Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-08-18
Asain he bowed. rrInnlng aMry.

Again he bowed. grinning awry.
She rose suddenly. You wIll DO
good enough 10 explain your presence
here" she Informed him. with dnpger-
Gus serenity. SO
ITO be frank with YOU
II advise TINT course. Mr. Kirk
wood"
Thanks, awf'ly. i came here half
mn hour ago looking for n lost purse.
full-well. not quite full of sovereigns. .
1t was my purse, by the way"
Suspicion glmtcd like foxiire IN the
cold green eyes beneath her puckered
brows II, DO not understand'f sho
SAID slowly and IN level tones. =
II didn't expect you to-" returned
kiTkwood. mo more DO I. But any.
way, Il must De- clear 10 you shat I've
done my best for this gentlenyau here"
He paused. with an interrogntive iirt
OF his eyebrows
st, This gentiemau' is my SOU Fred
erick Hallam. But you viii explain
Pardon me. Mrs. HalRm; shall
explain nothing at present Permit
me 70 point out that your position hore
like mine-is. 10 say the least. anon
Aho IOlQ. us
he could tell by the instant contraction
OF her eyes OF cat. 1t would be best
10 defer explanations TIL n mono con
veniont time, don't you think 2 sThon,
If you like. we can chant condolences
IN an antiphonal chorus. Just now
your-cT- son * not enjoying himself
apparently, ana the attention OF the
police had best not DO oalled TO this
house too often in one night"
His levity seemed TO displease ant
Nerturb the woman. She turned from
him. with an impatient movement Of
her shoulders
.'Fro1die. dear. DO you feed able Co
walk?''
"ES Oh dare say--T don't know.
Wonder wonld your friend--ah-M
Kirtcveood. lend me an nrmfo
Charmed" ISirkwood declared
suavely III you'll tnke me candle. Mira
Hnllam."
"one moment" she interposOd I'm
confusion. II won't keep yOl WHIT
ing" And. passing with an apertcd
face. she ran quietly upstairs 10 the
second floor, taking the light with her.
Its glow faded from the walls abov.
md kIrkwood suTmised TINT she had
entered tho front bedchamber, For
some moments he sould hear her NOV
ing about. Once something scrNpcd
and bumped on the floor. ms II II heavy
bit OF furniture had been moved.
Again there was a resounding thud
that dened speculation, aud this wins
presently followed by a dull clang OF
metal.
Eventually-it wns not really long
there came the quick rush OF Mrs.
Hallam's feet along the upper han.
and the wOrffan reappenred. one hand
holding her skirts clear OF her pretty
feet ne she descended I'm rush that
caused the candles fame 80 flicker
periiodsly.
Halfway down mfr. KiriE~oodr' she
called tempcStuously.
didn't you end itT- he countered
binndly.
She stopped JerSily ut the bottom,
end after n moment of confusion "Find
what, siTT' she asked.
what you sought. Mira. HnIlam."
Smiling. he bore unfinthing the TEo-
longed Inspection OF her eyes. ut once
sOmbor with doubt OF him and dashIng
with Indignation because OF his impu.
dence.
You knew wouldn't find IL, then,
didn't your
q m9y have suspected you
wouldn't
Now he was sure that she had been
searching for The gladstone bag. That
evidently Was the bone OF contention.
Calendar had sent his daughter for II,
Mrs. Hapam her son. Dorothy had
been successful, But on the other
hand, Calendar aud Mrs. Hailam were
unquestionably allies. why, tboD---
where is 81, Mr. Kiri1woodT'
Madam, have yOh The right to
known
Through another Engineering pause
while they fnced each other he mark
cd again the curious contraction OF her
underlip.
81 have the right" sho declared
steadily, Where ia itT-
"Bow can Ia mrer'
"Thcu you don't known
Indeed" be interrupted. IT would
b. glnd TO feel that ought TO ten you
what ] know.
what you known
The exclamation low spoken, moro
on echo OF her thoughts than intended
FOR Kirk wood. was accompanied by a
Bttle shake Of the woman's head. muto
evidence 20 the fnct that she was be-
vildercd by bis hnesse. And this de-
lighted the young man beyond meas
urc. making bin feel himself master
of "a dinicult situation.
Tbct woman would have Lod again.
I'm gpunR Harlam cut in nODa TOO
esusly:
u By, nRmrpa. it's no good stand
M hege pnlavsrin' Hike iot % fats
Besides. I'm awfly knocked up. Leta
get home and have Il out there"
Instantly his mother sOftencd. NY
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