ETHEL HUESTON
11XU ST RATTL'D BY
TV. C . TAN N E
(Copyright, by the
Bobber-Merrill
Company.)
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I—Prudence Starr, eldest of
five motherless Kiri' runt.- tn tin Mel
odist parsonage at Mount Mark,
mother for her father, the Methodist min
ister.
This wns follower] by an electric si
lence. Prudence was biting her lips
painfully, and counting tiy tens as fast
as she could. Fairy was mentally go
ing over the prayer, sentence by sen
tence, and attributing each petition
to tin1 individual member in*the old
church at Exminster to whom it be
longed. The twins were a little
did never culled at the parsonage again
A few weeks after this Carol distin
guished herself again, and to her lasi
ing mortification. A man living only
six blocks from the parsonage laid gen
erously offered Mr. Kbtrr free pastur
age for Ids pretty little Jersey in his
broad meadow, and the offer was grate
fully accepted. This meant that every
evening the twins must walk after the
cow. and every morning must take her
buck for the day’s grazing.
One evening, as they were starting
out from the meadow homeward with
the docile animal, Carol stopped and
gazed at Blinkie reflectively.
“Lark,’* she said, "I just believe to
my soul /hat I could ride this cow.
She's so gentle, and I'tn such a good
hand at sticking on.”
“Carol!” ejaculated Lark. “Think
how it would look for a parsonage girl
to go down the street riding a cow.”
“But there’s no one to see,” protest
ed Carol. And this was true. For the
parsonage was near the edge of town,
and the girls passed only five houses
"Cows Have Such Funny Backs."
on their way home from the meadow—
and til! of them were well buck from
the road.
Lark argued and pleaded, but Carol
was firm. “I must try it.” she insist
ed, “and if It doesn’t go well I can
slide off. You can lead her. Lark.”
The obliging Lark boosted her sister
up. anti Carol nimbly scrambled into
place, riding astride.
“I’ve got to ride this way,” site said.
“Cows have such funny backs I
couldn't keep on any other way. If I
see anyone coming. I'll slide for it.”
For a while all went well. Lark led
Blinkle carefully, gazing about anx
iously to see that no one approached.
So they advanced to within two blocks
of the parsonage. By this time Bllnkie
concluded that she was being imposed
upon. She shook her head violently,
and twitched the rope from Lark's
hand, gave a scornful toss of her
dainty head, and struck out madly for
home. With great presence of mind,
Carol fell flat upon the cow’s neck, and
hung on for dear life, while Lark, in
terror, started out in pursuit.
“Help! Help!” she cried loudly.
“Papa! Papa! Papa !”
In this way they turned in at the
parsonage gate, which happily stood
open. As luck would have it. Mr. Starr
was standing at the door with two men
who had been calling on him, and hear
ing Lark’s frantic cries, they rushed to
meet the wild procession, and hud tho
unique experience of seeing a parson
age girl riding flat on iter stomach on
the neck of a galloping Jersey, with
unother parsonage girl in mad pursuit.
Blinkie stopped beside the barn, and
turned her head about inquiringly.
Carol slid ' .... ground, and burled
her face ,.i „er hands at sight of the
two men with her father. Then, with
never a word, she lit out for the house
at top speed. The three men sat down
on tlu> ground and burst into hearty
laughter.
Lark came upon them as they sat
tints, and Lark was angry. She
stamped her foot with a violence that
must have hurt her.
“I don’t see anything to laugh at.”
U'lv.4 passionately. “H wyut. ithiui.
il was just awI'n! ; Carrie might have
been killed I lr—it—”
“Tell ns all about it. Lark.” gasper
her father. And Lark did so, smilin
a little herself, now that her fenr
were relieved. ‘•Poor <‘anil.” slu* said
“she'll never live down the litiinilia
tion. I must go and console tier.”
In a little while Carol felt touch hot
ter. But she talked il over with Pro
donee very seriously.
