Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

presently into the smoking room ready
for the coming raid on the duck. The
guns were in the hall.
I'VE mustn't forget the grub Jack
Candwell suggested. 1T will be pre-
cious cold work and a mouthful of
something will be acceptable. l ex-
pect everybody has gone to bed by
this time. I'll go into the kitchen and
forage around
Let me come along" said Stanton.
I'm rather good at cutting sand
wiches."
The big kitchen was not empty, as
Jack Candwell had anticipated, for
the cook was still there. There had
been a few things to clear up before
retiring, she explained. On the great
oak dresser stood a row of white ba-
sins with cloths over them. Two ba-
sins, more majestic than the rest, were
still steaming.
THE pudding" Jack laughed.
(Which one are we going to have on
Christmas day, cook?'
The cook shrugged her big shoul-
ders. 1t was quite evident that TINS
intrusion was by no means welcome to
her. She answered the question in
short, sullen way and averted her eyes
from the intruders. A faint smell OF
spirits pervaded the air. The cupboard
doors were banged to and presently the
cook lighted her bedroom candle and
departed. -.
Mice, amiable old party, isn't she?"
Candwell laughed. Wonder why cooks
always be like that? l su. pose 1t Is
all a matter of liver"
stanton responded thoughtfully. He
was asking himself a few questions.
1--WE got it, he exclaimed pres
emily. by Jove. I've got 1t! | remem-
Der now. 1t was at Chelmsford two
years ago. and besides"
what on earth are you talking
about?" Candwell demanded.
Stanton came to with start. Upon
my word, beg your PARDON he said.
Il must have been thinking about some
one else. You see, have rather an i'm
portant case upon my mind and that
is why l have been shooting so badly
tonight"
Harold had the same thoughtful
frown on his face as he prepared for
bed an hour later. He crept in between
the sheets presently, but not to sleep:
Consequently everybody had finished
breakfast the following morning by the
time he had got down. He found Miss
Constance Candwell waiting to receive
him.
II apologize most humbly," he said.
But the fact is. l slept very badly last
night and-but what's the matter?
Nothing wrong, l hope"
perhaps you wouldn't thlnk So
Miss Constance said But from my
point of view it is nothing less than a
calamity. Our cook is going
"Really! l suppose it is awkward.
Still. YOU will have time to get"
"She is going this afternoon by the
2:15 train. Her mother is dying, and
she has to leave at once. / can find
substitute, of course, in the village. But
it is a tiresome thing to happen on
Christmas eve"
Harold expressed his sympathy He
ate his breakfast slowly and thought
fully, after which he went in search of
Kitty. She had her skates in her hand.
"This is dreadful" she said reproach-
fully. "And what are you looking so
grave about?"
"Am I? I suppose Miss Candwell has
affected me. The cook is going at
once"
THAT doesn't matter. Our old cook
who married from here in the summer
will come back if she is needed. And
how long have you been Interested
my dear chi,dl I have an idea. I'm
less I am greatly mistaken, I have
made a most important discovery. l
believe that luck is on our side. If
don't happen to be in to lunch make
some excuse for me. Now let's go as
far as the lake"
A little before o'clock the same az
ternoon Stanton was lurking in the
shrubbery that led from the domestic
offices toward the drive. Some time
before he had seen the cooks boxes de-
part in a cart, and presently that func-
tionary herself followed. 1t was her
evident intention to walk to the station