Show C w T TH HE SILVER FLUTE By LID LIDA A LARRIMORE L A R I OE milan p PRECEDING CHAPTERS I On Ou her eighteen b birthday moth motherless daughter of 01 awakes r Thorne to of 01 day She receive arnon among other othu the joys Joya of 01 tb tha birthday birthy ring rin from frolD Bruce Bruc MacLain pr ts a artist friend ol of the family but youn Young friend to Barbara Barbar With Brute Bruce more Inore abe than picnicking on the sand tandi at goes COU H He tells her ber a story ofa ol of a gypsy Opy boy gypsy girl whom he love Ion loves and th the a little ofa ol of a silver lute flute nut Sh She know knows know It 1 I Is la her son song lov love tale alt H Her Hr r happiness own when hen sh the she returns reum ht home to turns learn her ber to sorrow s father laher has bas been drowned Barbara furs fears she ahe her brothers and sister iter will wiD be and Cousin EvIe E ie separated Aunt Lola Julia Julia and Uncle Hr arrive and take things Having been almost of 01 a mother the others Barbara to cannot think of 01 Kit nature bruised In Uncle Herberts Herbert's Herbert household hI by his rough ready read and cousIn CHAPTER IV-Cort IV IV Continued nu 4 Y You Tou u needn't go with Uncle her bert bert she said not cr very sure about anything wanting only to hush his strangling sobs Well Hell all nil stay to to- to together gether bether Kit II He raised his head a n question In his c eyes es Well Hell all nil run away together I A plan presented itself to Barbara She didn't know why she thought or of It It Perhaps all along It had bad been lurking somewhere In the back of her mind I know exactly what well we'll do Her lIer voice olce sounded frIghtened but happy too She felt felther her heart beart thumping against her ber ribs What Kit Jilt asked hoarsely Well Well Yoo Too I That was Cousin Evie coming up the stairs I 1 Barbara whispered her eyes dark with excitement a Q warm pink flush lush In her cheeks In the studio after supper Ill I'll tell you about It then Cousin Evie wrapped In a cro cro- crocheted crocheted shawl reached the top of or j cro-j the attic steps You naughty kiddies 1 l she said smiling brightly shaking a finger In playful reproof Hiding up here hereIn herein hereIn In the cold I Come on downstairs by bythe bythe bythe the fire Martha has bas made hot chocolate Well We'll ba have e a n nice little game of ot hearts e e e a e 1 It was chilly In the studio The children huddled d together In a circle I a Ion aon on the floor They hadn't dared to turn on the lights for fear of be be- beIng belag being ing lag discovered A candle burned In Inan inan n nan an ash tra tray Kit and Gay Gny and JamIe looked at nt Barbara Well run a away way she began try try- tr trying trying ing to make her voice olce sound confident confident dent In spite of the way that her ber heart was thumping against her ber rIbs All of us Gay asked forgetting Aunt Lola LoIn and the dove dove- gray dove ray car In Inthe inthe Inthe the excitement of an adventure All of us Barbara arbara said her ber eyes very wide and frightened In her pale face the Chips too Jamie asked question anxiously the small yellow dog hugged tight against his chest Chips too Barbara said al- al almost al almost most gaily galls Why Jamie Thorne do you ou think we could ever leave ChIps Where are we going Jamie asked not caring very Cry much since Chips was going too Were Here going to Uncle Stephen There It was out And It didn't sound crazy at all It sounded like a sensible thing tiling to do Did Did he Invite us Gay asked eagerly her ber warm color deepening forced to ad- ad admit ad admit No 0 Barbara arbara was mit Were Just lust going any anyway ay But nut Labs Cabs worried thoughtful Kit you write to as ask him Or telegraph or oi or something Its IH t r If he sees us Bar Bar- Barbara Barbara ar bara was sure of that CertaInly Uncle Stephen could never resist the charms of Kit and Gay and Jamie A 1 crusty old bache bache- bachelor bachelor lor lor 1 I She didn't hell believe eve It His letter sounded so nice Four of us are quite a lot KIts KIt's Its It's Do brow wore an nn anxious frown Crown enough you OU suppose hell he'll have hae beds Uncle Stephen Is rich Gay Gny said sald sends wIth easy assurance lIe He such lovel lovely presents resents I wouldn't t him to keep us always Barbara e explained Four Is quite a lot lint But hes he's a lawyer and he lie can tell us what to do I 1 know he will help us lIe He said he would The frown Kit was reassured smoothed Itself out and his face Barbara felt slowly ly brightened confident St She sue e saw Uncle e more Stephen n a nice nici old man telling uin needed a They rhey them what to do champion Father would have hae op ap approved proved It seemed n a sensible Idea Where does Uncle Stephen would asked hoping It live Gay far off of place be some enchanting Near Nar Philadelphia That Isn't so far Gay felt fell dis dis- dis disappointed disappointed appointed Florida was lovely ly She had been there with Aunt Lola be- be before before be before running fore But nut It was fun to be away aay a ay Its not right j In the city Kit I said Dont you remember e looked It up tip on a map Its It's far farenough farenough enough Oe Ba Have we any DIone money 1 flow Llo will we get bet there Baits Babs Hitch hike Jamie said prompt Iy prompt