Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-10-24
CHAPTER III.-tContinued.)

CHAPTEH lII.-tContinued.)
"Give me the light, girl, and don't
bother" Mr.. Sleaford said. 1--WE been
worried this day until my heads all of
a muddle. Don't stand staring at me,
child! Tell your mother I've got some
work to do and mayn't 20 to bed all
9ight"
You've been worried, pap
Yes, and / don't want to be both
cred by stupid questions, now I've got
home"
Isabel came in, looking very grave,
and sat down. George saw that all
pleasure was over that night.
IL Mr.. Sleaford had busin ess which
required to be done, he seemed In no
great hurry to begin his work, for the
heavy footsteps trampled up and down,
up and down the floor overhead.
1t seemed to George Gilbert as If Mr..
Sieaford walked up and down his room
all night, and long after the early day
light shone through his dingy window
curtains. George was not surprised,
therefore, when he was told at break
fast next morning that his host had mot
yet risen, and was not likely to appear
for some hours. Isabel had to go on
some mysterious mission, and George
overheard fragments of whispered con-
versation between the young lady and
her mother In the passage outside the
parlor door In which the words sum
monses" and "silver spoons" and Inter
est figured several times.
Mrs. Sleaford was busy about the
house and the boys were scattered, so
George and Sigismund took their break
fast comfortably together. Sigismund
made a plan for the day. He would take
a holiday for once In a way, he said, and
would escort his friend to divers picture
galleries, and would crown the days
enjoyment by a dinner.
The two young men left the house at
IL o'clock. They had seen nothing of
Isabel that morning, nor of the master
of the house. All that George Gilbert
knew of that gentleman was the fact
that Mr. Sleaford had a heavy footstep
and a deep, sulky voice. If George had
seen the barrister! If these two men
mad met each other face to face!
Somehow or other, George was glad
when it was time to go home. 1t was
only 7 o'clock as yet, and the sun was
shining on the fountains as the young
men went across the square. They hoped
Mrs. Sleaford let the fire out; for that
lady had an aggravating trick Of letting
out the kitchen fire at half past or s
o'clock on summer evenings.
When they came to the wooden door
in the garden wall, Sigismund Smith
stopped down and gave his usual whis-
tie at the keyhole; but he looked up
suddenly and cried:
'Well, I'm blest?
Whats the matterY
''The doors OPEN"
Mr.. Smith pushed it as he spoke, and
the two young men went into the front
garden.
'Tn all the time I've lived with the
Sleafords, that never happened before"
said Sigismund. "Mr. Sleaford's awfully
particular about the gate being kept
locked. He says the neighborhood's a
queer one, and you never know what
thieves are hanging about the place."
The door of the house. as well as
that of the garden, was open; Sigismund
went into the hall, followed closely by
George. The parlor door was open, and
the room was empty, and it had an alb
normal appearance of tidiness, as if all
the litter and rubbish had been sudden
Nv
There was a scrap of old frayed rope
upon the table, lying side by side with
some tin-tacks, a hammer, and a couple
of blank luggage labels.
George did not stop to look at these;
he went straight to the open window
and looked out into the garden. He had
so fully expected to see Isabel sitting
under the pear tree with a novel in
bo kaI nd Aoo II.
with an exclamation of surprise at find
ing the garden empty; the place seemed
SO strangely blank without the girlish
figure lolling in the basket chair. 1t
was as if George Gilbert had been ia
miliar with that garden for the last ten
years, and had never seen it without see
ing Isabel in her accustomed place.
81 suppose Miss Sleaford-I suppose
they're all out" the surgeon said, rather
dolefully.
II suppose they are out" Sigismund
answered, looking about him with a
puzzled air; 'and yet that's strange.
They don't often go out, at least all at
once. They seldom go out at all, in
fact, except ON errands. I'll call the
girl"
He opened the door and looked into
out his design, and he started back upon
the threshold as if he had seen a ghost.
What is it?" cried George.
MY luggage and your portmanteau,
all packed and corded; look!'
Mr.. Smith pointed, as he spoke, to a
couple of trunks, a hat box, a carpet
bag and q portmanteau, piled in a heap
in the center of the room. He spoke
-, M kbn i 6
all-work came in with her cap hanging
by a single hairpin to q knob of tumbled
hair.
"Oh. sir!' she said they're all gone:
they went at 6 o'clock this evenin'i and
they've gone to California, missus says;
and she packed all your things, and she
thinks you'd better have EN- took round
to the grocer's immediant, for fear of
being seized for the rent, but you was to
sleep in the house tonight, if you pleas
ed. and your friend likewise; and | was
to get your breakfast in the morning be-
fore l take the key round to the land
lord"
Gone away?' said Sigismund; "gone
awayr
Eyes, sir, every one of 'em, and the
boys was so pleased that they would
60 shoutin' 'ooray, 'ooray, all over the
garding, though Mr.. Sleaford scolded al
'em awful, and did hurry and tear so,
thought he was a-goin' mad. But
Miss Isabel. she cried about goin' SO
sudden. and seemed all pale and fright.
ened like. And there's a letter on the
chimbley- piece please, which she put II
there"
Sigismund pounced upon the letter
and tore it open. George read 1t over
his friends shoulder. 1t was only two
lines:
Dear Mr.. Smith-Don't think hardly
of US for going away so suddenly. Papa
says it must be So Yours, ever faith
fully, ISABEL"
81 should like to. keep that letter. ~
George said, blushing up to the roots
of his hair. Miss Sleaford writes a
pretty hand"
CHA PIER w