Alice Hegan Rice

“ Miss Joe Hill took her hand firmly and said: and said in a commanding voice: "Lucinda, collect yourself! You have temporarily lost your poise. Let the past week be wiped from our memories. You have gotten out of the center of your individuality; with my help you shall return. Divorce yourself from all positive thought, Lucinda. Allow the subliminal self to assert itself." ”

“ People were thronging in every direction, and she realized that she was occasionally the recipient of a curious glance. She began to watch rather anxiously for the return of her party. Ten minutes passed, and still they did not come.
Suddenly the awful possibility presented itself that they might have lost her. She had no money, and even if she had had, she knew she could never find her way back to the hotel alone. Anxiety gained upon her in leaps. In bitter remorse she upbraided herself for ever having strayed from the blessed protection of Miss Joe Hill's authority. ”

“ But Miss Lucinda's traditions were firm. "Why, Florence," she began reproachfully, but Floss interrupted her:
"Don't 'Florence' me, Miss Lucy! You're just pretending to be mad; I know you. Miss Joe Hill keeps after you just like she does after us. The girls told me how she made you rip all the trimmings off your clothes, and would n't let you have sugar in your coffee. I don't care how smart she is or how good she is, we all love you best." ”

“ When Miss Joe Hill arrived in New York, in answer to an urgent telegram, she went directly to work with her usual executive ability to unravel the mystery. After obtaining the full facts in the case, she was able to make a satisfactory explanation to the officers at headquarters. Then she sent the girls to their respective homes, and turned her full attention upon Miss Lucinda.
"The barber will be here in half an hour to cut your hair," she announced on the eve of their departure for the Catskills.
"You ought not to be so good to me!" sobbed Miss Lucinda, who was lying limply on a couch. ”

“ Miss Lucinda protested vehemently, but she did not withdraw her hand from Flossie's plump grasp.
"And when we get to New York," the girl declared, taking advantage of this slight encouragement, "I am going to give you the time of your life! Dad's got to put us up in style—a room and a bath apiece and maybe a sitting-room. He says he's glad I know how to be a rich man's daughter. Dear old Dad! You see, he worked too long; he's been so busy out at the yards that he has n't learned how to act like a rich man yet." ”

“ I have been having a fit a minute for fear you would n't come. This is my Cousin May. She is going to stay with us the whole week. New York is simply heavenly, Miss Lucy. We have made four engagements already. Matinée this afternoon, a dinner to-night—What's the matter? Did you leave anything on the train?"
"No, no," stammered Miss Lucinda, still casting furtive glances backward at the conductor. "Was he talking to a policeman?" she asked suspiciously.
"Who?"
"The conductor."
The girls laughed.
"I don't wonder you were scared," said Floss; "a policeman always does remind me of Miss Joe Hill." ”

“ If you are afraid of her, don't tell her. It will be more of a lark, anyhow, if we can slip off. I never did get to slip off, for Dad always lets me do things. You can pretend you are going to your brother's and meet me some place on the road."
Miss Lucinda looked horrified, but she listened. A material kept plastic by years of manipulation does not harden to a new hand. Her objections to Floss's plan grew fainter and fainter. ”

“ She had a vague idea that it was a mammoth map for the blind, until she saw Dick and Floss sit down at the top and go sliding to the bottom.
"Come on, Miss Lucinda!" cried May. "You can't get down any other way, you know. Look out! ”

“ Yes, you are, too! That's all foolishness; everybody wears elbow-sleeves. Blue's your color, and I 've got the hat to match. May says she 'll fix your hair, and you can wear her French-heel Oxfords again. They pitch you over? Oh, nonsense! you just tripped along the other day like a nice little jay-bird. Hurry, hurry!"
Even Miss Lucinda's week of strenuous living had not prepared her for what followed. First, there was a short trip on the train, during which she conscientiously studied a map, and attempted to verify her hitherto theoretic knowledge of geography. ”

“ It was the same motive that might prompt a newly hatched chicken, embarrassed by its sudden liberty, to return to its shell. Just as she was going in search of a time-table, a round-faced young man came up. ”

“ Hello! there's the call for your train. I 'll bring your bag."
In the confusion of getting settled in her section, and of expressing her gratitude to Tom, Miss Lucinda forgot for the time the deadly weight of guilt that rested upon her. It was not until the conductor called for her ticket that her heart grew cold, and a look of consternation swept over her face. It seemed to her that he eyed the pass suspiciously and when he did not return it (passed on, without returning the pass) , a terror seized her. She knew he was coming back to ask her name, and what was her name? Mrs. ”