Newspaper Page Text
SYNOPSIS.
' Clmllls Wrandall In found murdered In
a road house near New York. Mre. Wran-
aenuontly c
Wrandall, it appears, Had led a gay life
‘ J Mra. Wrandall
and. neglected his wife.
starts buck for New York In an auto dur
ing a blinding snow storm. On the way
one meets a young woman In the road
who proven to bo the woman who killed
Wrandall. Reeling that the girl had done
hor a service in rlddlnV her'-of "the. man
Who though she loved him deeply, liad
caused her great sorrow. Mrs. Wrandall
-determines to shield her and takes her to
hor own home. Mrs. Wrandall hears the
story of Hetty Castleton's life, except that
portion that relates to Wrandall. 1 This
and the story of the tragedy she forbids
the girl ever to telL She offers Hetty a
home, friendship and security from peril
on account of the tragedy. Mrs. Sara
ty ‘attend
Wrandall and Hetty ‘attend the funeral
of Challis Wrandall at the homo of his
Sara Wrandall and Hetty re
year In Europe. Leslie Wrandall, brothor
of Challis, makes hlmSelf useful to Sara
and becomes greatly Interested In Hetty.
CHAPTER VI.—Continued.
Sara and Hetty did not stay long In
town. The newspapers announced the
return of Challis Wrandall’s widow
and reporters sought her out for Inter
views. The old Interest was revived
and columns were printed about the
murder at Burton's inn, with sharp
editorial comments on, the failure of
the police to clear up the mystery.
“I shall ask Leslie down for the
week-end," said Sara, the third day
after their arrival In the country. The
-house was huge and lonely, and time
hung rather heavily despite the glori
ous, uplift of spring.
Hetty looked up quickly from her
book'. A look of dismay flickered, in
her eyes for an Instant and then gave
way to the calmneBB that had come to
dwell In their depths of late. Her Ups
parted In the eudden Impulse to' cry.
out against the plan, but she checked
' • the words. For a moment her' dark,
questioning eyfcs studied the face of
her benefactress; then, as If nothing
had been revealed to her, she allowed
her gaze to drlfti pensively out toward
the sunset sea.
They were sitting on the broad
verandah overlooking the sound.' The
.dusk of evening was beginning to steal
over the earth. She laid her book
aside.
"Will you telephone in to him- after
dinner, Hetty?" went on Sara, after
a long period of silence.
' Again. Hetty started. This time, a
look of actual pain flashed in hbr eyes.
“Would not a note by post be more
certain to And him In the—” she be
gan hurriedly. .
“I dislike writing notes,” qaid Sara
calmly. “Of course, dear, if you feel
that you’d rather not telephone him,
X can—”
“I dare say I am finicky, Sara,”, apol
ogized Hetty In quick contrition. “Qf
course he is your brother. I should
remem—”
“My brother-in-law, dear," said Sara,
a trifle too literally.
“He will come often to your house,'
went on Hetty rapidly. "I must make
the best of It.”
"He Is your friend, Hetty. He ad
. mires you,"
“I cannot Bee him through your
eyes, Sara."
“But he is charming and agreeable,
ybu’ll admit,” persisted the other.
“He Is very kind, and ho is devoted
to you. I should like him for that.”
“You have no cause for disliking
him.”
“I do not dislike him. I—I am—Oh
you always have been so thoughtful
so considerate, Sara, I can’t under
stand your falling to see how hard it
Is for me to—to—well, to endure his
open-hearted friendship.”
Sara was silent for a moment. “You
draw a pretty fine line, Hetty," she
said gently.
. Hetty flushed. “You mean that
there Is little to choose between wife
and brother? That isn’t quite fair.
You know everything, he knows noth-
• ing. I wear a mask for him; you have
seen Into the very heart of me. ”
. Isn’t the same."
Sara came over and stood beside the
girl’s chair. -After a moment of inde
cision she rlald her hand on Hetty’s
shoulder. The girl, looked up, the ever-
recurring-question In her eyes.
“W-e haven’t spoken of—of these
things in many months,. Hetty.”
“Not since MrB. Wrandall and VIv
lan came to Nice. I was upset—dread
fully upset then, Sara. I don't know
how I managed to get through with
it.” .
' “But you managed It, pronounced
Sara. Her fingers seemed to tighten
suddenly on the girl’s shoulder. "I
think we were quite wonderful, both
of us. It wasn’t easy for me."
