Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-09-29

With IN accident. Move don't re-
Quire anything else thank you"--and
in Il few minutes they were out in the
street again.
Now we had better so and have
some luncheon"
Judith spoke calmly. though she was
inwnrdly trembling with anxiety for
the issue of the forthcoming attack.
II don't want any"
"Nonsensc! Percy said we were to
have some," returned Judith. with de-
termination.
Very well--wc'll 20 to Vcrrey's."
Judith led the way to the establish
mcnt and ordered nice little lunch
con. taking care that her sister did
justice to 1t. AS Grace was about to
rise. Judith looked her straight in the
face and said:
II know why YOU were so upset.
Oracle; when you were in the hair
dreSScr'S you saw Elsie"
Mrs. Fletcher started. flushed Grim
son. and, to cover her confusion,
forced Il Scornful laugh.
"You ought to have been an actress,
Judith. or Il female detective" she eN-
claimed. What on earth will YOU
think of next? Elsie. indeed! Poor
darling, l only wish could see her.
Oracle. you can't deceive me-"
Good Heavens. Judith. don't be alb
surd! You have ElSic-or Naude-on
the BRAIN
Judith was not whit impressed by
the others scorn: but she knew her
temper too we'll to persevere in her
accusation. the tone. as we'll as the
look of contemptuouS defiance flashed
at her telling her too plainly that what
ever had occurred that morning Grace
intended to keep to herself. She felt
faint with disappointment, but. affect
ing to credit her sisters denial. she
said. quietly. with forced smile:
well. Oracle. you must admit that
l had some grounds for my suspicion;
you know l am always on the qui vive
for news of Elsie. and when l noticed
how upset you were after your long in
tcrview with the hairdreSScr. l con.
cludcd YOU had some good reason for
it, Perhaps you had seen Mrs. Bar
clay"
You are really too clever, JUDITH!
Mrs. Fletcher rejoined with superior
smile. You forget that l never saw
her in my life"
Il had forgotten it, it was very stu
pid of me!'
After leaving the confectiOner's they
walked across toward the circus again,
each occupied with her own thoughts.
Judith's were excited and resentful;
she could have cried with disappoint-
ment and implored Grace to tell the
truth. but it was impossible ut the
moment. She could not calmly think
what stcps-if any-she ought to take
in the matter; she could only bewail
her lost chance of finding Elsie. If she
had only gone into the hairdresser's
with Gracie-or, at least. if her suspi-
ciOnS had only been aroused sooner,
she could have returned to the shop
and have tried to verify them, though
it would have been too late to tlaii FL
sic there. But what was the use OF
doing anything now? If she sent Mr..
Townshcnd a hint there was nJi the
least possibility Of hi; tracing Elsie I'M
less she, too, happeH<:.l to lie IL good
customer Of the hartlreSSers. What
should she do? Was it of any use go
ing to the hairdrc.Ser's shop on the
chance of getting su:-:e sort of inform
alton from the man! AS the next
thought passed through her mind, she
turned to glance at Oracle, only to
meet her quizZical gaze.
Still marc's-nesting, Judy?' was the
question put to her. Poor girl! You
are disappointed, aren't you. I'm aw-
fully sorry for | know that Claude's
unhappiness worries you; but he de-
serves it ALL
you are wrong, Grace. Elsie mar
ried Claude, and she ought to-"
Don't preach. for goodness sake.
Judith! What do you know about it?
If you were married woman it would
be different
judith held Eer peace; but her mind
was onl;' the more strongly set upon
paying the hairdresser visit, though
how she was to manage it She did not
know.