Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-29
somewhat sheepishIy F.


Yes. I was there all the time. =
went expecting TO stay only day or
SO. but there were so many things TO
be attended to that stayed on and
let the time go 20 my vacation"
IT couldn't have been much OF a
vacation" she exclaimed. regaining
her composure in an instant. and
don't intend that you. shall be treated
so stability Mrs Randolph. won't
you please ask Mr.. Ware TO visit us at
Carney-Croft for a fortnight after We
get settled? II he makes any excuses
Will order him 70 come in his profes-
sional capacity. You see. you can't
escape us II you would" she laughed.
and the matter was settled
When we reached the hotel Miss
Carney insisted on my remaining to
luncheon, explaining that she wished
70 talk over some business matters
with me in the afternoon.
It was a merry quartette that as
sembled around the table in the din
iDg-room OF Mss Carney's apartments.
and my Tuemory naturally carried me
back 20 my first luncheon with her.
| over three years before. The anxious.
fearful expression q the past had
given way TO o countenance beaminE
with vivacity health and peace with
all the world. and her soft, rudy com
plexion. heightened by the voyage
across the Atlantic. enhanced. II such
thing were possible. the glorious
beauty OF her face.
We chattered in a delightfully."- IN
conventional way until luncheon was
over and then Mrs. Randolph tactfullv
| left us TO ourselves TO discuss business
! matters in the sitting-room. while Miss
| Weston, who was the very antithesis OF
| Mss Carney by reason OF her III
health and frau constitution, retired
| for her usual afternoon nap.
The moment we were alone Miss
Carney's levity and friyolity left her
and, motoning me 70 seat by her
side, she plunged az once into the CON
sideration Of mass of details con-
corning CarncyCrott and its affairs
Suddenly she surprised me by asking
pOintedly:
Why did you remain at Carney.
Croft longer than YOU had first in
tended? Was &c solely 20 superintend
the opening OF Che house or was il for
some other rels0n7'
This question put 20 me so ingen.
uously. could De answered only with
the utmost frankDCss. and 1 said earn.
estiy: There was another reason.
Miss Carney. and an important one"
Then I told her the whole story. as
FAR as its practical features we're con.
cevned. but avoided. as much as pos.
sible. the recital OF any unnecessary
details.
SO you th.nk this will all be stop
ped. now that you know who the ring.
leaders arc?" she asked. anxiously.
Il am sure that Il will" / replied.
more .positivcy than my true feelings
warranted. There has been no more
of IL since W learned who wrote the
I notes and Il looks as II jerks and this
Bruce woman were going to keep the
| affair entirely - themselves. Besides
tho new house the widow has is much
better than the old one. and she has
considerably moro land than before.
She ought to be perfectly satisfied
with her present situation and stop
her performances. II only for her own
sake"
But about their getting In and out
OF the house whenever they want top
queried Miss Carney. Don't you think
] Il is rather dangerous to have any
/ such mysteriously hidden entrance en-
tirely unknown 70 US? Might they not
get in again. while We are there, and
take things or do something OF that
sort2"
"Oh, no." / replied. reassuringly
You may be certain toy won't do
that II they had wanted to steal
they'd have done II long ago. when
they had the place 20 themselves.
think they had a key that opened one
OF the doors and I've had new locks
put all over the house They Souldn't
get In now IL they tried"
What was said in the notes?" asked
Miss Carney. Il wish you had saved
them. ! should have enjoyed seeing
them. / know"
"Oh, nothing of any consequence I
| replied, hastily. Just a few words
warning me not 10 allow you 20 return
and expressed IN regulation penny
dreadful style. The whole thing was