The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-09

blow to him when he found himself rob.
bed Of everything by his brothers In
justice. What did he do? Where did he
go?'
II don't know. He is as proud as any
Of the family, and, when his brother
told him never to come near the place
again, he put on his hat without one
word, and walked away with his head as
high as if he were the heir of thousands.
We've never seen a sight OF him since
that day, and it's my belief we never
SHALL"
Babette believed she had found the
keynote to .Pauline's secret trouble. That
there was secret trouble she never doubt
for an instant. She had observed her
mistress too closely to be misled on that
point; she knew that nothing but some
mighty fear could cause those sudden
starts, followed by periods of anxious,
heavy-browed thought, to which she was
subject. And, when Babette went up
stairs, she reasoned the matter out.
Il have heard that, she never knew
she was her uncle's heiress until after
her fathers DEATH. What is more likely
then than she should have married out
there in Italy-married some poor idiot
who was caught by her pretty face? And
then, when my lady suddenly finds that
she is a rich woman, she is tired of this
poor fool, and runs awayJand enjoys her
life by herself. I believe have found
the dark spot in my fine lady's life! II
this Is as l think, | can take from her
her beloved fiance and her riches at one
blow. How glorious that would be!'
Her face glowed with savage salts
faction at the bare thought of so COM
plete a revenge. She left her seat by the
bay window of Pauline's dressing room,
and paced up and down, her excitement
being too great for her to remain still.
The dusky gloom deepened until the room
was all in shadow, and presently house
maid came in and lighted the candles in
the large silver branches on the toilet
table.
As the door closed behind the maid Ba-
bette resumed her promenade, and came
to a sudden stop as her eyes rested on
the key left in the lock of a small bronze
box. This box contained Miss Mailing
private keys! She locked up very little;
but what she did lock up she was rather
particular about, and her keys were in
variably kept in this Indian box, the
key of which she carried about with
her.
As Babette stood looking with dull,
fascinated gaze at the key, she heard
the rustic of silken skirts in the gallery
outside. With a swoop like hawks,
so swift and noiseless was it, she pluck
ed the little key from the lock and slip
ped it into the pocket of her dainty frill-
ed apron. The next instant Miss Mailing
turned the handle Of the door and saw
Babette rearranging. the lace draperies
round the looking glass. She crossed the
room and went straight to the table,
glanced quickly at the box, and then
turned to Babette.
'Have you seen the key of this box? p
'Not to-day, mademoiselle.
''Provokingw She took it up in her
hands and shook it. Yes, the keys are
inside. Babette, 1 wish you not to leave
these rooms tonight until l come up
to bed. l have dropped the key some
where. 1 don't suppose it will be found
until we have daylight to help us-it is
so small. Have your supper sent up to
you here"
Every good, mademoiselle."
Babette stood with her hands held
tightly over her heart, listening to the
rustic of the silken skirts along the gal
lery and down the stairs. Then her
expression changed from strained atten-
ton to vivid triumph. She threw her
clasped hands high over her head. She
locked both doors, closed one window to
prevent the blinds from futtering, and
then unlocked the small bronze box. She
laughed as she picked out key from
the bunch and tried to unlock Pauline
large desk.
cat last" she whispered, as the lock
of the desk few bac1.
cro he continuedl