The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-07-13

and me in such a calculating man
ner, as though he was comparing oul
merits. Randolph told me about
hunting for a wife for him, and
thought it was outrageous"
But why didn't you give away m!
little game?"
Because" she said, II had recog'
nized you. You know I often saw
you going nextSdoor. And I thought
well, Mr.. Leigh, I thought perhap:
you would help me. I was sure you
were waiting for Nancy Welles, just
as l was waiting for Randolph. Wher
Aunt Caroline came to me early this
morning, before I saw Mr.. Casey, and
told me about the excitement mex
door, I knew you would look for her
and I thought Randolph might be
with her. Oh, dear!-I wish I knew
where he was"
There was more than a hint o.
tears in her voice, and as she reached
for her handkerchief I again saw my
ring upon the third finger of her left
hand.
May I ask" / said, where you
got that ring?"
ut is my engagement hing"
ct does not look like a new ring
mo, it isn't. Randolph is going tc
replace it just as soon as he can find
something good enough for me. Why
are you so interested in it, may ]
ask?"
Even now I would be loyal to
Randy. Had T not often borrowed
his property in an emergency when
l had nothing of my W suitable?
"Oh, nothing" I said, lit is un'
usual looking, that is all. You don't
find that pattern everywhere, you
know"
1 began to think of my own affairs
again.
Then" I hazarded, u may trust
you not to betray me? I won't keep
Casey there long. Just at present ]
must have my liberty"
mo" she said; II won't say a
word. That is, if you promise to
help find Randolph and Aunt Harriet,
Find him first, please"
First of ALL" I remarked. II must
find Nancy Welles."
Julia Smith gave me a peculiar
look.
IF I were YOU" she said, "and
you really don't know where she is,
I should not waste time running
around the city. Just go home and
think the matter over quietly. Per-
haps I shall think better of it in an
hour and call you up on the telephone
TO give you her address. You know
I have it here. You had better wait
to hear from me-"
CHAPTER VIII.
! went home, not because Julia
Smith las 1 always thought of herr
had advised it, but because I did not
know what else to do.
Unmolested, l entered the base
ment hall and sought Mrs. Stubs.
That worthy woman appeared hot
and uncomfortable looking and very
evidently out of temper. She had
no news to impart. Yes, the police
had been there and searched the
rooms again. Yes, they had asked
questions about me, but had not
seemed much interested as to my
whereabouts. No, nothing had been
heard of Miss Harriet Schuyler, or of
Starr either. For her part she be-
lieyed them both dead. Might she
consider US responsible for the rent
of his if she kept it as it was?
Otherwise she would rent it if she
had an opportunity, as she was a poor
widow and must live.
I pledged myself for a months
rent and ruefully climbed the stairs.
Never before had they seemed SO
long to me, nor had l been SO reluct-
ant to reach the top. For, once in
our rooms, I would be alone for a
time, and again a thousand doubts
and fears would assail me. Solitude
was obnoxious to me just now, and
the dingy old rooms were filled with
neutrality-suspicious. ghosts of a
long ago. that already seemed far
away and a part of another existence.
I went to my own room and sank
into the chair by the window, rest
ing my head against the shabby, un-
comfortable back and giving way to
profound melancholy. 1t was really
a luxury to revel in it undisturbed,
so I gave my fancy full play and al
lowed the little devils of doubt and
distrust to enter my heart and hold
high carnival there.
Where were Starr and Tergues-
son? If Randy had really wanted to
marry Julie Schuyler, why did he not
appear and say so. If Starr were
alive. surely he read the papers. II
he knew nothing of Miss Harriet
Schuyler, why did he not appear and
prove an alibi? Above all, where
was Nancy?
1 turned my head restlessly. A
faint perfume seemed to emanate
from the old chair, usually saturated
with tobacco. I shifted wonderingly
decided it was imagination, and re-
turned to my improbable musings
By her own showing Nancy had mel
~Ferguesson. In my opinion morta.
man could not be within her spell
and not succumb. Had Randy. by