The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-11-29

chat with May Wilson.
Glare, not having anybody with a
motor handy, drove to Regent street
in hanson, and went in smiling at
the members of the STAFF who came
forward eagerly to greet her.
She went up into the show room on
the first floor where she was in the
habit Of finding May, and did not see
her.
where's May?" she said. 'Is she
out?"
"She's not been at all well lately"
said the superintendent of the room,
land she looked so ill when she came
this morning that I told her to go
home. She looks as If she were going
to have a serious illness.
ooh, am sorry!" exclaimed Claire.
Poor May! Is she still living over
at Remington, at that pretty little
house with vine she was always
talking about?"
EYES,"
"Do you think she would mind If I
called there to see her? I've never
been, you know"
II think it would be awfully good Of
you to go, Miss Barton" said the
j superintendent. MAY thinks great
deal of you, and I'm sure you'd cheer
her up. She seems dreadfully low
spirited and down. A visit from you
might cheer her up and do her all the
good in the world"
Then I'll go this afternoon" said
Claire. Il shall be anxious till know
if there is anything really the matter.
I'll send her wire to say I'm coming
on to see her, then she'll expect me-"
Claire Barton drove to the tele.
graph office and dispatched a wire to
copied out for her:
Sorry to hear you are not we'll. Am
calling at four-Claire."
At 4 o'clock Claire Barton knocked
at the door of The Winery, and 'Tunia
answered the summons.
rs Miss Wilson at homer" asked
the visitor.
TUNA was so overcome with the
magnifcence of the visitors toilet
it was far grander than anything Mrs.
Peyton Pteherick ever came in-that
for moment she made no reply.
She was studying the skirt of the
lady's dress, and wondering whether
it was too late to tell her dressmaker
what it WAS like and have -her. own
made like it for the policemen's fete
at the Palace.
So Claire repeated her question.
Miss Wilson, did you say, ma'am?"
stammered TUNA, still studying the
hang" of the skirt. "No, mum; she
amt never at home of an afternoon
except Saturdays and Sundays"
But I thought she had come home
ill.," said Claire. Il have been to
her.
Then the actress hesitated.
1t had suddenly struck her that it
was not quite the thing for her to ex-
plain to a maid-of-all-work that Miss
Wilson had left her place of business
in the morning to go home, and that
| therefore her visitor was disturbed to
hear that she hadn't arrived.
do you Think she said, after q
moments hesitation, that it would
be any use my calling again."
Not before at the earliest, ma am.
Miss Wilson's never 'ome afore that,
'ceptin', of course, Saturdays and Sun
days."
Claire was worried. There was evil
IDENTIFY some mystery about May In
Regent street they had told her that
+! she was very ill, and had been sent
=, home soon after she came in the morn.
ing. 1t was now past and May had
not returned.
What could it mean?
! There was nothing to be gained by
cross-questioning the servant, even If
) such course had been permissible
! So Claire looked in her case for a
card, and found that she had only one
with ''The Pandora Theater" on it.
She thought that perhaps May
would not like that to be shown about
the house in connection with her Wis
itor, and SO she gave Tuna a verbal
message:
/! Tell Miss Wilson that Miss Barton
called, and say will write to her"
Then Claire Barton went along the
street to the corner, where she had
left her hanson waiting, and drove
away very much perplexed in hel
mind as to what could be happening
to her friend Nav.
Perhaps it's love affair."" she sal.
to herself, as the hanson went jerk
ing over the tramway lines. "Thanl
goodness, I've escaped that worry 8,
far. like Reggie Sinclair, but I'm no
i'll because he's left London for 81:
months. so Of course don't reall,
love him. don't suppose ever shal
be in love. But II a good looking MAJ
with a good-looking income eve
/ comes along and offers to make N
Ny lady I shall try and make up m
mind to like him. Poor May!i HOY
, different the lines Of our lives hav
rum" .is
Z II Claire Barton could have nee
D into the future she would have know