The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-03-21
CHAPTER VIII.
TIE MYSTERIOUS MAID

CHAPTER VIII.
TIE MYSTERIOUS MAID.
"A hundred thousand dollars!" ejacu-
lated Mr.. Royce, n sat staring at
his chief.
"A hundred thousand dollars! That's
a good deal for a girl to give away in
a lump, but she can afford it. OF course,
we've nothing to do but carry out her
instructions. 1 think both Of US can
guess what she intends doing with the
money"
The other nodded I believe that l
could guess, too. The money, Of course,
was intended for the other wonan-she
was not to suffer for her crime, after
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. She looks thinner and quite
careworn. I commended her resolution
TO seek rest and quiet and change Of
scene.
When e she go. sir?" asked Mr..
Royce, in a subdued voice.
The a after tomorrow, I think.
h did not say definitely. In fact, she
could talk very little. She managed to
catch cold-the grip, I suppose-and
was very hoarse. 1t would have been
cruelty to make her talk. and 1 didn't
try"
He wheeled around to his desk, and
then suddenly back again.
by the way" he said, st saw the
new maid. l cant say 1 wholly approve
of her."
He paused a minute, weighing his
words.
She seems careful and devoted" he
went on at last, but 1 don't like her
eyes. They're too intense. l caught
her two or three times watching me
strangely. 1 can't imagine where Miss
Holladay 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 T
suppose we'd better sell a block of u.
P. bonds. They're the least productive
of her securities"
Yes, I suppose So" agreed Mr..
Royce, and the chief called up a bro
ker and gave the necessary orders
Then he turned to other work, and the
day passed without any further ref
erence to Miss Holiday or her at
fairs.
The proceeds of the sale We're brought
to the office early the mex afternoon. a
small packet neatly sealed and dock
eted-l00 thousand-dollar bills. Mr.
Graham turned it over in his hand
thoughtfully.
You'll take it to the house, of course.
John" he said to his partner. Lester
had better go with you."
SS NAA. y p1ctCGu lie package IN
MS pocket. a cab was and
we We're off. The trip was made with
out incident. and at the end of half an
hour, we drew up before the Holladay
mansion.
1t was one Of the old-style brown
stone fronts which lined 10Th sides of
the avenue twenty years ago; it was
no longer in the u~1tra-fashion-
able quarter. which had moved up
toward Central Park. and shops of yari-
u kinds were beginning to encroach
upon the neighborhood; but It had been
hiram Holidays home for forty years,
and he had never been willing to part
with it. At this all the blinds
were down and the house had a de-
serted look. We mounted the steps 70
the door, which was opened at once to
u ring by a woman whom I knew
lnst1nct1vely to be the new maid though
she looked much less like a new maid
than like an elderly working woman
OF the middle class.
We've brought the money Mfs.
Holiday asked Mr.. Graham for yester-
day, said Mr.. Royce. I'm John Royce
his partner" and without answering
the woman motioned us in. "of course
we have a receipt for it," he add
ed. Il have it ready here, and She
need only attach her signature"
Miss Holiday is too i'll to see YOU.
Sir. said the maid, with careful en,1n,
citation. Il will myself the paper take
TO her and get her signature"
Mr.; Royce hesitated a in
perplexity. As for me. I was
l,s my memory-where had I heard
that voice before? Somewhere. + was
certain--a voice low, vibrant, repressed
full OF color. Then. with a start. + re-,
me1nbered it! 1t was Miss Holladav,s
voice, as n had risen to welcome nnr
JUNIOR that morning at the coroner's
court. ! Q myself together-for
that was nonsense!
II fear that won't do" said Mr.
Royce at last. THE sum is a considar.
able one, and must be given Ia Mics
Holladay by me personally In the pres
lence of this Witness"
1t was the maids urn to hesitate.
i saw her lips tighten ominously
Very we'll. sir. she said. But 1 warn
you n is most eryou and it has been
forbidden her to talk"
She will not be called upon to talk
retorted Mr.. Royce CURLY; and without
answering he woman turned and led
tie way up the stair and to her mis-
tless' room.
Miss Holiday was lying back In a
great chair with a bandage about her
head, n even In the half-light [ could
see howschanged she was. She seemed
much thinner n older, and couRhed
occasionally n q way that frightened
- 49," II y 1RlOlQ IQYSSII.
could have caused this breakdown: 1t
was the secret weighing upon her. NV
companion noted the change. too. Of
course--a greater change, perhaps, than
my eyes could perceive-and I saw how
moved and shocked he was.
my dear Miss Holiday" he began
n n z stopped him abruptly with a
Pray do not" she Whispered hoarse2
ly. Pray do not"
He stopped and pulled himself ~
gether. When he spoke again 1t was
n quite a different tone.
nave brought the D you asked
Tor. and he landed her the
.Thank you. she murmured.
VIII you verify the amount?r
Oh. no; that is not necessary.
- have a receipt here" and he mo-
duced u and his fountain pen. pleas.
sign IT." AsAe
She took h pen with trembling finr.
ers.iaid the receipt Upon her chair arm
without reading and signed her nnme
with Q somewhat painful slowaess
Then she cameo back with q sigh Of re-
lei. and buried her face In her hands
Mr.NRoyce placed the RECENT IN ~.