All-Story Weekly, March 1, 1919 — page 150: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a with fire. _ Say their is where it’ shows first. ~ Perspiration moistened the Sac fore- head, and he mopped it ve as he con- tinued: I found the picture to-day as I was looking through the draws in her bureau. It shows me and my dear one in the forest right at the place where they kidnapd me. It shows us both plain. He is standing there brave and nobel defying them to do their wurst with his eyes all blazing And I am in his arms leaning agenst his brest. You can see my face sideways and no- body could make a mistake. It seems they took a picture while they were trying to steel me away from him. He has both arms around me but mainly his*left which suports me. I am helpless -but safe. O what happyness. What is she doing with the picture. How did she get it. I supose she is in leeg with them. All the time she must of known about it but she kept on deceeving me. She is dubble faced beside a vampire. I must be on my gard but he will protect me even if I fail. I did not dare keep the picture so I put it back. But I will look at it agen to-morrow when I am going threw her bureau draws agen and some day - it may yet be mine. I wonder when will he speak to me of our love. It cannot be long now. Im going to watch his eyes closer after this for they | IT am sad but happy. I hope the picture makes her jellus. It was the last entry in the book, and the Grouch closed the volume and sat star- ing out of the window. ._ “You got it all read?” Knock. The Grouch started and ceipenberead that another was present. Carrying the book over to the table, he rewrapped it in its oil- cloth cover. “T want you to take this back where. you found it,” he said. ‘““ Aw, gee! I was goin’ to keep it,’”’ com- plained Knock. “You will do nothing of the kind. It - does not belong to you. It is the property of your sister, and she must never find out that you carried it away.” demanded The Grouch spoke sternly, and the Brundage child was impressed. “You must put it back exactly as you = found it, and you must never tell your sister that you know anything about it. You must never tell her that you brought it to me. Understand?” “ What’s in it?” asked Knock. “Nothing of importance; nothing that would interest you at all. It’s mostly about = _ sewing and cooking and housework. > FD sg The Grouch nrodubed some change from his pocket. “And don’t ever take it away again, ad he commanded. ‘ Unless I tell you to.” Knock took the book and: hid it inside his shirt, after which he counted the change. ‘“ Will you want it again to-morrer?” he inquired. “Tf I do, I'll let you know. Hurry now, and don’t let your sister discover that it was taken away.” Knock went away with the book. He knew from the stealth with which Mame persistently hid it that there was something of merit about it. Now he understood. It was a money-getter. Standing in front of the only mirror the cabin afforded, the Grouch studied himself carefully. He decided to change his neck- tie. While selecting another one, he de- cided to change his shirt. While he was choosing a soft silk affair, with purple stripes, he decided to change his clothes. So it was altogether something like fifteen min- utes before he was ready to leave his cabin. “It simply must be done,” he said grim- ly as he strode forth. There was a short cut to the®cottage that avoided the farmhouse and the meadow, and he chose it. The way was familiar enough; it formed a part of his nightly round. He walked briskly, for his mind was made up, and there was nothing to ponder about between the cabin and the cottage. Nobody was on the porch, so he rapped sharply on the steps with his cane. ‘Who is it?” called a voice. ce Me.”’ ce Who?” “Mr. March.” — “Oh. Take a seat, please. I'll be out directly.” He did not take a seat, but stood sternly at the foot of the steps, waiting. It was nearly half an hour before Miss Dean appeared. As soon as the Grouch had announced himself she consulted her mirror. After a brief study she decided to put on a pink dress. Having selected the pink dress, she decided that her hair ought to ‘be done over. ~ M0 a . a tie eR * ate, o~ ce Ot eee eG aS aot ° % Pr ee “ v *: >.