a mile walk and an apple for fast. Ugh, my Bhoulder Is dlalo- ed and flew back to Miss Pat Pierce. They had stopped to I'lter of tho fence corner and rce was on his knees In front I was so astounded that I for the moment what had brought a second," he was saying. "It's 8he heel." . tie get up on your Knees, you u Id." . t had n cold. I'll scrape It oft 6uJtt down' It said. inust be filled Jl like Thobu,rn. The snow," anotl ilr. von Inwald'. SLOWER. TEN, WHEN A MAiN; ILLUSTRATED & EDGAR BEttT SMIIfi with my knife, OTershoesT" Why don't you wear "I never have a cold I" ahe retorted. "Why, Minnie,, Is that your "Quick," I panted. Thoburn and Mr, von Inwald coming basket lan tern warn the shelter-house!" ! "Qreat Scott I" Mr. Pierce said. "Here, you girls orawl over the tenoe; you'll be hidden there. I'll run back and warn them." The lantern waa swinging again. Mr. Thoburn'a grumbling cam to us through the snow. "I can t climb the fence I" Miss Pat ty said pitifully. But Mr. Pierce bad gone. I reached my basket through the bars and climbed the fenee la a harry. Miss Patty had got almost to the top and was standing there on one enow covered rail, staring across at me through the darkness. "I eanX Mlnnte," ah whispered hopelessly. "I aever could ellmb a feaos, and la this aklrt - , "Quickl" I aaid la low tone. The laotera was very dose. Tat your sag over." . 8b did, aad tat taw looking dowa at sb Ilk a scared baby. "Now ta other." w tarna eoia or or i u mil. "Hurry!!" Wttk a little grunt sb pat fh oth er foot over, tat a mlnul with agony In her face and her arm out, then the slid o with a aoswal aad brought ap la a sitting position Insld the feaos corner. I dropped beside her. "What waa that nolar said Tho burn, almost upon as. "Something's moving Inside that fence corner." "It's them deers," Mlke't voioe this time. We could make oat the three figure. "Darned nuisance, them dears Is. They'd hare been shot long ago If the sprlnghous girl hadn't object ed. Sb think aba's the whole cheese around her." "Set It down again," Mr. von In wald panted. We heard tfa rattle of bottles as they put down the basket, and the next Instant Thoburn'a fat hand was resting on the rail of the fence over our heads. I could feel Mist Patty trembling beside me. But he didn't look over. He stood there resting, breathing bard, aad swearing at the weather, while Mike waited, In surly alienee, and the von Inwald cursed In German, After my heart had been beating In my ears for about three yean the fat hand moved, and I heard the rattle of glass again and Thoburn'a groans as be bent over his half of the load. Come on," be said, and the others grunted and started on. When they bad disappeared tn the snow we got out of our cramped posi tion and prepared to scurry home. I climbed the fence and looked after them. "Humph!" I said, "I guest that basket Isn't for the hungry poor. I'd give a good bit to know " Then I turned and looked for Miss Patty. She waa flat on the snow, crawling be tween the two lower rails of the fence. "Hav you no shame?" I demanded. She looked Bp at ma with her head and halt her long seaUkln' coat through the fence. None," aha said pitifully. "Minnie, I'm stuck perfectly tight!" Tou ought to be left as you are," I said. Jerking at her, "for people go oome" Jerk "tomorrow to took at" Jerk. She cam through at that, and we lay together in the now and Ilk to burst a rib laughing. You'll never be a princess. Miss Patty," I declared. "Ton'r too lowly minded. . Sh sat up. suddenly, and straight. ened ber aealskln cap on her head. I wish," ahe said unpleasantly. "I wish you wouldn't always drag In dis agreeable things, Mlnnlel" ... . And aha was sulky all the way to the house. . z : Mlat Summera came to my room that night as I was putting my hoi-wa ter bottl to bed, In a baby-blue silk wrapper with a' band of fur around the low neck Miss Summers, of course, not the hot-water bottle. T "Well!" eh said, sitting down on the foot of the bed and staring at ma 'Well, young woman, tor a person who has never been farther away than Fin leyville you do pretty well!" "Do what?" I asked, with the cover up to my chin. Do what, MHt Innocence I" the said mockingly. "You're