“Why did we come back to New
York, Sara?” burst out Hetty, clasp
ing her friend’s hand ns if. suddenly
spurred by terror. “We were happy
over there. And free!"
“Listen, my dear,” said Sara, a
hard note growing in-her voice: “this
is my home. I do not love it, but I
can see no reason for abandoning it.
That Is why we came back to New
York."
Hetty pressed her friend’s hand to
her lips. “Forgive me," she cried im
pulsively. ' "I shouldn’t have com-
complalned, It- was detestable."
"Besides," went on Sara evenly,
“you were quite free'to remain on tho
other side. I left It to you.”
"You gave me a week to decide,”
said Hetty In a hurried manner of
speaking. “I—I took but twenty-four
hourB—leBS titan -that. Over night,
you remember. I love you, Sara. I
„could not leave you. All that night
I could feel you pulling at my heart
strings, pulling mq closer, and holding
me. You were In your -room, I In
mine, and yet all the time you seemed
to be bending over me In the dark
ness, urging me to stay with you and
love you and be loved by you. It
couldn’t have been a dream.”
"It was not a dream,” said Sara,
with a queer smile.
“You do love -mo?” tensely.
"I do love you;” was the firm an
swer. Sara wqs staring across tho (
water, her eyes big and aB black as*
night Itself. She seemed to be looking
far beyond the misty lights that bob-'
bled with nearby schooners, far be
yond the yellow mass on the opposite
shore where a town lay cradled In the
shadows, -far into the fast darkening
sky that came up like a wall out of
the east. - ,
Hetty’s fingers tightened in a
warmer clasp. Unconsciously perhaps,
Sara’s grip on the ' girl’s shoulder
tightened also; unconsciously, for her
thoughts were far away. The younger
woman’s pensive gaze rested on the
peaceful waters below, taking In the
slow approach of the ■ fog that was
soon to envelop the land. Neither
Bpoke for many minutes; inscrutable
thinkers,'.each a prey to thoughts that
leap^J backward to the beginning and
took up the puzzle at its Inception.
“I wonder—’’ began Hetty, her- eyes
nghrowlrtg'.. with the Intensity 'of
thought. . She did not complete tho
sentence.'..' - / 4
Sara answered the'unspoken ques
tion. “It‘ will never be' different from
what-It is now, unless you make it so."
Hetty started. “How could you have
known what I was thinking?" she
cried in wonder.
“It is what you are always think
ing, my dear. You are always asking
yourself ;when will I turn against.jrflu,"
'.‘Sara<‘”
"Your own intelligence should sup
ply the answer to all the questions you
are asking- of yourself. It is too late
for me to turn against you." She ab
ruptly removed her hand from Hetty’s
shoulder and. walked to the edge of
the veranda. For the first timq, the
English -.girl was conscious of pain.
She drew her arm up and cringed. She
pulled the light scarf about her bare
shoulders.
The butler app.eared In the doorway.
“The' telephone, If you, please, Miss
Castleton'. Mr'. Leslie Wrandall Is
calling."
The.girl etared. "For me, Watson?”
“Yes,'miss.”.-
Hetty had risen, visibly agitated,
"What shall I say to. him, -Sara?"
she cried.. ’
Apparently it' is he who has some
thing to say to you,"‘said the other,
still smiling. “Wait and see what it
Is. Please don’t neglest to say that
we'd like to have him over Sunday.”
. “A. box of flowers has just come up
from the station for you, miqs," said
Watson;
Hetty'was very white as she passed
into the house, Mrs. Wrandall
like plnk marble in'the reflected glow
of the burning-lo^s. She.wore no Jew
elry, but there wns a single, white rose
in her dark' hair, where it had been
placed by. the whimsical Hetty an hour
earlier as -they left the dinner table,
"Ho is coming oul/ on tho eleven-
thirty,. Sara,” said the girl nervously,
"unless you will send the motor In for
him. The body of his ear Is being
changed and It’s In the Bhop, He must
have been jesting when he eatd he
would pay for -the petrol—I should
have said gasoline.”
Sara laughed, “Ynu will know him
better, my dear," Bhe said. "Leslie Is
very light-hearted."
“He' suggested bringing a friend,!’
went' on Hetty hurriedly. “A Mr.
Booth, the portrait painter.”
“I met‘him In Italy. He Is charm
ing. You will like him, too, Hetty.”
