The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-07-06

ments."
Did I imagine it. or did Julia Smith
turn ever so slightly in my direction,
and did the corners Of her mouth
Quver a little?
"They''-Mrs. Smythe hesitated
and then resumed fluently-"they
went separately and in cabs. Yes, in
! separate cabs. expecting to take some
one else with them. When my niece
entered he- cab she found it occupied,
but the door was shut and she was
hurried away before she could expos
tulate. She had a very unpleasant
experience
Most unpleasant" corroborated
Julia Smith.
THE man in the cab continued
Mrs. Schuyler-Smythe, was rude and
without consideration. Evidently not
a gentleman. l think you said, my
dear, that this fact impressed you
strongly
Very strongly" said Julia Smith.
ITO make a long story short, Mrs.
Robinson, this man was waiting for
your niece-of this we have circum"
stantial evidence"
81 should like" remarked Mrs.
Robinson. Ito see this evidence
Julie" said Mrs. Smythe triumph
antly. show your letter"
Julia Smith produced it, and Aunt
Josephine moved closer to the light,
that she might read comfortably. I
shamelessly looked over her shoulder
and read also, for on the small white
envelope addressed to Miss Julie
Schuyler" I recognized Nancy's hand
writing. This is what I read:
Dear Miss Schuyler-We seem to have
made some sort of a mistake, and no
doubt you are as disguised as l am. | re.
turned your property to you at once C.: U.
D.. but what did you do with mine? I'm
quite sure you don't want It, for you
would then nave IN embarrassment OF
riches, but would you mind telling mt
what you did with it? l am quite com
Portable and well where l am, but a trife
lonely. and should be glad to hear from
you. My address is
Aunt Josephine folded the letter and
returned it to it's envelope before I
could read the address. I saw she
was very angry.
ut is useless" she said, "for me to
attempt to deny that this letter came
from my niece, or to pretend that
am informed as to her whereabouts"
Quite useless" affirmed Mrs.
SchuHler-Smythe, "but pray believe
you have my sympathy. Every n
will soon know of her disappearance,
and, as you say, such notoriety is
very unpleasant"
She paused, having scored in her
turn, and waited for Mrs. Robinson
to speak.
To my surprise, Aunt Josephine
turned to me in quite an appealing
manner, for the first time including
me in the conversation.
"Mr. Leigh"
"Ah!" interrupted Julia Smith.
1t was an involuntary exclamation,
apparently occasioned by surprise.
What did you say?" inquired Mrs.
Robinson.
Nothing" returned Julia Smith,
meekly enough.
mr.. Leigh" resumed Mrs. Robin
son, "the excitement of the last two
days has exhausted me. I am fast
becoming a nervous wreck. May l
request you to entertain these ladies
as long as they desire to remain in
house? Personally, I am incap-
able of further exertion and must ask
to be excused"
She inclined her head majestically
toward Mrs. Schuyler-Smythe, but the
Well Fed Crow had risen and was
walking toward the door.
IT came to do a neighborly act"
she said. "but if you really do not
care to know where your niece is
stopping"
Not in the least" interrupted
Aunt Josephine, in what Nancy called
her Empress Dowager manner, but
uSNSl luClCSo " IbC GU
clasped in her hand.
Julia Smith, following in the wake
of her aunt, paused suddenly and ex-
tended her hand.
my letter, please" she said, with
calm assurance.
Mrs. Robinson handed it to he-
with a look that should have crushed
her utterly. Julia Smith, however,
calmly received both look and letter
and departed with a final glance at
me so full of recognition that it
caused my pulse to quicken unpleas-
antly. I felt that, whatever might
come of it, I must speak to her and
find out the course she intended to
pursue.
To he Continued.