the only red-balred woman I ever saw who didn't look as sophisticated as the devil, ril tell yon one thing, though." She reached down into the pocket of her dressing-gown and brought up a cigarette and . a match... "Tou never had me foiled tor a minute I" She looked at me over the match. . , " I lay and stared back. " - "And another thing," she eatd. "I never had any real Intention of marry ing Dicky Carter and raising a baby sanatorium. I wouldn't have the face to ask Arabella to live here." - ;- - I'm glad you feel that way. Miss Summers," I tald. "I've gone through let; I'm an old woman In the last two weeks. My hair" falling from Its having to stood up on end half the time." - ' . Sb leane'd over 'and put her cigar ette on the back of my celluloid mir ror, and then suddenly sh threw back ber head and laughed. "Minnie!" she said, between file, "Minnie! - As long at I live I'll never forget that wretched boy's facet And the sand boxes! And the blankets over the wlndowa! And the tarpaulin over the rafter ! And Mr. Van Al styne sitting on the lawn mower I I'd rather have had my minute In that doorway than fifty thousand dollars!" "If you bad had to carry out all those things " I began, but the checked me. "Listen!" the aaid. "Somebody with brains hss got to take yon young peo ple In band.. You're not able to took after yourselves. I'm fond of Alan Plare, for on thing, aad I don't car to see a sanatorium that might hav been th child of my aollcltud kid naped and reared as a summer hotel by Papa Tbobum A good fat man Is very, vary good, Mtnal. but wkaa ha Is bad b It horrid." - "It I too labs," t objected feebly. "He cant get It now." "Cant hl" Sh got ap and yawned. retching. "Well, I'U lay yoa tea to on that if w goal get buy bell hav th boas empty la thirty -six hoars. QTiVifTf-rr-r" seeaasssjsssl oays. iuou sue tout lm klu. . knew of Thobura chme, and It turned m cold. Doctor Barn earn to ma at th newa aland tho next morning before gymnasium. "Wall," ho laid, "yoa took as buay as a dog with fleas. Hava yoa heard th glad tldlngsr "What?" I asked without much spir it. "I'v heard considerable tidings lately, and not much of It hat cheered me op tny." ( He leaned over and ran hit Angers np through his hair. "-You know. Miss Minnie," b said. "somebody ought kindly to kill our friend Thoburn, or he'll come to a bad nd." "Sball I do it, or will your I tald. filling ap th chewing gum Jar. (Mr. Pierce bad' taken away the candy ea.) ' Doctor Barnes glanced around to te if there, waa anyone near, and leaned farther over. "The cupboard Isn't empty now!" be aaid. "Not for nothing did I spend part of the night In the Dtcky-blrd'i nest! What do you think It In the cupboard?" "I know about it," I tald shortly, "Liquor tn a east labeled 'Books breakable.'" "Almost a goal. But not only liquors. my little friend. Champagne cases of it caviar, canned grouse with truf fle, lobster, cheese, line cigars, every, thing yon could think of, erotic, ex otic and narcotic. An orgy In can and bottles, a bacchanalian revel,' a cupboard full of Indigestion, Joy, for getfulness and katienjammer. Oh, my suffering palate, to have to leave It all without one sniff, one tip, one nibble!" He't wasting hit money," I said. "They're all craty about the simple life." . -'... -. He looked around and, seeing no one In the lobby, reached over and took one of my hands. "Strange," be said, looking at It "No webt, and yet It's been an amphi bious little creature most of Its life. My dear girl, our friend Thoburn is a rascal, but ha It alto a student of mankind and a philosopher. Gee," he said, "think of a woman lighting her way alone through th world with a bit of a list Ilk that!" I Jerked my hand away. "It's Ilk this, my dear, he aaid. "Human nature's a curious thing. It't human nature, for Instance, for me to be crazy about you, when you're as hands-offish at a curly porcupine. And It 1 human nature, by th same token, to like' to be bullied, especially about health, and to respect and admire th fellow who does the bullying. That's why w ware erasy about Roosevelt, and that't why Pierce la trailing bis kingly robes aver them while they lie on their faces and ; eat dirt and ttewed fruit." ' - -' Ho reached for my hand again, but I put it behind me. . "Bat alas." he said, "there Is another tide to the human nature, and our friend Thoburn hat not 'kept a sum mer hotel for nothing. It Is notorious ly weak, especially at to stomach. You may feet! 