“I hope you understand. Prudence
that 1 shall never have anythin:; nous
to do with IVinkle! She can die of
starvation for all I care. I'll nevei
take her to and from the pasture again
I couldn't do it! Such rank itiarari
tilde as that cow displayed was never
equaled. I am certain.”
“I suppose you'll quit using milk
and cream, too.” suggested Prudence.
“Oh, well.” said Carol more toler
antly, “1 don't want to be too hard
on P.litikie, for after all it was partly
my own fault. So 1 won't jro that far.
But T must draw the lino somewhere'
Hereafter Blinkie and 1 meet as
strangers!"
CHAPTER III.
The Ladies’ Aid.
Now. this really was a crisis in fh<
life of the parsonage family. The trir!
hud met. separately, every nientbe ■ c;
he Ladies’ Alii. I!nt this was their
irst combined movement upc n the pur
sonuge, ami Prudence ami Fairy real
ized that much depended on the suc
cess of the day. As girls, the whole
Methodist church pronounced the
young Starrs charming. Hilt as par
sonage people—well, they were obliged
to reserve judgment. Aral as for Pru
dence having entire charge of the
household, it must l>e acknowledged
that every individual l.ady /looked
forward to this meeting with eager
ness—they wanted to “size up" the sit
uation. They were coming to see for
themselves! Yes. it was undoubtedly
ll crisis.
“There’ll he a crow d, of course," said
Fairy. “We’ll just leave the doors
between the front rooms open.”
“Yes, hut.we’ll close the dining-room
doors. Then we’ll have the refresh
ments nil out on the table, and when
we are ready we’ll Just fling back the
doors carelessly and—there you tire!”
So the table was prettily decorated
with flowers, and great plates of sand
wiches and cake were placed u|>on it.
In the center was an enormous punch
howl, borrowed from the Averys, full
of lemonade. Glasses were properly
arranged on the trays, and piles of
nicely home-laundered napkins were
scattered here and there. The girls
felt that the dining room was a credit
to them, and to the Methodist church
entire.
From every nook and corner of the
house they hunted out chairs and
stools, untlcipntingY real run upon the
parsonage. Nor were they disappoint
ed. The twins and Connie were not
even arrayed in their plain little ging
hams, clean, before the first arrivals
were ushered tip into the front bed
room. ordinarily occupied by Prudence
and Fairy.
“There’s Mrs. Adams and Mrs.
Prentiss, and Mrs.—” began Connie,
listening intently to the voices in the
next room.
“Yes.” whispered Carol, “peek
through the keyhole, Lark, and see if
Mrs. l’rentiss is looking under the bed
for dust. They say she—"
“You’d better not let l'rudenee catch
you repeating—”
"There’s Mrs. Stone, and Mrs. Davis,
and—”
“They say Mrs, Davis only belongs
to tjie Ladies’ Aid for the snke of the
refreshments, and—”
“Carol! l’rudenee will punish you.”
“Well, I don't believe it,” protested
Carol. “I’m just teling you what I’ve
heard other people say.”
"We aren’t allowed to repeat gos
sip.” urged Lark.
“No, und I think it’s a shame, too,
for it's awfully funny. Minnie Drake
told me that Miss Varne joined the
Methodist.church as soon as she heard
tlie new minister was a widower, so
she—”
“Carol!”
Carol whirled nround sharply, and
flushed, ami swallowed hard. For Pru
dence was just behind her.
“I—I—I—” but she could get no fur
ther.
Upon occasion Prudence was quite
terrible. “So I heard,” she said dryly,
but her eyes were hard. “Now run up
stairs and out to the Held, or to the
barn, and play. And, Carol, be sure
and remind me of that speech toniglit.
I might forget it.”
The girls ran quickly out, Carol well
in the lead.
“No wedding fee for me,” she
mumbled bitterly. “Somehow I just
can’t help repeating—”
“You don’t want to,” said Lark, not
without sympathy. "Yrou think it's
such fun, you know.”
“Well, anyhow, I’m sure T won’t get
any cake tonight. It seems to me Pru
dence is very—harsh sometimes.”
