The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-21

Il am going to take you TO bed
Ailsa said firmly. Come along, you
can lean on me. This way
Quite obediently old Susan struggled
tc her feet. The vacant look was stu
in her eyes, and undiluted terror dis
tended them. Verify there were more
mysteries in this strange house than
Ailsa dreamed OF And she had sus-
pected nothing wrong before. A sharp,
quick laugh breaking from behind the
study door sounded strangely out ~
place there. But the cid woman seemed
TO hear nothing OF IT,
II was by no means an easy bust
ness to get her Mp the stairs, for she
was heavy and drowsy with the sleep
that lay upon her Ailse had 20 asH
three times before she could ascertain
the direction OF the bedroom. She
Taused on the threshold in astonish-
ment
Not here. surely" she protested
Susan, this is not your room. Impos-
s'ble."
Nobody else's." Susan said with 4
sudden glimmer OF reason Think
| don't know. Oh. my dearie. why dad
you ever come here? A house OF sor'
rows. II ever there was one. And oil
the purple and fine linen in the world
will never make it anything else.
Ailsa led the way without further
expostulaiion She was getting accus.
toned to these surprises. II struck
her now for the FIRST time that ever
and anon Susan displayed suggestions
OF refinement OF speech az IL she had
seen better days. Certainly she mad
no reason to complain on the score OF
comfort IN her room. The place was
magnifcently furnished, the suite or
ebony. inlaid with ivory. nj for the
room OF a duchess. Ailsa was STRUCK
~ the thickness o. the carpet thf
beauty OF the pictures. And on the
dressing-table stood splendid array
OF flowers In Bohemian glasses.
The old woman srept here beyond
doubt. She was In position to lndI-
cate this thing anG that which she
needed. There was an ivory COMP ana
pair OF silver-backed brushes. Allsa
wondered that she had never seen
these wonders for herself before AMI
vet Susan seemed tC take II as mat
ter OF course.
Get me into bed, dearie." she said
for | am very tired. don't know
who you are, but you are very KIM
10 a poor, worn creature like me.
II was strange how the speaker
lapsed from sense 10 childishness anG
hack again. She had been badiy
knocked about Dy somebody but she
had been terribly frightened at the
10 Iax heavily me
he'd as Ailsa undressed her. Under
her coarse black dress was the hhest
lace and linen and on her breast
hung a gold locket, with the features
Of a beautiful little girl inside AHA
wondered more and more There was
every suggestion OF luxury and refine
ment here. and yet Susan's hands were
hard. and red, anc knotted with the
toll OF years. There was some strange
mystery here, and Ailsa meant TO get
az the bottom OF Il. She had her aged
burden comfortably between the sheets
at last.
And now you are going TO sleep
peacefully till morning" she com
manded. rs there anything that can
get for you before go to bed myself
The ngure between the sheets
opened her eyes and looked around.
Just for a moment she was absolutely
and entirely clear and sensible.
"No. thank you, Miss Ailsa, she
said quite briskly. Il met with M
accident-caught my foot on the stair
carpet. II Is a good thing that he Is
rot in the house. lie would have sad
that Il was entirely my own fault. JUST
as IL anybody can prevent accidents
OF that kind. But you should not have
come here miss
why not?" Ailsa asked. Some.
body had TO put you to bed. Why not p
40 he 'Continued.)