Show NAMAN S forel iii which ich the toe pl DAYS v as m made de deR R RINEHART fir or t IN Con ht 1909 The Company CHAPTER V. V f From the Tree of or Love Jre uso trying to toe ItIe is 18 hardly any 1 what followed Anne Anno Brown e talk about tho the to cry rr and od nd to Europe once and went oho Sho until they ther all got 01 t over tho Dallas said lid he wing ing cou cough h. h And 5 because his mill miJI controlled pull null and the thing thine Jet et t bow how bOW many votes otes and comfortable to be quiet i It was 15 Das would get et out in the thc morning me pok ook it as a hugo huge joke and some sonic IJ him at the call call- j his lis club dub Tho Mercer girls were N giggling and Aunt Selina t In e a stiff backed chair and took l itic spirits of ammonia As for foro he o bad had collapsed on the tho lowest of 01 tho the stairs Blairs and sat there with tead td in his bi hands When ho he did ftp lIP p he didn't dare to look ook at me mc Harbison man roan was arguing with impassive individual on the thc top outside and I saw him get ct out his and offer a i crisp bundle of oft t the man from the tho board of h 42 only al' al smiled and tacked at his hiR live give sl sign n After awhile Mr r. r liar liar- came I-camo in 18 and sod closed the thc door and Eared at one another know what I Im I'm 01 going to do do I T swallowing a lump Jump in m my ray throat II oin to get et out through a base base- window at the back Im I'm going goin lorne fome Aunt Selina Selma gasped jump jump- on up ap and almost dropping her ber ama amft am am- ft a- a bottle My dear Bena it ef a- a SOW amy groaned at the tho foot of the Anne Annc Brown Drown was getting her tears aud and now she abc turned on l' l a temper t tt ti i all your fault she he said I HI pring to Eta stay at homo borne and get a 1 adeep deep deep- Ml fen you Ou can sleep now Dallas Danas in Terell Jl be ho nothing to do IlKI r think you hn haven't ven t grasped tho the ios OD Dal Pal I said aid icily dl U There Thero Thereto to k plenty plent to do There isn't a at It t in tho the house fo servants everybody b cried at J The r he Mercer girls stopped gigi gig gig- oly i f foly cats eats Max stopped in the thc h o iDe up his Ilia overcoat o Do Doil Dowan il lila wan t wh n-wh I I 1 cant can't shave myself head off et 11 t my do more than that I Ire re- re You will carry earn coal lend nd fires res and empty ash pans pans and If you are not doing my any any of of of those wi will be pots' pots and and pans to ither nd bed td tO m make ke there was as a row We had to the den now and I 1 Iel in front of the fireplace and let et ferm rm beat around me me and md tried to el cold rold and ad indifferent and lonee sec ee Mr sh shocked Ko No wonder ho he thought th tb them ni m a n. aF F Ma ravages es bro browbeating their he way was tb they y diet did i-a i a fool thing anyhow how Max p up p to tg Jt J in- in t a orce eS taught aught ht Jims Jim's eye ec and stopped r 4 dy I 1 found him calling up his club I suddenly remembered Bella Bena ID 11 the basement anything thiD have been worse cour course sho Iho would have hysteria FT D a turn on n me an and i blame Mania me for forU It U all aU came over o me mo at once and timed me while Anne was cry saying Jg g she wouldn wouldn't t cook if ed d fo for it it t and Aunt Selina clina was waso o off her wraps I felt fet queer Quer all S 4 I 1 sat down suddenly Mr p was looking looking- at me me and heme ho lie hoBe Be me e a glaH of wine jat ont be to so bad as you fear S Li I Thorp w will b bonce bo be once we are vaccinated and naB nas ds make li light ht work T They o IT l' l TaW raw no now because tho the thing to ta them bu but b by th m morning they y r reconciled isn't the work rk it il is something di different erent i said Baid And it iti 11 and work could har hardly l be i 11 he the sam fam samp breath only turned tinned her out as she to be when she first came J of U allowing her her- herto to carry th wr th wretched farco farce about iah o pr r if I had only e. e I basement tho the moment I quara quarantined and nd got heror her ea Y or tr tb ft eon coal hole holc I And flying and anil Aunt Selina the thi ia i um armband and nd any moment I to po pounce ounce nce on n us u through yana c whole situation ex ex- t ans I r 11 before they were cra h to di and ways Ita sd of Course se the thu first finst thing ri ga 8 that it t we all tn ad adjourn journ ber beri be be- b anu clean clOan tip p ait after r dinner te the we Ila ll Max r I Reel erl for the girls for taking Tie fit they said jn in a au t An Ana they actu- actu J n P their u dinner gowns 0 Bopped that here yon P plo he ob ob- ehl l get et nC gODI going to Jet Iet you vou r u do servants lD in fo fo- down and put out th the thc tet enough clean cean dishes Y r me inc that they started ston I then and there about out feie be breakfast In the tho n tern nt I slipped awn away d 1 eft s t Behl Site Sho wa cr and sho had made mado and was very much bi 1 ra natural I tl c said ominously II that you have o been away for two I hours and md that I have havo gone through h 3 agonies onies of nc nervousness ss for fear fe-ar Jun Jim I Wilson Json would come como down and anel think I came here hero to see him f fH I H would think that thaI No 10 one Bella I r soothed hed her Everybody