“You cun appeal to father, if y<«
like." . . _ _
“Not on your life.” said Carol
promptly and emphatically ; “he's worse
than l’rmlence. Like as not he'd {rive
me a good thrashing into the bargain.
No—I’m strong for Prudence when it
comes to punishment—in preference
to father. I menn. I can’t seem to he
fond of any kind of punishment from
anybody.”
For a while Carol was much de
pressed. hut h.v nature she wits a buoy
ant soul, and her spirits were presently
soaring again.
In the meantime, the Ladies of the
Aid society continued to arrive. Pru
dence and Fairy, freshly gowned and
sirtiling-faced, received them villi cor
diality and many merry words. It was
not difficult for them; they had been
reared in the hospitable atmosphere of
Methodist parsonages, where, if you
have but two dishes of oatmeal, the
outsider is welcome to one. That is
Carol's description of parsonage life.
►tut Prudence was concerned to ob
serve that a big easy chair placed well
pack in a secluded corner, seemed to
lie giving dissatisfaction. It was- Mrs.
Adams who sat there first. Shi
squirmed quite u little, and seemed to
pc gripping the arms of the chair with
unnecessary fervor. Presently sin
stammered an excuse, and. rising, went
into the other room. After that. Mrs
Miller, then Mrs. Jack, Mrs. Norey.
tud Mrs. Heed, in turn, sat there—and
lid not stay. Prudence was quite ago
uized. liad the awful twins filled i!
with needles for the reception of tin
poor Ladies? At first opportunity she
hurried into the secluded corner, intent
upon trying the chair for herself. Site
sat down anxiously. Then she gasped
and clutched frantically at the arm of
!he chair. For site discovered at once
to her dismay that the chair was bot
tomless. and that only by hanging on
for her life could she keep from drop
ping through.
1'p rose Prudence, conscientiously
pulling after her ilte thin cushion
which had concealed tIn* chair’s sliort
comittg. “Look. Fairy!" she cried,
“Pid you take the bottom nut of this
■•hair? It must hav*‘ been horribly un
(omfortable tor those who have sat
there! However did it happen?”
Fairy was frankly amazed, and a
little inclined to tie amused.
“Ask the twins." site said tersely;
“I know nothing about it.’’
At that moment, the luckless Carol
went running through tlie hall. Pru
lienee knew it was she, without seeing,
because she had a peculiar skipping
run that was quite characteristic and
unmistakable.
'I aroi . she called.
And Carol paused.
“Carol!” more imperatively.
Then Carol slowly opened the door—
she was a parsonage girl and rose to
ihe occasion. She smiled winsomely—
Carol was nearly always winsome.
"Mow do you do?” she said brightly.
"Isn't it a lovely day? Did you cull
ne, Prudence?”
“Yes. Do you know where the bot
tom of that chair has gone?”
“Why no. Prudence—gracious! That
•hair!—why. 1 didn't know you were
going to bring that chair in here.
Why—oh. I am so sorry ! Why in the
world didn’t you tell us beforehand?”
Some of the Ladies smiled. Others
lifted their brows and shoulders in a
mildly suggestive way. that Prudence,
after nineteen years in the parsonage,
had learned to know and dread.
“And where is the chair-bottom
now ?” she inquired. "And why did
you take it?”
“Why, we wanted to make—”
“You and Lark?”
“Well, yes—but It was really all my
fault, you know. We wanted to make
a seat up high in the peach tree, and
the bottom off the chair was just fine.
It's a perfectly adorable seat," bright
ening, but sobering again as she real
ized the gravity of the occasion. “And
we put tlie cushion in the chair so that
it wouldn’t be noticed. We never use
that chair, you know. I'm so sorry
about it.”
Carol was really quite crushed, but
true to her parsonage training, she
struggled valiantly and presently
brought forth a crumpled and sickly
smile.
But Prudence smiled nt her kindly.
