The Red Cloud chief., 1905-12-08

or MI. Miss Holiday seemed to me 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 go, sirT" asked Mr..
Royce In a subdued voice.
The day after tomorrow, I think.
She did not say definitely. In fact, she
could talk very little. She's managed
to catch cold-the grip, suppose-and
was very hoarse. 1t would have been
cruelty to make her talk, and l didn't
try"
He wheeled around to his desk and
then suddenly back again.
by the way" he said, 81 saw the
new maid. l can't say 1 wholly ap-
prove Of her"
He paused a minute, weighing his
words.
"She seems careful and devoted" he
went on at last, but | don't like her
eyes. They're o intense. | caught
her two or three times watching me
strangely. I can't imagine where Miss
Holiday picked her up, or why she
should have picked her up at all. She's
French, Of course. She speaks with q
decided accent. About the money, l
suppose we'd better sell a block of
U. p. bonds. They're the least produc-
tive of her securities"
"Yes, l suppose So" agreed Mr..
Royce, and the chief called up a broker
and gave the necessary orders. Then
he turned to other work, and the day
passed without any further reference
to Miss Holiday or her affairs.
The proceeds Of the sale were
brought to the office early the next
afternoon, a small packet neatly sealed
and docketed - 100 thousand dollar
bills. Mr.. Graham turned 1t over In
his hand thoughtfully.
You'll take it to the house, Of course
john" he said to his partner. lies
ter d better go with you"
SO Mr.. Royce placed the package In
his pocket, a cab was summoned, and
we were Off. The trip was made with
out incident, and ut the end OF half
day mansion.
1t was one of the old style brown
stone fronts which lined both sides
of the avenue twenty years ago. II
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 it had been Iii
ran Holidays home for forty years
and he had never been willing to par
with 1t. At this moment all the blinds
were down and the house had II de
serted look. We mounted the steps t
the door, which was opened ut once t.
our ring by a woman whom l knew
instinctively to be the new maid
maid than like IN elderly working wo
, maj Of the middle class.
, We've brought the money Miss Hol
laday asked Mr.. Graham for yester
= day" said Mr.. Royce. I'm JOIN
:, Royce, his partner" And without an
+, swering the woman motioncd us In
> "Of curse we must have a receipt FOL
/, It," he added. IL have it ready here
and she need only attach her sigma
ture."
Miss Holiday is too Ill to see you
, sir" said the maid, with careful enun
!, , citation. 81 will myself the paper taxi
l to her and get her signature"
: Mr.. Royce hesltated n moment II
+ ~perpleXity. AS for me, l was ransacli
/ ing my memory. Where had l hearC
y that voice before? Somewhere, l wa
o certain-a voice low, vibrant, re
; pressed, full of color. Then, with
l. start, | remembered. 1t was Miss Hol
o laday's voice as she had risen to wei
s come our junior that morning at tn
. coroner's court. l shook myself to
gether, for that was nonsense.
II fear that won't do" said MI
e Royce at last. "The sum Is a consid
cradle one and must be given to Mis-
Holiday by me personally in the pres
y ence Of this witness"
a 1t was the maids turn to hesitate.
saw her lips tighten ominously.
VERY well, sir" she said. But
warn you she Is most nervous, and
,, has beer forbidden her to talk"
r 'She will not be called upon to talk,
retorted Mr.. Royce curtly, and witt
=, out answering the turned an