E knows you von loathe him him Jim too tJ She Sho looked hooked at atm atme atme m me over the cd edge c of her cup Clip Ill I run along llon now she she said aid sine Takahiro isn't here And if Jim has sense nt itt all he will clear out ever maid in in the house bou e. e I never or taw saw such a kitchen in m my life lifo Well lead head the wa way Kit I H. H o the they arc arc- deep in bridge or roulette or some sonic I thin thing n g. g tJ She was fixin fixing her veil and I saw 1 I I would have bave to th tell her Personally I would much rather have told her the house bouse was on firo fire 14 Wait r it a minute Bella Behla tJ I said aid You see something queer has hap linT You k know ov this is the anniversary sary wo sary-wo well sary-well well you know what it is and is-and ami Tim Jim was wa awfully glum So wo we thou thought ht htwe would we come COme COme- What are arc you yOLI dr driving dring ing at she demanded q You on on are tea sea green re u Kit What's What s 's the tho matter matted You needn't t think I mind because o Jim has a jollification n nto to celebrate his bis divorce It It it was Takahiro in Takahiro-in in the ambulance ambulance lance I Blurted 14 Smallpox We We- We Bella Benn we are shut in in quarantined She didn't faint She just sat down iowa and stared at me and I stared back at lier her Then a miserable alarm aarm clock on the tho table tabo suddenly went off like an nn explosion ex cx- and Bella Bea be began an to laugh augh I knew what that was was wu hysteria She al al- ways s-ays had llad attacks like hike that when things s wt went nt wrong I was quite de despairing pl ir ng by Jy that timo time I hoped tho they would all aU hear hearer her er and come como down stairs and take her herup herup herup up and put her ber to bed hed like liko a Christian so she could giggle her sou soul out But after a bit she quieted down and began begano to o or cry softly and I knew the worst was over or I gave gaye her a n shake and anti she ho was wasso wasso wasso so an ry that tha she ho got over it Kit you are arc horrid she clinked Dont Don t you ou see what a position 1 a ain an in 7 I am not going up stairs to face Anne and tho the rest of them You can just put mo me in tho the coal cellar cenar there window could a you gel get h 1 I asked desperate desperately Locking Lock lag ing ng tho the door doesn't shut up a whole house I Bellas Bella's courage revived at that and she said yes there were vero windows R plenty penty of them on only she didn't ace pec e how bho ho he could get out And I said she would Woud have ha lave to get out because lecause I wan playing placing DenA Bella in in the performance nc and I didn t care to have an understudy Then the thc situation on dawned on her and and she she sat down and laughed herself weak in the knees Of she wanted d to sta stay then hen then and see the fun out But I was firma firm she he would have to go and I told her f so 10 o. o Th Things n s were complicated eno enough h without her Wen Well we funn funny no doubt Bella llella in a 1 Russian pon pony automobile coat over the black back satin she sho had worn at t the tho elands Cle dinner and I 1 in in cream lace ace the the skirt gathered up from the kitchen floor wIth Bella's Bellas J elas ela's t pelerine el d m my iny bare jarc sh shoulders uld rs and dishes and overturned overturned over over- ver turned chairs everywhere Bella Belia knew more about the lower re regions regions re- re gions of oC her homo ex-homo than I would have thou thought ht She opened a a. door In a 0 corner comer and led tho the way through a a. narrow hall halt past the refrigerating room to a hugo huRO cemented cellar with a furnace In the center and a half dozen electric lights making It Il really brilliant Get a 0 chair Bella said over her shoulder excitedly I 1 can get out easily here through the coalhole Imagine rny- rny my But It was my turn to grip Bella Della From behind the furnace were coming the most terrible sounds rasping noises that fairly alrh frayed the silk of my nerves Wo We stood petrified for lor an Instant Then Bella Della laughed They are not all nil gone she said carefully Some Sonic one Is asleep there here Wo Yo tiptoed to where we could s see e around the furnace urn c and sure suro enough some one was asle asleep p there Only It was wis not one of oC tho the servants It was a portly policeman with a newspaper and an empty plate on the thc floor on one side and anda a champagne bottle bottle- on the tho other He had lad slid down In this chair with his chin chinon chinon chinon on his brass brasa buttons and his helmet had rolled a dozen feet leet away Bella Belia had bad to clap her hand over her mouth Fairly caught she he whispered red Sartor Sartor Sar Ear tor the arrester arrested Oh Jim and his flawless service But after vc we got over our surprise we saw the thc situation was serious The Tho policeman po po- Iceman was threatening to awaken On Once co cohe he stopped snoring to yawn noisily and Bella switched Itched w we beat a n hast hasty retreat ore oft the lI lights In a hurr hurry and locked thc the thedoor door behind us We e hardly breathed until until untim un un- un- un til tim we wo weHre were iere back In tn tho the kitchen again and thing everything quiet And then Jimmy called my