“That wasn’t very naughty. Carol,” she
said frankly. “It’s true that we sel
dom use that chair. And we ought to
have looked." She glanced reproach
fully at Fairy. “It is strange that in
dusting it. Fairy—but never mind. You
may go now, Carol. It is all right.”
Then she apologized gently to the
I.adies, and the conversation went on,
hut Prudence was uncomfortably con
scious of keen and quiaeical eyes
turned her way. Evidently they
thought she was too lenient.
“Well, it wasn't very naughty,” she
thought wretchedly. “How can I pre
tend it was terribly had, when 1 feel
in my heart that it wasn’t!”
The meeting progressed, and the
business was presently disposed of.
So far, things were not too seriously
had, and Prudence sighed in great re
lief. Then the Ladies took out their
sewing, and began industriously work
ing at many articles, designed for the
clothing of a lot of young Methodists
confined in an orphans' home in Chi
cago. And they talked together pleas
antly and gayly. And Prudence and
Fairy felt that the cloud was lifted.
But soon it settled again, dark and
lowering. Prudence heard Lark run
ning through the hull and her soul mis
gave her. . Why was Lark going up
stairs? To he sure, her mission might
he innocent, hut Prudence dared not
run tiie risk. Fortunately she was sit
ting near the door.
“Lark!" she called softly. Lark
stopped abruptly, and something fell
to tlie floor.
“Lark!”
The Ladies smijed, and Miss Carr,
laughing !kr!it!r, said. “She is an Atten
tive creature, isn't she?”
Prudence would gladly have flown
out into the hall to settle this matter,
hut site realized that site was on exhi
hitinn. Had she done so, tile Ladies
would have set her down forever after
as thoroughly incompetent- she could
not go! Hut Lurk must come to iter,
i “Lark!” This was Prudence’s most
awful voice, and Lark was bound to
heed.
“Oh, Prne.” sin* said plaintively, “I’ll
ho there in a minute. Can't you wait
just five minutes? Let me run up
stairs lirst. won't you? Then i ll come
gladly! Won’t that do?"
Her voice was hopeful. Hut Pru
dence replied with dangerous calm:
"Come it! once. Lari:.”
“All right, then." and added threat
eningly. “but you'll wish • h: n't."
Then Lark opened the door a woe
ful figure! In one hand she carried an
empty shoe box. And Iter face was
streaked with good rich Iowa mud.
Her clothes were plastered with it. One
shoe was caked from the sole to the
very top button, and a great gash in
her stocking revealed a generous por
tion of round, white leg.
poor Prudence! At Hint moment she
would have exchanged the whole par
sonage, bathroom, electric lights and
all, for u tiny log cabin in the heart
of a great forest, where she and Lark
might he alone together.
And Fairy laughed. Prudence loAked
at her with tears in iter eyes, and then
turned to the wretched girl.
"What have you been doing. Lark?”
The heartbreak expressed ill the face
of Lark would have made the angels
weep. Beneath the smudges of mud
on her cheeks she was pallid, and. try
as she would, she could not keep her
chin from trembling ominously. Her
voice, when she was able to speak, was
barely recognizable,
“We—we—we are making—mud
images. Prudence, ll -it was awfully
messy. I know, hut — they say—it is
such a good—and useful lliing to do.
We—we didn’t expect—the—the La
dies to see us.”
‘•Mud images!” gasped Prudence,
am! even Fairy stared incredulously.
“Where in the world did you get hold
of an idea like that?”
“It—it was in that—that Mother's
Home Friend paper you take. Pru
dence.” Prudence Idushed guiltily. “It
was modeling in clay, hut—v.o haven’t
any clay, and—the mud is very nice,
but—oh, I k' ow I look just—horrible.
I—I—Connie pushed mein the—puddle
—for fun." Another appealing glance
into her sister's face, and Lark plunged
on. I (flit on smoothing matters if she
could. “Carol is—is just line at it,
really. She—she’s making Ti Venus de
Milo, and it’s good. But we can't re
member whether her arm is off at the
| elhow or below ihe shoulder—” An
1 enormous gulp, and by furious blinking
Lark managed to crowd buck the tears
that would slip to the edge of her
lashes. “I—I’m very sorry. Prudence.”
