Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-05


That's good deal for girl to give
away in lump, but she can afford 1t.
OF course we've nothing to do but car
ry out her instructions. think both OF
us can guess what she intends doing
with the money"
The other nodded l believed that l
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 aces
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, sir?" asked Mr..
Royce in subdued voice.
The day after tomorrow, l think.
She did not soy definitely. In fact, she
could talk very little. She's managed
to catch cold-the grip, l suppose-and
was very hoarse 1t would have been
cruelty to make her talk, and / didn't
try"
He wheeled around to his desk and
then suddenly back again.
by the way he said, Il saw the
new maid. can't say l 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 too intense. l caught
her two or three times watching me
strangely. l 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 a
decided accent. About the money,
suppose we'd better sell block Of
y P. bonds. They're the least produc
tive Of her securities"
ayes, suppose So" agreed Mr..
Royce, and the chief called up broker
and gave the necessary orders. Then
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 1t over in
his hand thoughtfully.
You'll take it to the house. Of course
John,' he said to his partner. Les
ter q better go with YOU
So Mr.. Royce placed the package in
his pocket, 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 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 neighberhood, 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 to
the door, which was opened at once to
our ring by woman whom | knew
instinctively to be the new maid,
though she looked 41puch less like a
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 for
It," he added. Il have it ready here,
and she need only attach her sigma
ture'
miss Holiday is too i'll 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 iii
perplexity. AS for me, was ransacll-
ing my memory. Where had l heard
that voice before? Somewhere, l was
certain-a voice low, vibrant, re-
pressed, full Of color. Then, with
start, / remembered 1t was Miss Hol-
laday's voice as she had risen to well
come our junior that morning at the
coroners court. shook myself to-
gether, for that was nonsense.
IT fear that won't do" said Mr..
Royce at last. 1.-THE sum is consid-
cradle one and must be given to Miss
Holiday by me personally in the pres
ence Of this witness"
It was the maids turn to hesitate.
saw her HIPS tighten ominously.
VERY well, sir" she said. But |
warn you she Is most nervous, and it
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 and
led the way up the stair and to her
mistress room.
Miss Holiday was lying back in a
great chair with bandage about her
head, and even in the half light could
see how changed she was. She seemed
much. thinner and older and coughed
occasionally in WAY that frightened
me. Not grief alone, l told myself,
could have caused this breakdown; 1t
was the secret Weighing upon her. My
companion noted the change, TOO, of
course-a greater change perhaps than
my eyes could percetve-and l saw
how moved spd shocked he was