'em prunes and whole-wheat bread and apple sauce, and after a while they'll forget the fat days, and remember only the lean and hungry onee. But let tome student of human nature at the proper moment introduce Just one fat' day, on feast, on revel " -r-A S :v - v-. "Talk English," I said sharply. ' - "Don't break in on my flights' of fancy." h objected. "If you want the truth, Thoburn la going to have a party a forbidden feast' He' going to rouse again the sleeping dogs of ap petite, and send them ravening back to th PIoss, to Sherry's and Del's and the Uttl Itali-n restaurants on Sixth avenue. He't going to take them npon a high mountain tm show them the wine and dollcatesaea of the earth, aad then ask t urn if they're going to b bullied Into eating boiled beat and cabbage." Then I don't ear how soon be does It," I said despondently. "I'd rather die quickly than by Inches." "Die!" he said. "Not a bit of It. Remember, our friend Pierce ts also a student of human nature. He's -thinking It out now In the cold plunge, and I 'miss my guess If Thoburn 's sky rocket haant got a stick that'll come back and hit him on th head." He bad been playing with one of the chewing gum Jara. and when he had gone I ahoved It back Into it place. It was by th merest chanc that I glanced at It, and I saw that he had clipped a small whit box inside. On the lid was written "For a good girl," and Inside lay the red puff from Mrs. Tost't window down In Plnley villa Just under them waa an envelop. I could scarcely see to open it. 'Dearaat Minnie," th note Inside aid. "I had thorn matched to my thatch, and I think they'll match your. Aad tlae. tn th word of th groat Herbert 8pner. things that "Last Call ta th Dining Car, Minnie." match the same thing match each oth er I What do you aayT-Barnes, "P. S. 1 love you. I feel like damn tool saying It but heav.en knows It't true." .P. P. 8. Still lov you. It't easier the second time." "N. B.1 lor you got th habit now and can't stop writing it B.1 Well, I had to keep calm and attend to butlneaa, but I was teething inside like a Seldlltt powder. Every few minutes I'd reread the letter under the edge of the stand, and the more I read It th mora excited I got When t woman's gone past thirty before ah gets her first lore letter, she Isn't aura whether to thank providence or the man, but she's pretty sure to make a fool of herself. Thoburn came to the newt stand on hla way out with the Ice-cutting gang to the pond. ' 'Last call to the dining car, Minnie," h said. " "Will you won't you will you won't yoa will you Join the daneeT" I haven't any reason for changing my plant," I retorted. "I promised the old doctor to stick by the place, and I m sticking. , 'As the man said when he sat down on the fly paper. You're going by your heart, Minnie, and not by your head, and In this toss, heads win." But with my new puffs on th back of my head, and my letter In my pocket I watnt easy to discourage. Thoburn shouldet-ed his pick) and, heeded by Doctor Barnes, th lce-auttr started oat in slngls file. As they passed Doc tor Barnes glanced at me, and my heart almost stopped. -"Do they Is It a match r he asked, with hit eye on mine. I couldn't speak, but I nodded "yet," and all that afternoon I could see the wonderful tmll that lit np hit fact as b wnt out ... Mitt Cobb ttopped at the newt stand on her way to the gymnasium.; Bhe was a homely woman at any tlma, and m nor nioomars ane looked ilk a soup-bone. She padded over to the ouster in her gym shoes, and for one she'd forgotten her legs. "May I speak to you, Minnie?" she asked. . You mostly do." : I said. "There Isn't a new nil about tpaaklng, It thr? - ' Thlt It Important Minnie," the tald, rolling her aye around at the always did when she was excited. "I'm In such a stata-ot ex I tee yon bought the puffs! Perhapt you will lend them to ma If we arrange for a country dance." V.' . 