The weekly true Democrat., 1909-09-17

apparently. and the attention OF the
police had best not be called to this
house too often IN one night"
fIis levity seemed 10 displease and
DeFturb the woman. She turned from
him. with an impatient movement Of
her shoulders
Freddie. DEAR do you feel able TO
walkP
"Rh7 Oh. dare say-i don't know.
Wonder would your friend-ah-Mr
KirkwOOd, lend me an armT
charmed" KlrkwOod declared
Suavely, ~ yOu'li take the candle, Mrs.
Hallam."
zone moment" she interpOsed IN
confusion. II won't keep you wait
ing." And, passing. with an averted
face, she ran quickly HpstaiFs 10 che
second floor, taking the light with her
It's glow faded from the walls above,
and KlrkwOOd surmlsed that she had
entered the front bedchambeF. For
some moments he could hear her nov
ing about. Once something scraped
and bumped on the floor. as II heavy
bit OF furniture. had been moved.
Again there was q resoundlng thud
that defied speculation, and this was
presently followed by a dull clang OF
metal
Eveutually-lt was not really long
there came the quick rush Of Mrs.
Hallam's feet along the upper hail,
and the woman renppeared, one band
holding her skirts clear OF her pretty
feet as she descended IN q rush that
caused the candles dame TO dlcker
perllously.
Halfway down "Mr. xirkwoodP she
called tempestuOusly.
"Dldnt you hnd n.y. he cOuntered
/ blandly.
She stopped jerkily at the bottom.
and after moment OF confusion "Find
what. slrT" she asked
"What you sought Mrs. Hallam."
Smiling. he bore unnlnchlng the pro-
longod inspection of her eyes, at once
somber with doubt Of him and dashlng
with Indignation because OF bis impu.
dence.
"You knew / wouldn't Gnd Il, then.
didn't your
Il may have suspected you
wouldn't"
Now he was sure that she bad been
scnrrhlrg for the rlnd1ore bag. That
evidently wns the bono of contention
/ Cnlcudur had fent his daughter for u
/ Mrs Hailam her son Dorothy hnC
bern successful But. on the olhei
hnnd. calendar nrd Mrs. ILgllan were
unqucstiunnby allies why. then---
where is Il. NlF KirkwoodT
"Madam, have you the right 10
known
Through another iougthening pause
while they faced each other he mark
cd again the curious contraction Of her
undeFllp.
II have the right" she declared
steadily. "Where is itr
"H0w can be surer
'SThen you don't know
Indeed" he interrupted. ~ would
be glad to feel that ought 70 tell you
what know"
| "What you knoWf
The exclamation. low spoken more
On echo Of her thoughts than intended
Tor KirkwOod. was accompanied BY a
little shake Of the woman'a head, mute
evidence TO the fact that she was be
wlldered By his hnesse. And this de-
lighted the young man beyond meas
ure. making him feel himself master
Of a difncult situation,
The woman would have Ted again.
but young Hallam cut IN none too
cOurteously;
II say. mamma. it's no good stand.
IN here paiavcrln' like a lot Of data
Besides. I'm awfly knocked up. Let's
get home and have u out there"
Instantly his mother sofiened. MY
poor boyl or course wen go"
AZ they passed out Kirkwood shut
the door. and at the same moment the
little party was brought up standing
by a grun and authoritative summons,
'Just a minute, please. you thereg'
"Ahar said KiFkwood 70 himself
Il thought 10. And be halted m M.
telgned respect for the hurry and lm.
presalve Squire. CARRIED IN blue and
brass, barring The way 70 the car
rlaga
AiFs uaIiam showed Iesa defersue,
for the obBtFuctlonist Tho assumed
hauteur and lmpatisnce of her pos,
were artfuliy FVaected n her vcice q