The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-25
CHAPTER VIII.
The Mysterious Maid.

II IA hundred thousand dollarsl'' ejac-l
lated MT. Royce, and sat staring at
\ ) chief. 4
\ IA hundred thousand dollars! That 8
II good deal for a girl to give away IN
II lump, but she can afford it. Of course,
II we nothing to do but carry out her
structions. I think both of US can
-ess what she intends doing with 'the
bney.'
The other nodded. I believed that I
i luld guess, too. The money, Of course,
i. is intended for the other woman-she
n Is not to suffer for her crime, after
!. |. Miss Holiday seemed to me In
] little danger Of becoming an acces-
/ .ry after the fact. 4
t'She seems really i'll, ~ continued our
ss1ior. "She looks thinner and quite
seek rest and quiet and change Of
STene.' ~
r. When does she go, sira' asked Mr:
,HAyce, in a subdued Voice.
"A HThe day after tomorrow, ! think.
lie did not say definitely. In fact, she
a-uld talk very little. She Is managed
III catch cold-the grip, ] suppose-and
Rs very hoarse. 1t would have been
Rae9ltty to make her talk and l d'dn &c
NHe wheeled around to. his desk, and
len suddenly back again.
h tRv the way" he said, 81 saw the
Hw maid. I can It say wholly approve
E her.
IErds.
H. She seems careful and devoted, T" ne
les. They're too intense. I caught her
t Kane Hd ni T can t imagine where Miss
i AoIladay picked her up, or why she
Mould have picked her up at all. She 8
I aench, Of course-she speaks with q
Needed accent. About the money, |
sor Tsd better sen least pieen st
hERe Of her securities. A.,
aEsYes, I suppose So" agreed Mr..
hByce, and the chief called up broker
vi gave the necessary orders Then ne.
Hrned to, other work and the day y,
hNssed without any further reference to
Hiss Holiday or her affairs
1.-THE proceeds Of the sale were broughC.
fE the office early the next afternoon
,gsmall packet neatly sealed ana DOCK
,Ed-one hundred thousand dollar bills:
ar. Graham turned it over IN MS hs'ne
ao wv o on,lI take it to the house, Of
Nurse, john" he said to his, partner.
ii Iester'd better go with you.
aSo Mr.. Royce placed the package IN
is pocket, q cab was summoned, anu
B. were off. The trip was made without
1cident. and at the end of half an hour
IL drew up before the Holiday man.
bn.
Fiji was one Of the old-styled brown.
, Zone fronts which lined both sides OF
! he avenue twenty years ago; 1t was no
lhger in the ultra-fashionable quarter,
: H1ich had moved up toward central
! Ark. and shops Of various kinds were
/ Apinning to encroach upon the, neigh
j Earhood; but it had been Hiram Holla,
! Tvs home for forty years, and ne had
/ liver been willing to part with It,. AT
/ lis moment all the blinds were down
al the house had deserted look; we
hunted the step to the door, which was
bened at once to our ring by a woman
hom I knew 'instinctively to. be the
tw maid, tho she looked much less like
amaid than like an elderly working
,bman of the middle class.
We've brought the money Miss Hol-
h1ay asked Mr.. Graham for yegter-
4 w. said Mr.. Royce. m John
bvce, his partner,'' and without an
Eering, the woman motloned us IN.
lLbf course we must have receipt Tor
IT. he added. "I have it ready here
Id she need only attach her sigma,
4 llWMiss Holiday is too ill to see you
4 II y said the maid, with careful enun
Il htion. II will myself the paper take
a 4 her and get her signature.
i Mr.. Royce hesitated moment III per
,fexity. AS for me, was rans s I'M
.bice before7 Somewhere, 1 was Ger
ina voice low, vibrant, depressed
vi Of color. Then, with start, l re
'embered! It was Miss Holladay Z
ice. as she had risen to welcome ou1
.nior that morning at the coroner!
.urti I shook myself together-fo7
at was nonsense! =, .,;,,
,vce at last. "The sum is consider
I lie one, and must be given to MIS-
.olladay by me personally in the pres
Nee of this witness. .,
III was the maids turn to hesitate
fsaw her lips tighten ominously:
tUVery we'll, sir,'' she said. s'Bnt :
arm YOU she is most nervous and it ha
ben forbidden her to talk; T.
Il 1k - retorted Mr.. Royce acurtly; an
Nkthout answering, the woman turne,
| Nd led the way up the stair and to ne
Mistress room.
Miss Holiday was lying back in 4
'eat chair with a :bandage about he
1Ead, and even in 10 half-light ! eoul
lie how changed she was. She SCENE
tch thinner and older, and coughed oe
III lot grief alone, I told myself, coul
, .ae ea Weigh inc 10 on her. MY con
tnion noted the change, too, Of cours
Va greater change, perhaps, than m
NIes could perceive-and I saw ho'
loved and shocked he was. l.
NMy dear Miss Holiday" he began
/ \ at she stopped him abruptly with
4 lttle imperative motion OF the hand.
IlN"Pray do not,' she whispered
/ ,arsely. "Pray do not.'
| He stopped and pulled himself t.
4 ether. When he spoke again, it we
4 i quite different tone.
! IT have brought the money you aske
/ 10 and he handed her. the packag
/ "Thank you,' she murmured.,
! "Will you verify the amountF,,
4 \ ooh, no; that is not necessary
"I have q receipt here,' and he pr
4 \ iced it and his fountain pen. '.'Plea'
Il On it, -. r
II She took the pen with trembling fl
4 Il ers, laid the receipt upon her chal
II Il m without reading, and signed n
Il Il ame with somewhat painful slownes
il II hen she leaned back with a sigh
Il .ililief and buried her face in her hano
i r. Royce placed the receipt IN h
y II ,cketbook, and stopped, hesltat1n
4 tut the maid had opened the door al
Il as awaiting us. Her mistress made
q On: there was no excuse to hinge
Il Re turned and followed the maid.
j R. t,'Miss Holiday seems very iH, = sa
"a r. Royce, in voice somewhat itrel
4 GUS, as she paused before us In ii
wer hall.