"Very well. Lark, you may go. I do
I not really object to your modeling in
mud. 1 afu sure. I am sorry you look
j so disreputable. You must change
your shoes and stockings at *>nce, and
then you can go on with your model
ing. But there must he no more push
ing and chasing. I’ll see Connie about
that tonight. Now go.” Ami Lark was
swift 1<> avail liersdf of the permission.
Followed a <piiet 1 our, and then the
Ladies jut aside their sewing and
walked about the room, chatting in
little groups. With a significant glance
to Fairy. Prudence walked calmly to
tin* d utlde doors between the dining
room and the sitting room. The eyes
jf the Ladies followed her with inter
est. and even enthusiasm. They were
Hungry. Prudence slowly opened wide
’lie doors, and—stood amazed! Tile
Ladies clustered about her, and stood
inmzed also. The dining room was
here, and the table! But the appear*
nice of the place was vastly different!
1’ho snowy cloth was draped artis
ricnlly over a picture on the wall, the
owest edges well above the floor. The
dates and trays, napkin-covered, were
safely st nved away on the floor in <lis
ant corners. The kitchen scrub buck
d had been brought in and turned uj>
dde down, to afford a fitting resting
dace for the borrowed punch bowl,
’ull to overflowing with fragrant lem
onade.
And at tlie table were three dirty,
lisheveled little figures, bending seri
ously over piles of mud. A not-unree
ignlzalde Verms de Milo occupied the
‘Un't That a Handsome Venus?"
JSflitft vf Hie table. Connie wus yiywst
nkingly :it work or. some animal, a
l**K perhaps, or possibly an elephuut.
\nd—
The three young modelers looked up
n exclamatory consternation as the
ioors opened.
"Oh. are you ready?” cried Carol.
‘How time has flow u ! We had no idea
rou'd (>e ready so soon. Oh, we are
i irry. Prudence. We intended to have
werything fixed properly for you again.
We needed a flat place for our model
ng. It's a shame, that's what it is.
I- n't that a handsome Venus? I did
Mi: t !—If you'll just shut the door one
..ii.e.te. Prudence, we'll have every
thing exactly as you left it. And we’re
ts sorry as we c*m he. You can have
y Venus for a centerpiece, if von
ike."
Prudence silently closed the doors,
mil the Ladles, laughing significantly,
drew gway.
"Don't you think, my dear,” began
Mrs. Prentiss too sweetly, "that they
ire a little more than you can manage?
Don't you really think an older woman
s needed?”
"I do not think so,” cried Fairy, be
fore her sister could speak, “no older
woman could he kinder, or sweetep, or
more patient and helpful than Prue.”
‘‘Undoubtedly true! Rut something
more is needed, 1 am afraid! It ap
c'-ars that girls are a little more dis
l'derly than in my own young days!
Perhaps I do not judge advisedly, hut
It seems to me they are a little—un
manageable.”
"hide, d they tire not,” cried Pru
lcnco loyally. "They tire young, lively,
mischievous, 1 know—and I am glad of
It. Rut I have lived with them ever
since they were born, and I ought to
know them. They are unselfish, they
tire sympathetic, they are always gen
erous. They do foolish and irritating
tilings—hut never tilings that are hate
ful and mean. They are all right at
etu i, aiRI that is nil that counts. They
lire not Imd girls! What have they
tone today? They were exasperating,
ind humiliating, too, hut what did they
,1o that was really mean? They ern
tiarrassed and mortified me, hut not
It i ntmnally ! I can’t punish them fflr
the effect on me, you know! Would
that he just or fair? At Heart, they
meant no harm.”
II must be confessed that there were
many serious faces among the Ladies.
Some cheeks were flushed, some eyes
were downcast, some lips were com
pressed and some were trembling. Ev
ery mother there was asking in her
heart. “I>id I punish my children just
for the effect on me? Did I judge my
children by what was in their hearts,
or just by the trouble they made me?”