The emphasis d)d not escape notice.
■"It seems that he Is spending a fort
night In the- village, this Mr.. Booth,
painting Bpring lambs for rest and
recreation, Mr. Leslie says.”
“Th'en he is at our very .gates," said
Sara, looking up suddenly.
“I wonder, if he, can be the man 1
saw yesterday'at the bridge," mused
Hetty. "Ie he.tall?"
”1 really 'can’t say. He’s rather
vague. lt was six- or seven years ago.”
It was left that Mr. Wrandall is to
come out on the 'eleven-thirty,” ex
plained Hetty, .“I thought you wouldn’t
like sending oither of the motors in.”
“And Mr. Booth?” •
"We are to send for;h!m after Mr.
Wrandall arrives. He is stopping at
the inn, wherever that may be.”
"Poor fellow!” sighed Sara, with a
grimace. “I aid sure he "will ljke us
Immensely if- he has been stopping at
the Inn.”
Hetty stood staring down at the
blazing logs for a full minute before,
giving expression to the thought that,
troubled'her.
“Sara,"' she said, meeting her
friend's eyes with a steady light In her
own; “why did Mr. Wrandall ask for
me instead Of you? It Is you he is
coming to visit, not me. It Is your
house. Why should—”
My dear,*’"eal& Sara glibly, ‘T am
merely his siBter-in-law. It wouldn’t
be necessary to ask me if he should
come. He knows he is welcome.”
Then why should he feel called up-
Hetty Looked Up Quickly From the
Book.
sumed her contemplation of the fog-
screened sound.
“Shall I fetch'you a wrap, ma’am? 1
asked Watson, hesitating.
“I am coming In, Watson. Open the
box of flowers for Miss Castleton.
there n fire In the library?”
“Yes, Mrs. Wrandall.”
"Mr. Leslie will be out on Saturday.
Tell Mrs. Conkllng.”
"The evening' train, ma’am?”
"No. The eleven-thirty. Ho will
be here for luncheon.”
When Hetty hurried into the library-
a few minutes later, her manner was
that of one considerably disturbed by
something that has transpired almost
on the moment. Her cheeks were
flushed and her eyes were reflectors
of a no uncertain distress of mind.
Mrs. Wrandall was standing before
the fireplace, an exquisite figure In the
slinky black evening gown which she
i. Her perfectly
affected In these days, . _
modelled neck and shoulders gleamed
Sara. Interrupted. "You are paying
me, deniv Instead'of. the law,” she Bald
gently, * “'I. am not a harsh creditor,
aih I?”.
"My life-Belongs-to you. I give It
cheerfully; even gladly.”
“So you have said before. Well, it
It belongs to me, you might at least
permit me to develop It as I would any
-other'possession. I take It as an In
vestment. It will probably fluctuate."
"Now you are jesting I”
"Perhaps.” said Sara laconically.
The next morning Hetty Bet forth
for her acclistomed tramp over the
roads that-wound through the estate.
Sera, the. American, dawdled dt home,
resenting the chill spring drizzle that
did not in the least discourage the
Englishwoman.
She came to tho bridge by the mill,
long since deserted and now a thing of
ruin and decay. A man in knicker
bockers stood leaning against the rail,
Idly ga'zing down-at the trickling
stream below. The brier pipe that
Some men like to telephone"; I sup
pose,” said, the other; coolly;
“I wonder if you will ever under
stand how I feel about—about certain
things, Sara,”
“What, for instance?"
"Well, his very evident Interest in
me," cried-the girl hetly. “He sends
me flowers—this is thq second box
this week—and he 1b so kind, so very
friendly, .Sara, that*1 can't bear it-
really, can’t."
Mrs. Wrandall stared at her. “You
can’t very Veil send him about htsi
business,” she said, "unless hC, be
comes more tha'n friendly. Now, can
you?”
“But It seems so—so' - horrible, so
beastly,” groaned the girl.
Sara faced her squarely. “See here,
Hetty,” she said' levelly r “W have
made-our bed,.you apd I: We must lie
in ’ it—^together. If Leslie Wrandall;
chooses to fall "In Jove'with you', that
Is his affair,-not-ours.. - We must face
every condition. - .In plain words, we
must play the game.”
“What could be more appalling than
to have him fall In love with ine?”
“The other way 'round would be
more dramatic, I should say."
“Good God Sara!” cried the girl in
horror. “How can you even speak of
such a thing?”