y Ill bet we could as easy ns as an anything His uis face was bright and excited Or we could dress like gypsies gyp up gyp gyp- sies Gay always dramatic sug SUI suggested suggested And dance and play on and people would gl give gle gl e eus liS 11 money tipsiest Gypsies I Barbara felt a n pain In her heart Once upon u II time tI I there re was a little gypsy I boy lIoy who loved lo ver very dearly a little gypsy girl But nut she couldn't think about Bruce She Kits Its raCe ace streaked with te tears rs and lOoking at Chips and Gay Gny grow In ing growing up Into a silly little peacock like Aunt lolas Iolas horrid Gwen She had to take tale care of the children I have some mone money she salt said SWalloWing hard ard to banish the lump In her throat She showed It to them a very ery slim roll of bills pro pro- provided provided provided vided by Great aunt Josephine's check It looked like like a fortune The chil- chil children's chil children's drens dren's eyes ees widened The They felt like millionaires When IChen hen arc are we going Gay Gny her voice olce fluttering high with ex excitement Tomorrow v morning That made It seem real and fright fright- frightening frightening ening but very ery thrilling too Wont we tell anybody Babs abs Jamie wanted to know No so o Indeed Barbara was firm Well go early In the morning be- be before be lie before fore anybody Is up But nut the train doesn't leave until eight o'clock Kit reminded her ber The lI miss us by that time I sure Site She hadn't thought of that The II pink faded out of her cheeks Here was a problem Indeed Her lIer spirits dropped Th The children felt It If I nabs Bobs was discouraged there wa was no noI hope They pressed closer together r I I subdued and defeated feeling that I the up grown-up world was In hostile I league against them It was as Martha who solved the problem She came into the studio with a warning about taking cold Thc cold I The warning was merely an excuse She She wanted to be near them this last evening e together Youre up to she said Martha had lived with them be be- before before before fore Mother died She was as a fa- fa fa familiar millar friend They knew that Mar Martha Martha tha loved loed them They told her tier about It Barbara taking the lead the chil children dren cIren Interrupting They drew her Into the circle and talked awa away her objections I oughtn't to listen Marthas Martha's Yankee conscience battled against her affections I ought to go right in n the house mouse this minute and tell them what youre you're up to But you wont won't Barbara said confidently her cheek against Mar Mar- Martha's Martha's tar tar- thas tha's You wont won't do any such thing Martha surrendered herself herselt un tin unconditionally unconditionally conditionally to the charms of the four Theres no fool like an old fool 1 I wont won't do any such thing The They told her ber about the problem of getting away In the morning Martha considered her forehead smocked In a frown Jake Preble drives his truck to New Bedford edford Thursday mornings Martha said after an Interval of thought Earl Early though He lie leaves around five Oe o'clock Tomorrow was v-as Thursday morn morning ing It seemed an act of providence We Well Hell leave lente a note Barbara said Well tell them weve we've gone to Uncle Stephen The They dont don't know where he lives That will give ghe us time But ut Martha she added a shadow slipping across her vivid face Im afraid It wont won't be pleas pleas- pleasant pleasant pleasant ant for you ou They'll make a H dread dreadful ful scene rhe They'll 11 probably explode Dont mind about that The light of or battle Gamed flamed In Marthas Martha's eyes ees Ill speak my mind and pin pinon pinon pinon on my hat and lea leave e They fell upon her with stran strangling lIn hugs Youre an angel Ann Marthy-Ann Barbara arbara whispered gratefully her arm around Marthas Martha's neck Im an Idiot I Martha pushed the children away tier Her voice sound sounded sounded ed scolding and cross Ill Ill I'll probably probably ably live to regret IL It But nut you have h havea a way about you Theres There's no fool like an old fool I Im I'm m goin to see take Jake Preble Barbara lay wide awake In the thelow thelow low carved caned bed that Father had made Gay curled beside her was fast asleep worn out out out-by out by excitement and plans The alarm clock was set for four Martha artha had managed ed Jake Treble They were to leave at five Oe o'clock In the morning Everything E was arranged The children quaking for fear they would be discovered had hidden their luggage In the studio Sitting together on the sofa In the attic a aquill quilt quill around their shoulders Kits Kilts lantern lighted beside them he and Barbara bad had marked the way they would go so- so soBy 8 By seven Beven o'clock to- to morrow night they would be oe at al Uncle Stephens Stephen's For the tile childrens children's sake s Barbara Barham had suppressed her uncertainties and doubts Lying awake in III the low an caned d bed with the rain falling failing outside and the wind In th the willows willow singing a n mournful sons song SOli the lie doubts and uncertainties could no longer he be suppressed It II was ms Impolite to be tie running away The fhe relations meant to be bekind bekind the they had newer