Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-07
CHAPTER VIII.

InuJ 4 EOOu uehI IOr u kiII W siVc
away in lump, but she can afford It.
OF course we've nothing to do but car
ry out her Instructions. I think both Of
as can guess what she intends doing
with the money
The other nodded. I 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
err all. Miss Holiday seemed to me in
no little danger of becoming an Access
sorry after the fact.
"She seems really ILL.," continued our
senior "Shc looks thinner and quite
careworn. l commended her resolution
10 seek rest and quiet and change Of
scene"
when does she go. sir?" asked Mr..
Royce in a subdued voice.
THE day after tomorrow. think.
She did not say definitely. In fact. she
could talk very little. She's managed
20 catch cold-the grip, l suppose-and
was very hoarse. 1t would have been
cruelty to make her talk, and didn't
try"
then suddenly back again.
by the way" ne said. Il saw the
new maid. can't say 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
o. tpAa
her two or three times watching me
strangely. 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.
suppose we'd better sell 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 broker
and gave the necessary orders. Then
he turned to other work, and the dry
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, small packet neatly sealed
and docketed - 100 thousand dollar
bills. Mr.. Graham turned it over in
his hand ,houghtfully
you'll take it to the house. OF course.
John" he said to his partner Les
ter d better 90 with you"
So Mr.. Royce placed the package in
his pocket, II cab was summoned. and
we were off. The trip was made with
out incident. and at the end of half
an hour we drew up before the Holla-
day mansion.
1t was one of the old style brown
stone fronts which lneo 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 neighbcrhood, but it had been Hi
ram Holidays 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 &c
the door. which was opened at once &c
i
instnctively to be the new maid
though she looked much less like d
maid than like an 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 an
swering the woman motioned us in
"Of course we must have receipt fol
It," he added. Il have it ready here
and she need only attach her sigma
ture"
miss Holiday ia too i'll to see you
sir" said the maid, with careful enun
riation. Il will myself the paper TAXI
10 her and get her signature"
Mr.. Royce hesitated a moment ir
perplexity. AS for me. was ransack
Ing my memory. Where had heart
that voice before? Somewhere, was
pressed, full of color. Then, with {
start, remembered. 1t was Miss Hol
laday's voice as she had risen to wei
come our Junior that morning at thu
coroner's court. ! shook myself to
yether, for that was nonsense.
II fear that won't do" said Mr.
Royce at last "rhe sum Is consid
cradle one and must he given to Mis-
Holiday by me personally in the pres
ence of this witness"
1t was the maids turn to hesitate.
saw her lips tighten ominously.
Every well, sir" she said. But
warn you she Is most nervous, and
has been forbidden her to talk"
''She will not be called upon to talk.
retOrted Mr.. Royce CURLY, and with
out answering the woman turned AM
led the way up the stair and to he
mistress room.
Miss Holiday was lying back in
great chair with bandage about lie
head, and even in the half light coul
see how changed she was. She SCENE
much thinner and older and coughe
occasionally in way that frlghtene
me. Not grief alone, told myself
could have caused this breakdown;
was the secret weighing upon her. NJ
companion noted the change, too. q
course--a greater change perhaps tina
my eyes could perceive-and / sa'
how moved and shocked he was.
my dear Miss Holiday" be begal
h,,t cIlA NtnopnA hin, vx,tth