And the s.leuee lasted so long that
il became awkward. Finally Mrs. Pren
tiss crossed the room and stood by
Prudence’s side. She laid a hand ten
derly on the young girl's arm, and said
jin a voice that was slightly tremulous:
“I believe you are right, my dear. It
; is what girls are at heart that really
counts. I believe your sisters are nil
you say they are. And one thing I am
1 very sure of—they are happy girls to
have a sister so patient and loving and
; just. Not all real mothers have as
: much to their credit!”
CHAPTER IV.
A Secret Society.
Carol and Lark, in keeping with
their twinship, were the dearest chums
and comrades. To them the great,
rambling barn hack of the parsonage
was a most delightful place. It had a
big cowshed on one side, and horse
stalls on the other, with a “heavenly”
haymow over all, and with “chutes” for
the descent of hay—and twins!
Now the twins had a secret society—
of which they were the founders, the
officers and the membership body. Its
name was Skull and Crossbones. Lark
furnished the brain power for the or
ganization, but her sister was an en
thusiastic and energetic second. Car
el’s club name was Lady Gwendolyn,
end Lark's was *ir Alfred Angelcourt
ordinarily, although subject to frequent
change. The old barn saw stirring
limes after the coming of the new par
sonage family.
‘‘Hark! Hark!” sounded a hissing
whisper from the corncrib, and Connie,
eavesdropping outside the burn, shiv
ered sympathetically.
“What is it! Oh, what is it?” wailed
the1 unfortunate lady.
“Look! Look! Uun for your life!”
Then while Connie clutched the ham
door in a frenzy, there was a Bound of
rut fling corn as the twins sera milled
upward, a silence, a low thud, and an
unrninnntie "Ouch!” as Carol humped
her head and stumbled.
“Are you assaulted?” shouted the
hold Sir Alfred, and Connie heard a
wild Seattle as he rescued his eotnj an
ion from tile clutches of the old halter
on which she had stumbled. I'p the
hayi iow ladder they hurried, and then
slid recklessly down tile hay chutes.
Presently the bam door was Hung
open, and the “society” knocked Con
nie flying backward, ran madly around
the burn a few times, and scurried un
der the fence and into the chicken
coop.
A little later Connie, assailed with
shots of corncobs, ran bitterly toward
the house. "Peeking” was strictly tor
bidden when tlie twins were engaged
in Skull and Crossbones activities.
And Connie’s soul burned with de
sire. She felt that this secret society
was threatening not only her happi
ness, but also her health, for she could
not sleep for horrid dreams of Skulls
and CrosslMtnes at night, and could not
cat for envying the twins their secret
and mysterious joys. Finally she ap
plied to Prudence, and received assist
ti nee.
The afternoon trail brought to the
parsonage an envelope addressed to
“Misses Carol and Lark Starr, (he
Methodist Parsonage, Mount Mark,
luwttv' and ui Urn h±WW lutPteud vkf
I
n<>r was a suggestive drawing of a
Skull and Crosshones. The eyes of the
mischievous twins twinkled with <h*
llght when they saw it, and they car
ried it to the barn for prompt perusal.
It read as follows:
Miss Constance Starr humbly anil re
spectfully craves admittance into the An
cient and Honorable Organization of
Skull anil Crossliones.
The twins pondered long on a fitting
reply, and ihe next afternoon the {lost*
man brought a letter for Connie, wuit
Ing impatiently for it. She hud ap
proached the twins about it at noon
that dny.
“Did you get my application?” she
had whispered nervously.
Jiul the twins hnd stared her out of
i countenance, and Connie realized that
she had committed it serious breach of
secret society etiquette.
Ilut here was the letter! Her fin
gers trembled as she opened it. It was
decorated lavishly with skulls and
crossbones, splashed with ml ink, sup
posedly blood, and written In the same
suggestive color.
