The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-09-24

woman had been looking for work in
the village l thought I'd bring her
along"
Already / had acquired the true
suburbanite ability to take servants
on faith; l no longer demanded writ
ten and unimpeachable references. l,
Rachel Innes, have learned not to
mind If the cook sits down comfort.
ably in my sitting room when she is
taking the orders for the day, and
am grateful if the silver is not cleaned
with securing soap. And so that day
merely told Liddy to send the new ap-
plicant in. When she came, however,
| could hardly restrain a gasp of sur
prise. 1t was the woman with the
pitted face.
one sio.l somewhat aw,iwardly just
inside the door, and she had an air OF
self-confidence that was inspiring.
Yes, she could cook; was not fancy
cook, but could make good soups and
desserts If there was any one to take
charge of the salads. And So in the
end, took her. AS Halsey said, when
W. toiu hiiily II uluu IuuCn
about the cooks face if 1t was clean
l have spoken of Halsey's restless
ness. On that day it seemed to be
more than ever resistless impulse
that kept him out until after luncheon.
l think he hoped constantly that he
might meet Louise driving over the
hills in her runabout; possibly he did
meet her occasionally but from his
continued gloom l felt sure the situa-
ton between them was unchanged.
Part of the afternoon | believe he
read-Gertrude and | were out, as |
have said and at dinner we both no.
ticed that something had occurred to
distract him. He was disagreeable,
which is unlike him, nervous, looking
at his watch every few minutes, and
he ate almost nothing. He asked twice
during the meal on what train Mr..
Jameson and the other detective were
coming, and had long periods of alb
straction during which he dug his
fork into my damask cloth and did
not hear when he was spoken to- He
refused dessert, and left the table
early, excusing himself on the ground
that he wanted to see Alex.
Alex, however, was not to be found.
1t was after eight when Halsey or
dered the car and started down the
hill at pace that, even for him, was
unusually reckless. Shortly after
Alex reported that he was ready to 60
over the house preparatory to closing
1t for the night. Sam Bohannon came
at quarter before nine and began his
patrol of the grounds, and with the
arrival Of the two detectives to look
forward to I was not especially appre-
hensive.
At half-past nine heard the sound
of horse driven furiously up the
drive. 1t came to a stop in front of
the house and Immediately after there
were hurried steps on the veranda.
Our nerves were not what they should
have been, and Gertrude, always ap-
prehensive lately, was at the door al
most instantly. A moment later Louise
had burst into the room and stood
there bareheaded and breathing hard.
Where is Halsey?" she demanded.
Above her plain black gown her eyes
looked big and somber, and the rapid
drive had brought no color to her face
l got up and drew forward chair.
He has not come back" l said
quietly. "Sit down, child you are
not strong enough for this kind OF
thing"
l don't think she even heard me.
He has not come back?" she
asked, looking from me to Gertrude
do you know where he went? Where
can l find him."
For heavens sake, Louise" Ger
trude burst out, tell us what is wrong
Halsey is not here. He has gone t.
the station for Mr.. Jameson. VIVA
has happened?"
ITO the station, Gertrude? You ar,
sure?"
YES" I said. Listen. There il
the whistle of the train now"
She relaxed little at our matter
of-fact tone, and allowed herself t,
sink into a chair.
Perhaps | was wrong" she sal,
heavily. "He-will be here in a few
moments if-everything is right"
We sat there, the three of us, with
out attempt at conversation Both Gel
trude and I recognized the futility @
asking Louise any questions; he
reticence was part of role she ha
assumed. Our ears were strained TO
the first throb of the motor as
turned into the drive and commence
the climb to the house. Ten minute
passed, Is, 20. I saw Louise's hand
grow rigid as they clutched the arm
of her chair I watched Gertrude
bright color slowly ebbing away, an
around my own heart | seemed to fee
the grasp of giant hand.
Twenty-Five minutes, and then
sound. But it was not the chug of tn
motor; it was the unmistakable run
BILE of the Casanova hack. Gertrud
drew aside the curtain and peere
into the darkness.
ITS the hack, am sure" she sal,
evidently relieved. Something ha
gone wrong with the car, and no VOL
der-the way Halsey went down tn