The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-12-15
CHAPTER VIII.

IA
~ calculated Mr.. Royce, and sat
staring at his chief.
"a hundred thousand dollars
Inats good deal for a girl to give
away In lump, but she can AFFORD II
VI course we've nothing to do but car
~ out her Instructions. think both OF
ns can guess what she intends doing
with the money"
The other nodded. believed that I
could guess too. The money. of course
was intended for the other woman
She was not to suffer for her crime aft.
er all. Miss Holiday seemed to mo in
no little danger Of becoming an acces
sorry after the fact
She seems really Ill.," continued our
senior. "She looks thinner and quite
careworn. commended her resolution
to seek rest and quiet and change Of
scene"
when does she 60. sirf. asked Mr.
Eoyce In subdued voice.
THE day after tomorrow. I think
She did not say definitely. In fact. she
could talk very little. She's managed
I" catch cold-the grip. 'suppose-and
was very hoarse. 1t would have heen
cruelty to make her talk, and I didn't
try"
lie wheeled around to bis desk and
then suddenly back again.
by the way" be said. "I saw ths
new maid. 1 can't say wholly an.
prove Of her"
! He paused minute, weighing bts
words.
She seems careful and devoted" he
Went on at last. but don't like her
eyes. They're too intense. caupht
her two or three times watching me
strangely. / can't imagine where Nfiss
holladay picked her up or WHY she
should have picked her up at all. Shea
Frefch, OF course. She speaks with n
oeclded accent. About the money.
suppose we'd better sell q block Of
o. p. bonds. They're the least produc.
tive Of her securities"
Yes. l suppose So" agreed Mr.
Royce. and the chief called up broker
ana gave the necessary orders. Then
ne turned to other work. and the day
passed without any further reference
20 Miss Holiday or her affairs.
afternoon. a small packet neatly sealed
and docketed - 100 thousand dollar
bills Mr.. Graham turned 1t over In
his hand thoughtfully.
you'll take 1t to the house. Of course,
John" he said to his partner. LES
ter d better 80 with YOU
So Mr.. Royce placed the package In
his pocket, a cab was summoned, and
we were of. The trip was made with
out incident. and at the end Of half
an hour we drew up before the HolIa-
day mansion.
1t was one Of the old style brown
stone fronts which lined both sides
OF the avenue twenty years ago. 1t
was no longer IN the ultra fashionable
quarter. which had moved up toward
Central park. and shops Of various
kinds were beginning to encroach upon
the neighborhood. but II had been HI
ram EIolladay's home for forty years.
and he had never been willing to part
with It, At this moment all the blinds
were down and the house had de-
serted look. We mounted the steps to
the door, which was opened at once TO
our ring by woman whom / knew
instinctively to be the new maid,
though she looked much less like q
maid than like al elderly working wo-
man Of the middle class.
"We've brought the money Miss Hol
laday asked Mr.. Graham for yester-
day." said Mr.. Royce. I'm John
Royce, his partner" And without M
swering the woman mOtiOned us in.
"Of course we must have n receipt for
It," he added. II have It ready here,
and she need only pstarh her sigma
ture"
""Miss Holiday is too III to see you,
SIR" said the maid. with careful enun-
citation. II will myself the paper take
to her and get her signature"
Mr.. Royce hesitated moment In
perplexity. AS for me, I was ransack-
ing my memory. Where bad I heard
that voice before? Somewhere. was
certain-a voice low, vibrant, re-
pressed, full Of color. Then. with a
start, remembered. 1t was Miss Hol-
laday's voice as she had risen to vel
come our Junior that morning at the
coroner's court. shook myself to.
gether. for that was nonsense.
II fear that won't do" said Mr..
Royce at last. "The sum is consid,
erable one and must be given to Miss
Holiday by me personally in the pres.
ence Of this witness"
1t was the maids turn to hesitate. !
saw her lips tighten ominously.
VERY well. air." she said. But
warn you she Is most nervous, and 4
has been forbidden her to talk"
"She will not be called upon to talk.
retorted Mr.. Royce curtly. and with
out answering the woman turned and
led the way up the stair and to .hel
mistress room.
Miss Holiday was lying back In q
great chair with bandage about hel