They drew up at the Parkers' door, and Jack politely assisted "Aunt Betsey" from the carriage. He ran up the steps and rang the bell for her, and then, taking his place again in the buggy, he drove off to a shady spot, and waited for his supposed aunt to reappear. "Don't be too long," he had whispered at parting. It seemed hours, but it was really only twenty minutes later, when the front door opened, and the quaint little figure descended the steps amid voluble good-byes. "So glad to have seen you, my dear Miss Trinkett! I never saw you looking so well or so young. You are a marvel. And you won't repeat that little piece of news I told you, will you? You will probably hear it all in good time. Good-by!" It was a very quiet and depressed Aunt Betsey who got into the carriage and drove away with Jack, very different from the gay little lady who had entered the Parkers' gates. "Well, was it a success? Did she know you? Tell us about it," said Jack, eagerly. "Jack, don't ask me a word." "Why? I say, what's up? What's the matter? Did she find you out?" "No, of course not. She never guessed it. But--but--oh, Jack, she told me something." "But what was it?" "I--I don't believe I can tell you!" [TO BE CONTINUED.] [Illustration] THE KNAVE OF HEARTS A Fourth-of-July Play in One Act. BY ALBERT LEE. _CHARACTERS_: QUEEN OF CLUBS. QUEEN OF HEARTS. QUEEN OF SPADES. QUEEN OF DIAMONDS. KING OF SPADES. KING OF DIAMONDS. JOKER. KING OF HEARTS. KING OF CLUBS. KNAVE OF HEARTS. KNAVE OF SPADES. KNAVE OF DIAMONDS. KNAVE OF CLUBS. SCENE.--_Audience-chamber in the palace of the KING OF HEARTS. The thrones of the KING and QUEEN in the centre of the stage at back. Near the KING's throne a small gilded three-legged stool. Entrances R. and L. Three arm-chairs R. A bench L. At the rising of the curtain the JOKER is discovered seated on the KING's throne, leaning on one elbow, his rattle hanging idly in the other hand. He is apparently meditating. He speaks slowly, with a pause between each sentence._