'I'm not lending them," I tald firm ly. It would hav bean Ilk lending an ' engagement ring, to my mind. Mist Cobb waa not offended. Sh went at one to what had brought her, and bent over the counter. . Minnie, yon lor Mlaa Jennings almost like a daughter, dont you?" "Like a sister, Mies Cobb" I said. I'm not feeble ret" ' . ' -. v 'Well, yoa wouldn't want to tea her deceived." ' ' -' I wouldn't have It" I answered. W Then what do you call tbit?" "She II-. -s s B sm i ill MAimiES put a email package on the counter, and stared at me over it "There's treachery here, black treachery." She pointed one long thin forefinger at th bundle. "What It It? A bomb?" I asked, ttepplng back. More than once It had occurred to me that having royalty around sometimes meant dynamite. Mlet Cobb showed her teeth. "Yes. a bomb," she tald. Minnie, last night when the Summers woman was out goodness knows where, Blanche Moody and I went through ber room. We did not find my precious missive from Mr. Jones, but we did find these, Minnie, tied around with a pink stocking. Minnie, I hav felt It an along.. McyOekar von Inwald la th prince hlmseW "NolV " ' . :, "Yes. And more than that he Is making deepwate lov to Ml Bum mart. Thro of those letters were written la on day I Why, even Mr. J on oa " Th wretch!" I cried I was sud denly savage. Miss Cobb waa reach ing oat for th bundle. 1 tnatchad It from bar. "Olv m tho Utters Instantly," ah cried shrilly. But I marched from boblrid the eonnter aad ever to th , i mi im-iimmmmmmm "Nvr," I aaid, aad pat th packag oa th log. When they war safely biasing. I turned and looked at Miss Cobb. . ' "I'd put my hand right beelds those letters to sav Mia Patty a heart ache," I ai'd, "and yoa know It" "You're a fooL" Sh waa raging. "You'll let her marry blm aad have the heartaxbee afterward." "8h won't marry him," I anapped. and walked away with my chin up, leaving her ttarlng. But 1 wasn't to sure a I pretended to be. Mr. von Inwald end Mr. Jen nings bad been cloeeted together most of the morning, and Mr. von Inwald was whistling at he started out for the military walk. It teemed as If the very thing that had given Mr. Pierce his chance to make good had im proved Mr. Jennings' disposition enough to remove the last barrier to Miss Jennings' wedding with some body else. CHAPTER XIV, Even If we hadn't known, we'd have gueaeed there wot something In the air. There was an air of subdued ex citement during the. rest hour in the prlnghoute, and a good bit of whis pering and laughing, In groups which would break up with facet as long at the moral law the moment they saw my eye on them. They were planning a mutiny, at you may a ay, and I guest no aallora on a pirate thip were more afraid of the captain's, flat than they were of Mr. Pierce's disapproval. He'd been smart enough to ae that most of them, having bullied other people all their lives, liked the novelty of being bullied themselves. And now they were get ting a new thrill by having a revolt They were terribly worked up. Mlat Patty stayed after the others had gone, sitting In front of the empty fireplace In the same chair Mr. Pierce usually took, and keeping her back to mo. .When I'd finished folding the steamer ruga and putting them away, I went around and ttood in front of her. 'Your eye are red," I remarked, i'v got a cold." She'-was very haughty. "Your noae lan't red," I Insisted. 'And, anyhow, you say you never hav a cold." 'I wiah you would let me alone, Min nie." Sh turned her back to me. "I dare ay I may hav a cold If I wish." IK you Know wnat tney are saying here?" I demanded. 1 "Do you know that Miss Cobb has found out In some way or other who Mr, von Inwald la? And that the four o'clock gossip edi tion says your father hat given hit consent and that you can go and buy a diadem or whatever yoa are going to wear, right oil?" Wall," ah tald, In a choked vole. with her back to me, "what of It? Dldnt yon and Mr. Plerca both do your beat to bring It about?? "Our. what?" I couldnt believe my ears. - . -. "Yoa made father . well. He't to p-pleasant he'll do anything except leave this awful place!" ' i "Well, of all th ungrateful peo ple " I began, and then Mr. Pleroe cams In. . He had a curious way of stopping when he saw