Miss Warren now laughed outright.

"Thee thinks," he continued, "that if thee gets mother on thy side
thee's safe. I guess I'll adopt a common editorial policy, and sit
safely on the fence till I hear what mother says to thy confession."

"Are you laughing at me?" I asked Miss Warren, with an injured air.

"To think that one of your calling should have got into such a
dilemma!" she said, in a low tone. "It's delicious!"

"My cheeks may become bronzed, but never brazen, Miss Warren. My
guilelessness should touch your sympathies."

"Well," said Adah, with rather a spiteful look at Miss Warren, "I'm
glad I've not got a prying disposition. I talked with you half the
afternoon and did not find you out."

Even Mrs. Yocomb laughed at this.

"Now, Miss Warren," I said, turning to her with a triumphant look, "I
hope you feel properly quenched."

"Is there any record of your crime, or misfortune, or whatever it may
be, in Miss Warren's newspaper?" asked Silas Jones, with a slight
sneer.

"Yes, sir, of both, if the truth must be told," I replied. "That is
the way she found me out."