r kind though ap tip- approved proved of Mother A marrying father and having four children and living like a gypsy It was sons a appallingly Impolite to leave leme them and run runaway runaway away The money troubled her tier too Was Vas it II stealing to use Aunt Josephine's check for the purpose of running away Aunt Josephine would say 51 that It was as What Whal can you ou ex- ex expect ex expect she would say e been brought up heathen I She wouldn't blame them hem so much mach She would blame Fathers Father's happ happy go lucky go-lucky lucky wa way of l letting them do du as they pleased It seemed a treachery to Father ather But nut deep deem In her heart she knew that Father would ap apt approve approve prove pro He lie wanted the children to tobe tobe tobe be happy He lie had promised that they should never ne be parceled out again What would Uncle Stephen think His letter had bad been so friendly If It a crusty old bachelor can cnn be of please let him know at j once nce He had called her his I 1 V j J lu III t tf b f i Perhaps Mister Stephen Was Going to Marry That Pale Miss Emily Trent little fillette It was a caressing IntImate word A crusty old bach bachelor elor wouldn't have hae thou thought ht of such lovely things to write Perhaps he was lonely and wanted some chil chil- children children children dren Surely he would apprecIate the appreciate the charms of Kit and Jamie and Gay And Bruce Cruce What would he think It t would be lovely to be with Bruce She loved lored him so much his golden brown hair his teasing Ways his eyes Jes that were ns as deep deep- deeply deep iy ly iy blue as the sky on n II frosty night Thinking of Bruce she felt warm and drowsy and antl not afraid any anymore anymore anymore more Darling Bruce 1 I She Slie told her her- herself herself self a 11 story Once upon n II tune time there here Ih r was a gypsy boy boS rue sound of the rain was as pleasant now v Doubts and I uncertainties vanished She nestled close against Gay Uny The flute Oute knew only one song song- song I 1 love you pretty gypsy girl with the roses In your Jour hair She could hear the son song ol of the silver lute flute If she kept ver very breath breath- breathless less less and still showers of sprinkling sliver silver notes thin and high and sweet veeL Barbaras Barbara's lashes drooped She sighed d and was fast fasi asleep CHAPTER V DRAKE 1 In an evening shirt shIrl and well pressed trousers braced with black and white sus suspenders lenders penders stood before n a mirror tying with fumbling tin fingers ers a u narrow binck silk tie lie The mirror was set sel setin In u a wardrobe carved with oak oal lea leaves es and acorns and opulent bunches of grapes All of the furni lure ture In the large largo hl high room was of walnut and similarly carved It was a u mans man's room u tin mistakably the room of ot a n man mn of 01 elderly habits and a studious turn of mind Books pushed together by bronze elepha elephants stood on In the he bed bedside bedside bedside side table tahle Books handsomely bound tilled the shelves between the windows There was but one unusual note In the subdued s symphony of the room Above e the fireplace hung a painting all color and sunlight red rocks blue sea distant rust colored rust sails a girl slim and graceful with the wind blowing her skirt against her bare brown le legs s The painting made you wonder about the tall erect man gray at the temples ty ty ing tying a neat nent silk tie Into a neat sIlk bow Henry stood stool beside Stephen hold bold In ing his dinner coat with the sleeves s arranged Just so Mister Stephen Stephensons sons taking great pains with the tie lie he thought doing loing It over and andover over which wasn't his usual way You'd oud think he was going courting Por- Por Ier Per haps Sarah Sarali was right Perhaps Mister lIster Stephen was going to marry flint pale Miss Emily Trent like It Inviting her and her father for dinner tonight and tying his tie five times Well Veil he wished them cm joy How flow does It look Stephen asked patting the neat silk bow Splendid sir No hint of what what he was thinking appeared in Hen lien Henry's rs rys ry's parchment face Ill take your word for It Hen lien Henry Henry ry Stephen smiled and slipped hIs arms Into the coat Have you everything sir Hen llen- Henry ry felt responsible Mister lIster Stephen wasn't himself tonight When a aman aman aman man was thinking of marriage he be was apt pt to b he minded absent Ever things thing's ship shape Then Ill I'll II be getting downstairs Henry spare and neat nent and elderly moved with measured tread to toward tord rd the door Alone In the room Stephen was conscious of ot Irritation Was Vas he In inlove Inlove love lo with Emily Trent Ue lIe consid consid- considered considered considered ered the question gravely lIe He ad- ad admired ad admired mired her very ery much enjoyed b be Ing bo-Ing lag Ing with her There was In Emily Emilya a quality of serenity as rare as It was charming lIe He saw her ber moving through his house always serene and gracious her tier head with Its braids of light brown bro hair lifted In Inthe inthe Inthe the gently dignified way he ad ad- admired admired mired The picture pleased him But nut he wasn't In love loe with her hernot not love as the poets described It a |