"After all, why shouldn’t—” began
Sara, but stopped in the middle of her
suggestion, with the result that It had
Its full effect, wlthpiit being uttered In
so many cold-blooded words. The girl
shuddered.
I wish, Sara, you'would "let me un
burden myself completely to you,’’ she
pleaded, seizing her friend’s hands
"You have forbidden me—”,
Sara jerked her hands away.' Her
eyes flashed. “I do not want to hear
It,” ehe cried fiercely. “Never, never!
Do-you understand? It.Is your secret,
I will not, share it with yop. I, should
hate you "if I knew everything. As il
is, I love you because 'you-are a-wom-
ah who suffered at the hand of one
who made me suffer. There is noth
ing more to say. Don’t" bring, up. the
subject again. I want to be your
friend for ever, not" your confidante.
There'Is a. distinction. You may be
able to see how very marked It is in
our case. 1 Hetty. What one does not
know, seldom hurts.”
;“But,‘ I want to Justify myBelt-
”It' isn’t necessary,” cut in the .other
so peremptorily that the girl’s eyes
spread Into a look of anger. Where
upon Sara Wrandall threw her arm
about ier and' drew her down beside
her. in-the chalse-iounge. “I didn’
mean to be harsh,” she cried. “We
must not speak of the past, that's all.
The future is not likely to hurt us,
dear. Let us avoid thp past.” ,
“The-future!” sighed the girl, star
ing blankly before her.
“To" appreciate what it Is to be.,
said the other, “you- have but to think
of whaj; U might have been.”
“I know,'" said Hetty, In a low
voice. “And yet I sometimes wonder
if—"':
“Good God, Sara!" Cried the Girl In
Horror.
formed the-circuit between hand and
it
lips sent up soft blue colls to fioal
away on the drizzle.
She.passed behind him, with a sin
gle furtive," curlouB glance at his hand
some, undisturbed profile, nnd In that
glance recognized him as the man she
had seen the day before,
When she was a dozen rods away,
the tall man turned his face from the
stream and. sent after her the long-
restrained look. There was something
akin to cautiousness in that look of
his, as If he were afraid that she
might turn her head suddenly and
catch him at It. Something began
stirring In his heart, the nameless
something that awakens when least
expected. He felt the subtle, Bweet
femininity of her as she passed. It
lingered with.him as he looked.
She turned the bend In the road a
hundred yards away. For many min
utes he studied the stream below
without really seeing It. Then he
straightened up, knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and set off slowly in
her wake, although he had been walk
ing in quite the opposite direction
when"-he came to the bridge—and on
a mission of some consequence, too.
There was the chance that he would
meet her coming back,
CHAPTER VII.
A Faithful Crayon-Point.
Leslie. Wrandall came out on the
eleven-thirty. Hetty was at the station
with the motor, a sullen resentment
In her heart, but a welcoming smile
on her lips. Thie sun shone brightly.
The Bound glared with the white of re
flected skies.
"I. thought of catching the eight
o’clotk," he cried enthusiastically, as
he dropped his bag beside the motor
in order' to reach over and shake
hands with'her. “That-would have
gotten .me, here.hours , earlier. The .dif
ficulty was that I didnT think of the
eight-o’clock until 1 awoke’ at .nine.”
“And then you had the additional
taBk of thinking .about breakfast,"
said Hetty, hut without a trace of sar
casm In -her manner.
“I never' think of breakfast,” said
he amiably. “I merely eat it. Of
course, It’s a task to eat It sometimes,
but—well, how are you?*How do you
like It but here?"
He. was beside her on the broad
seat, his face beaming, his gay little
mustache painting upward at-the ends
like oblique brown exclamation points,
so expansive- was his smile.
“I adore It/’ Bhe- replied, her own
smile growing in response to his. It
was Impossible to resist the good na
ture of him. -She could not dielike
him, even, though she. dreaded him
deep down* in her heart. Her blood
was hot and cold by turns when she
was with him, as her mind opened and
shiit.to thoughts pleasant and unpleas
ant with something of the regularity
of a fish’s gills In breathing.
“When I get to" heaven -I 'mean to
have a place in the country the year
round," he said conclusively.
"And if you don’t get to heaven?"
"i suppose I’ll take a furnished flat
somewhere.”
