So you see,--a distant cousin. Why?"
"I'll tell you why. Roger and I go to the 'movies' sometimes,--and in a
picture, the other night, we saw Azalea."
"Saw Azalea! You mean some one who looked like her."
"No; Azalea Thorpe herself! Roger and I both knew her at once. And it
was quite a new picture,--taken recently, I mean. Did you know she did
such things?"
"No, and I can't think she does. It must have been only a remarkable
resemblance, Mona."
"No, Patty. We're positive. And, too, she was doing Wild West
stunts,--riding bareback, shooting, throwing a lariat,--all those
things,--and Azalea can, you know."
"Yes, I know; and there _is_ something queer going on. It may be that
when Azalea goes off for a day or part of a day, that's where she goes.
But I can hardly believe it. And why does she keep it so secret?"
"I suppose she thinks you and Bill wouldn't approve."
"And we certainly would _not_! I don't think it can be possible, Mona.
But don't say anything to anybody,--not even to Little Billee,--until I
can talk to Azalea, myself. I can do lots with her, alone, but not if
anybody else is present."
"Where is she now?"
"Gone for a moonlight stroll with Phil. He's decidedly taken with her."
"Yes, I know it. He said so on the way up here. He thinks she's a fine
girl--and he admires those careless, unconventional ways of hers."
"Well, I don't," Patty sighed.
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