The Sapphire Signet

THE SAPPHIRE SIGNET

I had the worst time puzzling this out! she said
BY AUGUSTA HUIELL SEAMAN Author of The Boarded-Up House, etc. ILLUSTRATED BY C. M. RELYEA
NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1916
Copyright, 1915, 1916, by The Century Co. Published, September, 1916

THE SAPPHIRE SIGNET
THE SAPPHIRE SIGNET OR THE LASS OF RICHMOND HILL
It was five o'clock and a very dull, dark afternoon in Charlton Street. One by one lights had twinkled out in all the little two-story-and-dormer-windowed houses on the block,—in all but one. The parlor windows of this house were still unlit, but behind the flower-box in one of them a hand could be seen moving aside the white curtains at frequent intervals and a dim face peering anxiously into the dusk.
At ten minutes past five precisely, two trim girl-figures turned the corner of Varick Street, hurried down the block, raced up the steps of this same house, and waved frantically at the dark windows. An answering wave saluted them from between the parted curtains. At the same moment lights twinkled out from the windows, and a quick hand pulled down the shades with a jerk, shutting out the dim street for the night. But back of the drawn shades a small figure in an invalid-chair held out welcoming arms to the girls who had just entered.
My! How long you were! I thought you'd never get here to-day. And it's been so dark and dismal all the afternoon, too! The two girls, who were plainly twins, knelt down, one on each side of the invalid-chair.