Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY 11 "What can it mean?'' she asked. '"I don't know," he blustered, "unless 'some one is playing a trick on us. I'll ask John." ! Doctor Warren approached. "Do you know what this means?" ~ psked the old colonel of his son, pushing the letter to him. John caught his breath as he finished, /! '|and glanced at his father. "Yes," he gulped, forcing a mirthless ' 'laugh. '"Sure. It — it is from an old soldier friend of mine, dad. He left the hospital some time ago. They used ^|to call me colonel down there, you know. Yes, really, yes." He hurried from the room, and wiped his throb,! a|bing brow. '•Whew!" he whistled. "That's a H.tlose call. I hope the old gentleman ' doesn't become too suspicious. I'll have to tell Prudence." He hurried to the hospital, where he had left Prudence with her brother. Poor Joe was receiving little attention these days. Doctor Warren and Prudence were too full of their love to think of any little thing like a trip to the hospital. "Prudence," he said, showing her the ^ letter, "I wonder how we can get the trunk out to her?" She looked up with fear in her eyes. "Do they suspect?" she whispered. "No," he answered. "I told them that It was a trunk that belonged to an old feoldier down here." Prudence smiled, ittlill "Say, what are you two up to?" asked ; Joe from his reclining position in the bed. at « '"Ssh, little brother !" cautioned Pruoljjdence. "No questions." Bipl But both Doctor Warren and Prui: idence now knew that they were on ::: treacherous ground. Any moment they might expect their whole plot to col• lapse. : 1 1 They both approached the broad jreranda, when a blond girl, with pretty !ieyes, burst upon her, crying : "Pru idence, Prudence, what are you doing mere ?" ulf Prudence dropped back in amazement. 1 "Why, you old rogue !" she smiled. The colonel and Mrs. Warren were ■watching with question in their eyes. J I "Prudence?" murmured the colonel in a puzzled tone, looking at her. "Why, Jean, since when was your name Prudence ?" She gasped. "Oh — that's — that's my middle name," she stuttered. "Every one at school used to call me Prudence !" She laughed and pulled the blond girl's hand in an admonition to keep silent. "Didn't they, Helen?" she demanded almost fiercely. In astonishment, Helen said : "Why, yes ; I thought every one knew that. We always called her that in school." "Come on, Helen, I want to have a talk with you," gayly said Prudence, as she pulled the puzzled girl with her. "You dear!" she said impulsively. "You came in in the nick of time then. Thanks !" And she kissed her. Helen laughed. "What sort of a trick are you trying to play now?" she asked. In an instant, amid hearty laughs, Prudence told the whole plan. "My !" exclaimed her blond chum, when she had finished. "Won't the old colonel be surprised when he hears it? But I'll not say a word, Prudence, dear. Doctor Warren is too nice." Together they wandered back to the mansion. Inside, the colonel and Mrs. Warren were talking in low tones. "Now that we are together again," went on Prudence, the light of mischief in her eyes, "we can talk of old times." The old darky entered in the midst of their gayety, and announced that a man in a wheel chair was coming in. "My brother," feebly whispered Prudence, looking to her chum, "what shall I do now?" Joe was already in the room. "Why, Joe Allison," Prudence exclaimed in a well-assumed air of surprise. "My old friend from the North. I didn't know you were here !" She moved to him, and smoothed his hair, whispering: "Not a word!" ► To the colonel and Mrs. Warren she said: "I want to make you acquainted with one of the finest little Yankees in captivity, dear people." The colonel bowed with haughty air, and, taking his wife's arm, they stalked from the room. Doctor Warren smiled at Prudence. "Prudence!" exclaimed her old school chum, "what are you doing here?"