Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-11-23

The old man stood staring az me
and then at the blanket. His con.
fusion under other circum stances
would have been ludicrous.
What Not me" HalSey said from
the step. Thomas, I'm afraid you've
been malingerins.'
Thomas seemed 10 have been debat.
ing something with himself, Now he
stepped out ON the porch and closed
the door gently behind him.
Il reckon you bettah come in Mis-
lnnes." he said. speaking cautiously.
Its got SO l dunno what To do, and
It's boun to come out some time er
ruther"
He threw the door open then, and
stepped inside. Halsey close behind.
In the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity To Halsey.
You bettahG SIT down suh," he
said. ITS n place for a women. sah. b"
Things were not turning out the
way Halsey expected. lie sat down
on the comfortable, with his hands
thrust in his pockets. and watched
me as followed Thomas up the mar.
row stairs. At the top woman was
standing. and second glance showed
me IL WAS Rosie She shranl, back a
little, bat ! said nothing. And then
Thomas mo,iuncd to partly open
door, and Mont in.
The lode, hoasted OF three bed
rooms upst?,rs, all comfortably fur
nished. IN tEis one, the largest and
ARREST, nilut lamp was Burning. and
by its light / could make out Il plain
white metal b'd girl was asleep
Thereon in half stupor. for she
mutterCd something now and then
Rosie had taken her courage in her
hands, and coming in had turned up
the light II was only then that
knew. Fever-flushcd. i'll as She was
recognized Louise Armstrong.
VIII you tell me what you mean
Thomas Johnson. by not telling me
this hetore?' demanded Indignantly.
Thomas quailcd
Mis- Louise wouldn't let me" no
said earnestly. II waited 10. She
ought to a had a doctor Nho. night she
came, but she wouldn hg,rr TO IT, IL
she very bad, Mis- Inncs8"
Bad enough" said coldly Send
Mr. lines up"
Halsey came up the stairs slowly,
looking rather Interested and inclined
TO be amused For a moment he could
not see anything distinctly n the
darkcned room; nc stopped lanced
at Rosie and at me, and then his eyes
fell on the restless head on the pil.
low. think he felt who It was before
he really saw her; he crossed the
room In a couple of strides and bent
over the bed
Louise he said softly: but she
did not reply, and her eyes showed no
recognition. lIalscy was young and
illness was new TO him. He straight
ened himself slowly, still watching
her, and caught my arm.
She's dying, Aunt Ray" he said
huskily Dying! Why, she doesn't
know me-"
Fudge snapped, being apt to
grow irritable when my sympathios
are aroused shes doing nothing of
the sort-and don't pinch my arm. If
you want something to do, go and
choke Thomas"
But at that moment Louise reused
from her stupor to cough and at the
end OF the paroxysm, as Rosie laid her
back. exhausted she knew US. That
was all Halscy wanted: to him con.
sciousncss was recovery. lie dropped
on his knees beside the bed. and tried
TO tell her She was all right. and we
would bring her around I'm hurry.
and how beautiful she looked only to
break down utterly and have to
stop. And at that / came to my
senses. and put him out
This Instant" [ ordered. as he hes.
itatcd And send Rosie here"
When the doctor from Englewood-
the Casanova doctor, Or. Walker. be.
Ing away-had started for Sunnyslde.
and I had got Thomas TO stop trying
10 explain what he did not understand
himself, ! had long talk With the
oid man. and this is what learned
ON Saturday evening before. about
tcn O'Clock. ne had been reading in
the sitting room dowustairs. when
some one raped at the door. The old
mon was alone, Warner not having
arrived and at first be was uncertain
abuut opening the door lie aid so
''''.Ff diu was amazed at DDUE con
Iratcd Jg Louise Armstrong Thomas
vas an old family servant. having
been with the present Mrs. Armstrong
since sbe woS child. and be- was
otorwi rlmcd a. seeing Lomsp &c.
snw That she was excited and tired
aul Doe drew her into the sitt.ng room
ana made her $50 DOM After while
Joe went 20 the house and brought
Mrs Watson. and thoy talked untn
late The old man said Louise was In
troablc. aud seemed frightened Mrs
Wa'son made some tea and took 80 TO
tho lodge but Louise made them both
promise to- keep her presence secret
She bad not known that suuysido
was rented and whatever her trouble
WAS. this complicated thinas She
seemed puzzled Ii.r stopfmlcr and
Doc. mother wore auu foo California
that was ail She would sly about
tH.m WHY SHE had run away mo- one
could imagine Mr Arnold Nrnarcny