The Detroit times., 1910-04-06

Dearie. dearie. we are all going TO be
happy yet"
The strange. vague words had an
uplifting effect on Ailsa- II was quite
illogical. but she could not resist the
feeling that Susan was concealing
something good She was glad. too.
10 find that her estimate OF John
stern was a correct one. The girls
commonsense returned 10 her.
Let us not altogether forget the
present" she said. "Yonder poor
creature is very Ill. However clever
you may be. she will require the
services of n doctor, how can you
manage that."
But apparently Susan had thought OF
everything. Freed from the terror OF
her husband she seemed TO have be-
come a different woman. The doctor
had already been arranged for. she
said. She would call him In the first
thing in the morning TO see her niece.
She had had niece come 10 see her
on more than one occasion. and Mr..
Colville had raised no objection. He
never raised any objection 10 anything
so long as he was left In peace and
quietness. Ailsa could see the logic
OF il all, and she was comforted.
And your husband?" Ailsa asked.
What will he say II he comes back?"
Again the same strange CLEAN came
into old Susans eyes. She seemed TO
be struggling with some great emo
ton II was some time before she re-
pied
He is not coming back. at least not
just yet. she said. He may never
come back any more. Thomas is bad
man. how bad a man | hope you Will
never know. Bur. clever and cunning
as he was. he has met his match at
last. II he does come home-but we
need not dwell too much on that"
Aisa asked no further questions
She had grown strangely tired. An
overwhelming desire TO sleep came
over her And yet she felt that she
could no. leave Susan 10 undertake
the duties OF the sick room quite alone.
II she could only get few hours
rest 1t would be all right.
Il am going 10 bed now" she said.
Susan. am determined 10 help you
IN this matter feel that my future
happiness is more or less bound up TN
this mystery. And you could not pos
sioly undertake the task alone. You
have your duty TO do; IL will never do
10 arouse the suspicion OF Mr.. Colville.
am going 10 bel for four hours. Az
tie end OF that tine please call me.
and | will take your place. should
like TO be OF all the assistance | can
Susan murmured her thanks. She
would be very grateful, she said
Somewhere about o'clock she would
arouse Ailsa, and get an hour or two's
rest for herself. Ailsa almost stag
cered TO her be-. and threw herself
down half undressed. She was TOO
fatigued 10 take anything else OF: no
sooner had her head touched the pill
low than she was asleep. She felt as
IL she would never be able 10 wake
again, her slumher was so deep aud
peaceful
Perhaps it was the knowledge or
what was required OF her. but she
opened her eyes in the lurking light
CT day, feeling quite sure that II was
past o'clock AS she lay there col
lecting her senses and recalling the
vivid events OF the previous night q
clock somewhere struck the hour OF
four. Alert and vigorous once more,
| Ailsa was ont OF bed.
A cold bath freshened and buoyed
! her up. The old house was intensely
ouiet for a time. and then It seemed
10 Ailsa hat she could hear the sound
Of whispering in the corridor. BY this
time the light was growing stronger,
the day was coming at last. Ailsa
etepped cut of her room noiselessiy,
and made her way TO the corridor.
she rubbed her eyes with astonish'
ment. Talking placidly together were
! old Susan and her hated Thomas!
/ (To re Continued.D