her, as If she Just took the wind out of his ealle, so to speak, and then of whipping oft hit hat If anything with sails can wear a hat and going up to her with his heart In bis wyes. --He always want straight to her and ttopped suddenly about two teat away, trying to think of some thing ordinary to say.. Because th extraordinary thing he wanted to say waa always oa the and of his tengu. But this day he didn't light np when, h saw her. He went through all the other 'motions, but hit mouth waa set tn a straight line, aad when he cam close to her and looked down his eyes were hard. Itt Ixn my experience of men that th younger, they are. ill harder they take things and the -qnere uncompromising they are, -i .. "I waa looking for you," h aaid to her. "The blahop has Just told me. There are no obstacles now." "None," ahe said, looking up at him with wretchedness In ber eyes, If ha had only teen. "I am very bappy." "She was Just saying," I said bitter ly, "how grateful she waa to both ot us." ' - "I don't understand." ' ' ' "It is not hard to understand," sh aaid, smiling, I wanted to slap her. "Father waa unreasonable because he waa 111. You have mode him well. I -can never thank you enough." But ahe rather overdid the Joy part of it and be leaned over and looked In ber face. "I think I'm stupid," he said. "I know I'm unhappy. But lant that what I waa to do to make them well If I eouldT" "How could anybody know' she began angrily, and than stopped. "Yon hava done even more," th tald awtetly. "You've turned them Into cherubtma aad aeranhlma. Batter weuldt melt In their mouths." He tmtled.. -"My amiability must be th reason yoa dislike mel" k uggtd. Tbay bad both forgotten me. Do I dislike roar eh asked, rale sjrsBjeteattassssssjSroTsss thought about-It but I'm sure I dont" Sb dldnt look at him. ah looked at me. Sh knew I knew th lied. Hie tmlie faded. "Well." he aaid, "tpeaklng of dislik ing amiability, yoa don't hate your self, I'm sure." "You are wrong." she retorted. "I loathe myself." And sh walked to the window. He took a step or two after her. "Why do It at all?" he asked In a low tone. "You don't love blm and can't And If It Isn't love" He re membered me suddenly and stopped. "Plesao go on." she said sweetly from the window. "Do not mind Min nie. She it my conscience anyhow. She it alwayt scolding me; you might both scold In chorus." "I wouldn't presume to scold." "Then give me a little advice and look superior and righteous. I'm ac customed to that also." "As long as you are in this mood, I , can't give you anything but a very good day," be said angrily, and went toward the door. But when he. had al most reached It he turned. "I will say thia," ha said, "yon hava known for three day that Mr. Tho burn waa going to have a supper to night, and you dTdn't let us know. Yoa must have known bis purpose." I guess I was as surprised as sb was. I'd never suspected she knew. - She looked at him over her shoul der. Why shouldn't he have a sup per?" the demanded angrily. "I'm - starving we're all starving for decent food. I'm kept here against my will. Why shouldn't I have one respect able meal? You with your wretched stewed fruits and whole-wheat breads! Ugh!" "I'm sorry, Thoburn't Idea, of course, is to make the guests discontented, so they will leave." . - "Oh!" she said. Bhe hadn't thought of that, and she .flushed. "At least," she said, "you must give" me credit for "I Steed In Front of Her." not trying to spoil Dick and Dolly's chanc here." . "We are going to allow the party to go on," he told, stiff and uncompromis ing. . It would hava been better If he'd accepted ber bit of apology. . "How kind of you! I dart say ha . would have It, anyhow." She was sar- castle again, '; "; 1 , "Probably. " And you will go?" -"Certainly." - " "Even when the result " ' ; "Oh, dont preach!" sh tald, pnb -ting her hands to her ears. "If yoa "" and Minnie want to preach, why dont - you preach at each other? Minnie. ' talks 'love, love, lore.' And yon preach ' f health and morality. ' You drive me jiCT- -y between you.' j s TTO BE CONTINUED.) , ' ' - f " A child receive Jklsata free, but a young man has to steal them and aa old man hat to buy them. r-i l t 1 p.