Skull and Crosabones. great in mercy
! and In condescension, has listened graci
i ously to the prayer of Constance, the
Seeker. Hear the will of the Great Spirit!
If the Seeker will, for the length of two
weeks, submit herself to the will of Skull
and Crossbones, she shall be admitted In
j to the Ancient and Honorable Order.
Tlie week that followed was a gala
: one for the twins of Skull und Cross
: bones. Constance swept ttielt room,
made their bed, washed their dishes,
‘ lid their chores, and in every wny be
haved as a model pledge of the ancient
| and honorable. The twins were gra
| cious but firm. There was no arguing
| mid no faltering. “It is the will of
! Skull and Crossbones that the damsel
j do this,” they would say. And the
I damsel did it.
Prudence did not feel it was n case
11hitt called for her Interference. So
t she sat back and watched, while the
twins told stories, read and frolicked,
and Constance did their daily tasks.
A week pussed, ten days, and twelve.
Then came a golden October afternoon
when the twins sat in the haymow
looking out upon a mellow world. Con
stance was In the yard, reading a fairy
story. The situation was a tense one,
for the twins were hungry, and time
was heavy on their hands.
“The apple trees in Avery’s orchard
are just loaded,” said Lurk. “And
1 there are lots on the ground, too. I
saw them when I wns out in the field
this morning.”
Carol gazed down into the yard
whi re Constance was absorbed In her
book. “Constance oughtn’t to read as
I much as she does," she argued. “It's
pso bad for the eyes.”
i “Yes, and what’s more, she’s been
j getting off too easy for the last few
i days. The time is nearly up.”
j “Thnt’s so," said Lark. “Let’s call
her up here.” This was done at once,
and the unforfunnte Constance stood
before them respectfully, as they had
j instructed her to stand. The twins
I hesitated, each secretly hoping the
I other would voice the order. But Lark,
ns usual, was obliged to be the spokes
man.
“Damsel," she said, “it is the will of
Skull and Crossbones that you hie ye
to yonder orchard—Avery’s I mean—
and bring hither some of the golden
apples basking in the sun.”
“What I” ejaculated Connie, startled
out of her respect.
Carol frowned.
Connie hastened to modify her tone.
“Did thqy say you might liave them?”
she inquired politely.
“That concerns thee not; 'tls for thee
only to render obedience to the orders
of the Society. Go out through our
field and sneak under the fence where
the wires nre loose, and hurry back.
We’re awfully hungry. The trees are
near the fence. There isn’t any dan
ger.”
“But it’s stealing,” objected Connie.
“What will Prudence—”
“Damsel!” And Connie turned to
obey with despair in her heart.
“Bring twelve,” Carol called after
her, “that’ll be four apiece. And hurry,
Connie. And see they don’t catch you
while you’re about it.”
After she had gone the twins lay
back thoughtfully on the hay and
stared at the cobwebby roof above
them In silence for a while. Something
was hurting them, hut whether if was
theif fear of the wrath of Prudence,
nr the twinges of tender consciences—
who can say?”
"Mies mi unearthly long time about
it,” exclaimed Lark at last. ‘T>o you
suppose they caught her?"
This was au awl'ul thought, and the
girls were temporarily suffocated. But
they heard the barn door swinging be
neath them, and sighed with relief. It
was Connie I She climbed the ladder
skillfully, and poured her goldeu treas
ure before the arcli-thleves, Skull and
Crossbones.
There were eight big. tempting
apples.
“Hum! Eight!” said Carol sternly.
“I said twelve.”
“Yes, but I was afraid someone was
coming. I heard such a uolse through
the grapevines, so I got what I could
and ran for It. There's three apiece
for you, and two for me,” said Connie,
sitting down sociably beside them on
the hay.
But Carol rose. “Damsel, begone.”
she ordered. “When Skull and Cross
bones feast, thou must not yet share
the festive board. Rise thee, and
(Continued Next Week.)
n
G
H DR. R. A. BARROW
DENTIST
Postoffice Building
HUTTIG. ARK.
,E5!
JT UJ
I