. Sara \yas waiting, for them .at the
bottom'of the tbrruce as they drove
ifp‘. Ho leaped out- and kissed' her
hand. . * ■
“Much obliged,” he murmured, with
a slight twist of htB head In the direc
tion of Hetty, who was giving orders
to the. chauffeur.
"You’re quite welcome,” Bald Sara,
with a smile of understanding. "She’B
lovely, Isn’t she?’”
"Enchanting!” eald ho, almost too
loudly.
Hetty walked up. the long ascent
ahead of them. She did not have to
look back- to know that they were
watching her with unfaltering.Interest.
She could ,feel their gaze.
“Absolutely adorable," he added, en
larging his estimate without really be
ing aware that he voiced It.
Sara shot a look at his rapt face,
and turned her own away to hide tho
queer little smile that flickered-briefly
and died away.
Hetty, pleading a euflden headache,
declined to accompany them later on
In the day when they set forth In'the
.car to “pick up” Brandon Booth at the
Inn. They were to. bring ,hlm over,
bag and baggage, to stay tilt Tuesday,
He will be wild to'paint'her," de
clared Leslie when -they were out- of
sight around the bend Ip the road. He
had waved. his had to Hetty just be
fore the trees'shut off their view of
her. She wae standing at the top -of
the steps beside one of the tail Italian
vases.
'■I’ve never seen such eyes," he ex
claimed. •
She’s a'darling," said Sara and
changed the subject, knowing full well
that he would come back to it before
long.
"I’m mad about her,” he' said slm
ply, and then, for some unaccountable
reason, gave over Being loquacious
and lapsed Into a state of almost
lugubrious quiet. ■
She glanced at' his face, fjirtlvely
at first, ae It uncertain of his mood,
then with a prolonged stare that wob
frankly curious and amused.
“Don’t lose your head, Leslie,” she
said softly,'almost purrlngly.
He started. “Oh, I say, Sara, I’m
not likely to—"
“Stranger things have happened.”
she interrupted, with a shake, of her
head. “I can’t afford to have y.du
making love to her and gettlng : th;ed
of the game, as you always do, dear
boy, juet as soon as you find she’s
In loVe with you. She Is too dear to
be hurt In that way. You mustn’t—”i
"Good Lord!” lie cried; "what a
bounder you muirt take me for! Why,
if f thought she’d— But nonsense!
Let’s talk about something else.,
Yourself,, for Instance.”
She leaned back with a smile on'
her lips, hut not in her- eyes; and
drew a long, deep breath. He was-
hard hit.' That was what she wanted
to know.
They found Booth at the inn. Her
was sitting on the old-fashioned porch,
surrounded By Bags and boys. As ho
climbed into the car after the baga;
the boys grinned and jingled the coins
in their pocketa and ventured, almost
In unison, the Intelligence that they
wouid all be there If he ever came
back again. Big and little, they had
transported his easel and ■ canvaBees
from place to place for three weeks
or more and his departure was to be
regarded as a financial calamity,
Leslie, perhaps In the desire to be
alone with h}s i reflections, sat forward
with the chauffeur, and paid little or
no heed to the unhappy person’s com
ments ,on the vile condition of all vil
lage thoroughfares, New York city In
cluded.
/'And you painted those wretched
little boys Instead of the beautiful
things that nature provides for us out
here, Mr. Booth?" Sara was saying
to the artist beside her.
“Of course I managed to get a bit
of nature, even at that,” said he, with
a smile. "Boys are pretty close to
earth, you know. To be perfectly hon
est, I did It In ordtfr to get away from
the eminently, beautiful but-unnatural.
* “I ■ know-hor," said Sara quietly.
■'It’e very clover, Mr. Booth.”
There Is something hquntlngly fa-
miliar about it,” he went on, looking
at the sketch with a frown of perplex
ity. "I’ve seen her sotaowhere, but
for the life of -mo I can’t place her.
Perhaps In a crowded street, or the
theater, or o railway train—just a
fleetlug glimpse, you know. But In
any event I got a lasting Impression.
Queor things -like that happen,' -don’t
you think .so?’! 5
Mrs. Wrandall leaned forward and
spoke to Leslie. As he turned, ehe
handed him the envelope, without
comment.
"Great Scott!” he exclaimed.
“Mr. Booth Is a mind re&der," tBhe
explained. ,“He has -been reading
your thoughts, dear boy." .
Booth understood, and grinned.
