The Lamar register., 1910-07-06
TIL CIRCULAR STAIRCASE
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Armstrong died insolvent, as | believe
was the case. his widow ought to be
glad to be rid of so expensive a piece
OF property"
The lawyer cleared his throat.
Il am very sorry you have made
this decision" he said. Miss lines,
Mrs. Fitzhugh tells me Louise Arm
strong is with you"
She is"
Has she been informed of this
double bereavement
Not yet." said. She has been
very i'll; perhaps tonight she can be
told"
1T is very sad: very sad" he said
Il have a telegram for her. Miss In
mes. Shall l send 1t out?"
Better open 1t and read it to me-"
I suggested. IF 1t is important, that
will save time"
There was a pause while Mr. Har.
ton opened the telegram. Then he
read it slowly. judicially.
Watch for Nina Darlington. Home
Monday. Signed F. L. w"
HUM" l said. Watch for Nina
Darlington. Home Monday Very
well. Mr. Harton. I will tell her, but
| she is not in condition to watch for
any one"
We'll, Miss Innes. If you decide to
-er-relinquish the lease, let me
know" the lawyer said.
Il shall not relinquish it," I replied,
and l imagined his Irritation from the
way he hung up the receiver.
wrote the telegram down word for
word, afraid to trust my memory, and
decided to ask DIR. Stewart how soon
Louise might be told the truth The
closing of the Traders bank / con-
sidered unnecessary for her to know.
but the death Of her stepfather and
stepbrother must be broken to her
soon, or she might hear IL in some
unexpected and shocking manner.
DIR. Stewart came about four o'clock,
bringing his leather satchel into the
house with a great deal of care. and
opening it at the foot of the stairs
to show me n dozen big yellow eggs
nesting among the bottles.
Real eggs" he said proudly. None
of your anemic store eggs. but the real
thing-some OF them still warm. Feel
them. Egg-nog for Miss Louise!"
He was beaming with satisfaction,
and before he left, he insisted on 60
ing back to the pantry and making
an egg-nog with his own hands. Some
how, all the time he was doing IL,
had a vision OF DR.. Willoughby, my
nerve specialist in the city. trying to
make an egg-nog. wondered IL he
ever prescribed anything SO plebeian
and SO delicious. And while DR..
Stewart whisked the eggs he talked.
Il said to Mrs. Stewart" he con-
fded. n little red in the face from the
exertion. after I went home the other
day. that you would think me an old
gossip. for saying what I did about
Walker and Miss Louise"
Nothing OF the sort" ! protested.
THE fact is" he went on. evidently
justifying himself. Il got that piece Of
Information Just as we get lot Of
things. through the kitchen end Of the
house. Young Walkers chauffeur
Walkers more fashionable than I am.
and he goes around the country in q
Stanhope car-well. his chauffeur
comes to see our servant girl. and he
told her the whole thing. l thought
It was probable. because Walker spent
lot II time up here last summer.
when the family was here. and be
sides. Riggs. that's Walkers man. had
n very pat little story about the doc
tors building a house on this proper
ty. just at the foot Of the hill. The
sugar. please"
The egg-nog was finished. Drop by
drop the liquor had cooked the egg.
and now. with a final whisk. a last
toss in the shaker. It was ready. a
symphony In gold and white. The
doctor shifted 1t.
Real eggs. real milk. and a touch
Of real Kentucky whisky" he said.
He insisted on carrying It up him
self, but at the foot OF the stairs he
paused.
for the house." he said, barking back
to the old subject Drawn by Hus.
ton in town. So naturally believed
him.
When the doctor came down. I was
ready with a question.
Doctor" asked. lis there any one
in the neighborhood named Caring
ton? Nina Carrington?"
"Carrington?" He wrinkied his fore
head. "Carringto0? No. don't re-
member any such family. There used
to be Covingtons down the creek"
The name was Darlington I said.
and the subject lapsed.
GRO BE COHTINUED)