name from up above e some some- where rc I am going to call him down B Bella e II a I said Rala firmly Let him help you out Im I'm sure I dont don't see wh why I should havo have all this when hen the two of oC you you you- ou Oh no no no Surely Sureh Kit YOU you wouldn't wouldn I Ibe be so cruel she whispered pleadingly You know what ho he would think lIe He- We Va Stood Petrified for an nn Instant oh Idt Kit let them all get settled for or the thc night and then como comb down like a dear and help rno inn out IUt I know loads of ot ways honestly I do If I J leaVe you hero her herI I debated what about the policeman Never mini mind him hini frantically Listen LIs Lis- ten teni Theres There's Jim up In the pantry Run Hun for or the sake of oC heaven So So-I So I ran i At the top of ot tho the stairs I 1 Imet Imet met Jimmy ver very sery crumpled as to shIrtfront shirt shirtfront front and dejected d as ns to taco race Ive been hunting everywhere foi or you ou he said dismally I I I thought you h had d added to thc the general merriment by falling downstairs and breaking your yourI neck I went past him with my chin ehin up Now that that I had time lime tl to think about It It 1 I was furiously angry with him Kit KIU ho he called after mc me appealIngly but I would not hear Then he adopted different tactics He took advantage e of oC my catching my foot Coot In the lace of m mj my own gown to pass PM m mo me to stand with Ms his back n against tho the door dool Youve e not going until you ou hear me Kit he declared miserably In the first place for Or all you ore are down on en me Is IsIt IsIt isit It m my fault Honestly now Is 18 It my fault I refusal to I 1 wn wa 4 con coming coining homo home to ho he miserable alone hr- hr went on and and oh I know w you ou meant well Kit but you ou asked all ull these crazy p here hete Perhaps you will give g mo me credit for Cor some things I saIl I did not nol give I c smallpox for tor or instance and and ll If you yot Ol J f will will vIII permit mo mt to mention the fact Selina Is la not my Aunt Selina p what I wanted to speak pRk to you about Jimmy went ent on out wretchedly s ir tryIng tryIng try try- Ing not to look at me You Vou see wh when n nth th they were cro rowing so about who would get the breakfast 1 Cast 1 I never neer sa saw such a lot lol of or people I half halt of or them never nover touch breakfast breakfast break break- Cn fast t. t but lint of or now thc they want an at kinds of ot things when things when the they were ere talking Aunt Selina Selian j ald inid Mill knew kj you ou would get ret It being he the hostess nail responsible besides knowing where things s are arc k kept i pt pL He lie haul fixed hl his c eyes es on the thc orchids h he looked d shrunken en actually shrunken en I I 1 thought he finished you ou might give mo me a no few ew pointers now and I could comedown comedown come como down In the thc morning mornIng- and and and-and and ru fuss s up something coffee coerce and nOlI BO so on I would sa say you yell dIll did It Oh liming bring i It I. I mill all nil Kit It wh why dont don't you ou sa say something What s do I de de- de you rou war want t me to say any That I love to cook and of or course Ill I'll fix tra trays s 's and null earr carry them up tip In Iii Inthe the thc morning to tonno Anne Anno Brown and lella Mercer 1 and th the thc rest and that I will have huY thc tue shaving water ready ready- I 1 krow know what Im I'm going t to do lIo Jimmy said with a u sudden maiden resolution Aunt Selina and tier hor money moner can go to blazes I 1 am going right upstairs and anti tell bet hel the thc truth tell her who you alA aie what 1 I Iam am nod and all tho rest of oC It Ho opened the tho door You will do nothing of or the kInd I gasped catching him In timo time Don Dont t I you OU dare Jimmy Il Wilson on Why li h what would they thoy think of 01 me After letting her herall call all me me Della Bella and him him Jim If IC Mr Harbison ever learns the tue I J I I will take poison polson If we arc are going to bo be shut up here to together other we wo will have to lo carry It on I couldn't stand the disgrace In spite of oC an heroic effort Jim looked relieved rello They havo have been hunting for tor forthe or orthe the linen closet ho he said more cheerfully there will be room mom enough I think Harbison and I will wili hang out In the thc studio there are aie two couches there Im I'm afraid you'll oun have h to take lake Aunt Selina Kit JIt El t. t Certainly I sold saM coldly That was the wa way It was till all along Whenever thoro thero was s something to do ilo that no one ono else would undertake undertake any any unpleasant responsibility that entire mon mongrel rel hous household turned with ono one gesture and pointed Its finger at me Well re II it Is IJ over oyer now and I 1 ought not to be bitter considering considering con con- sl everything It was s-as tulle quite charActeristic of or that memorable evening that I Is quite novel novel- esque I think that my Interview with Jimmy should have o a a. sen sensational ending Ho lie was terribly down of oC course and as ns asI asI I was trying to pays pass him to get to the thc thedoor thedoor door ho he caught m my hand I Youre a girl In a n thousand Kit ho he said forlornly If I were weco not so |