"You don’t mean to say—’’ began
the dumfomided Leslie, Btill staring
at the sketch. “Upon my word, it’s a
wonderful likeness, old chap. I. didn’t
know you'd over met her.”
“Met her?" cried Booth, an amiable
(conspirator.' “I’ve never met her.”
'• “See here, don.'t- try anything like
that .on .,me.-. How could you do this
ji" you’ve neVer seen—"
“He is a- mind' reader," crid'd Sara.
"Haven't you -been thinking of her
m
.steadily for—well, we'll say ten min
utes?" deihnncled Booth.
Leslie reddened. “Nonsense!
“That’s a mental telepathy sketch,”
said the artist, complacently.
"When did .you do that?"
,dnd-
'"i’hls Instant,, you might say. See! M jn
•Here Is/the crayon pblnt. I always .
carry one around with me for just
f L .
euch—" A’ dear
"AH right,” said Leslie blandly,.ay God’s
the same time putting, the envelope ii a K?rt e
bis own pocket; ’Iwe’ll let It go r .
that. If you're so clever at mind,#™, 18 OUr
lures you can go to' work' nnd
another for yourself, I .mean f am j]y. •
this one.” ' ^
things I’m required to paint at home,”
■'i suppose‘"wo will, see ydu at the
Wrandall place this summer."
"I’m coming out to paint Leslie's
sister in June, I believe. And that
reminds me, I came upon an uncom
monly pretty. girl not far from your
place the other day—and yesterday,
as well—some one I’ve met before, jun-
less I’m vastly mistaken. I wonder
if you know your neighbors well
enough—by sight,-at least—to venture
a good guesB as to who l-mpn."
She appeared thoughtful.
“Oh, there are dozens of pretty
girls In the neighborhood. Can't you
remember . where you met—’’ She
stopped suddenly,' a swift, look of ap
prehension In her eyes,
He failed to note the look or the
broken sentence. He was searching
In Ill's coat pocket,for something. Se-
lectlitg a letter from the middle of .a
small pocket, he held it out to her.
'T sketched this from memory. She
posed' ail too briefly -for me," he said
On the back- of the envelope was a
remarkably good ‘‘likeness of Hetty
Castleton, done broadly, sketchily,
with a crayon point, evidently drawn
with haste while the Impression was
fresh, but long after she had passed
out of range of his vision.
"I Bay," began Booth, dlsn' , ,,
"One’s thoughts are his;, • W6 CcHl tell
'
gs that give
'leasing relief.
Penslar Al-
tho happy possessor of til
turned -his back on then
Sara was' contrite. , r
give It up," sho lamely'
"Is ho really hard ft ”, ,
in surprise, a d Cucumber Cream
'm sip 1 Hi# w 1 ™-
sketch, confound hi sticky, not greasy.
Tm. rare’s Penslar Butter-
■■Hardly, i kne-ate that has all the
mm
She is a; very dear n( , e & « vanishing » ;
' "My heart'Is seta. .
one else, Mrs. wiflth the splendid prqp-
“when I know-'buttermilkas a slciri
sk us about these
you who shd' Is."
"Could you mi
other one from
lightly;
I think so. TH
evening. 1 have
about me alwayB, ar
il come in.
Grady Pharmacy,
The Penslar Store.
Later In the aftef^ ver tj 3 j n( j and adver-
' eep YOU. V v .
face to face. with He/
scendlng the stairs ar
tag up. The sun streii
the tall windows at t
stairs, shining full In :
as she approached bln
He could' ;no.t repress 1
amazement. She was cm’
pf roses In her arms—red 1
■ .
“Enchanting!” Said He, Almost Too
Loddly. ’
l )
stems protruded far beyond tho pnd
of the pasteboard box and reeked of
a fragrant datapnesS.
She gave him a ahy, startled smile
as she passed. He had Btopped' to
make room for her on the turn. Some-:
what dazed, he continued on his way -
down the steps, to suddenly remember
with a twinge of dismay that ho had
rio't returned her polite smile, hut had
Btared at her with most unblinking,
fervor. In no little Bhame and em
barrassment lie sent a swift glance
over his shoulder. Sho was walking
olose to the banister rail' on the floor
above. As-he glanced up their eyes
met, for she too had turned to peer.
Leslie Wrandall was standing near
the foot of tho stairs. There was an
eager, exalted look in hlB face that
slowly, gave way to well-assumed un
concern as his friend came upon him
and grasped his arm.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)