Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-06

passed the gate. It was the last time
that she was seen that afternoon.
As she went back into the house, she
caught glimpse of a very seedy looking
tramp approaching the back steps, and
remembered with pang that after Mrs.
Fogarty's departure she had forgotten
Richards strict injunction never, never,
never to leave the back door unlocked.
1t would not do to let the tramp see her
hurrying to put the chain ON, and al
though she walked toward him as fast as
would be consistent with the dignity Of
assured safety, he was there in the door
way before her.
Would you like something to eat?"
she asked, hoping that her voice did not
trernble, and mentally resolving to give
him the whole of a cold chicken in the
refrigerator.
Il wud that"
She turned, wishing it were possible
without lack of dignity to treat him as if
he were king and back out Of his pres
encc, keeping an eye on him. But, Of
course, this was not possible; neither
would it do to hurry after she had turned,
as if she wero in the least frightened.
She remembered those devices Of brave
and ingenious women that she had heard
of, who shouted confidently, John, John!
bring me the cold chicken, pleaser' in or
der to create belief that man lurked
on the premises; but she found she
couldn't. She was sure her voice had
trembled when she spoke to him, and he
must not hear it again if possible till she
had the presence Of the cold chicken to
fortify her So she turned quietly and
walked slowly, slowly-O how exagger-
ated seemed to her the slowness-toward
the refrigerator.
An hour later, Helen Trevor's pretty
phaeton stopped at the little gate Of the
Wentworth cottage, and from it de-
scended, very daintily dressed, Helen
herself, and, still more daintily dressed.
Helen's friend Helen's friend was the
beautiful and aristocratic Miss Sheldon,
of Washington, who was now punctil-
iously returning within the prescribed
ten days the call THAT Mrs. Fairchild had
made upon her Immediately after her ar
rival III the prettiest Of her simple bridal
finery They walked slowly up the path,
Helen CHANGING Familiarity up at the Sec
ond st ry window for possible glimpse
of Kittie. Their ring brought no re-
sponse, q second and even a third, ring
still brought no response Then, putting
yield to her pressure. Helen said cheer
fully, "Shes at home, for the door is
open; but she hasn't any girl. you know,
We will Just step in and wait in the par
lor few minutes It never takes Kittie
long to dress, and she will hurry, because
she must have heard the bell"
So they walked in quietly and waited
Il
canted on the bridal bric-a -brac and the
view from the windows. Growing impa-
tient at last, she ensconced Miss Sheldon
in @ comfortable chair, and, stepping to
the foot of the stairs, called: ''kittie,
Kittiel"
Still no reply A more emphatic exit
tier' was followed by the explanation:
"It's only I, Kittiel Do come down just
Sheldon" Then, after another pause:
Cant l run up, Kittie?' Coming back
into the parlor she said thoughtfnlly:
''It's very queer; perhaps she is in the
kitchen busy, and don't want US to inter
rupt her work. But she never minds me-
You stay hero and will run out and see."
Nothing, however, was discovered in
the kitchen.
neighbors," explained Helen. ''She can't
be meaning to stay long, or she wouldn't
have left the front door unlocked. So we
will wait little longer, for hate to go
back without seeing her"
So they waited little longer; ten, ff-
teen, twenty minutes, half an hour
longer. Then suddenly Helen jumped up
and exclaimed excitedly: why, she can't
be out, for there is her hat and her sun
shade and her gloves On chair in the
hall, as if she had just come in. Wait a
minute till run up stairs and see if her
bonnet is gone"
But everything was intact and in place
upstairs; not a bonnet gone, not hat to
be missed, not sign OF departure any
where. What could it mean? In vain
Miss Sheldon suggested that as it was
in to a neighbor's without hat; Helen
q sunshade. II shall not rest" she muir
INJURED, impulsiYely, ''till l find out what
it means. We must search the house.
Search it they did. As the problem
grew deeper, and the mystery more alarm
ing, into more and more singular places
did they peep in quest of the missing
DIlUe. MISS tCucluOA dG uTSt uGSlt6lSo
about joining her friend in the indiscrim-
mate examination of rooms and closets,
neither the garnet nor the cellar escaping
Helen's restless anxiety; but finally the
strangeness of the affair led her to forget
all fear of inquisitiveness, and she plunged
into trunks, when Helen in the garrett
suddenly remembered the story of Ginevra,
with all the zeal and distress Of the more
,,+;, fri lr,1, I'll
found locked, small kitchen closet: and
as she tried the handle of that second
time in vain, Helen exclaimed:
''She has been murdered, Nora, muir
deredl and they have hidden her body in
that closet and locked the door!'
Both girls retreated with blanched faces
1--WE must drive home at once. whispered
Helen, ''and get somebody"
Five minutes after the little phaeton
had been driven rapidly away, Richard
Fairchild unfastened the little gate and
came cheerily UP the walk. Not a sign
of Kittie on the piazza, or even in the
parlor. The usual whistle failed to bring
any response from up stairs. It was
queer, but not as yet inexplicable; he
walked on into the kitchen, thinking how
he would laugh at her housewifely ways,
IL forgetting him in her interest IN the
supper. But not sign of kittie, even II
the kitchen; not q sign even of supper.
He began to feel vaguely anxious. but
then, of course, she was only teasing
him. still it was queer she should carry
teasing so far as to neglect supper. He
turned back TO the parl0r, meaning to /
run up stairs and satisfy himself that she /
WAS not there, when he heasd g soft click /
in the nant--y door hahiud him Turning i
his head swiftly he saw blonde head /