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

Therefore l made hasty adieux tc
Mrs. Robinson and boldly ascended
the brownstone steps next door,
Judging from the address Of Nancy's
letter, Julia Smith vas in private life
Miss Julie Schuyler. 1t "a Miss
Schuyler, therefore, to whom I dis
patched my card and who came tc
me. insthe ornate drawing-room I had
SO Often heard Starr describe. There
vas aElarge portrait OF a young cir
over the mantel. I supposed it was
Mildred, and was gazing at it with in
terest when she came.
do you think it good?" she in
quEed.
"As I do NC know the original, ,
cannot say. Have I the pleasure oil
addressing Miss Schuyler or Miss
Smith,"
Julia Smith laughed, thus display,
ing a hitherto unsupported dimple.
But for you," she said, II should
have been Mrs. Ferguesson."
I collapsed upon the nearest chair
This was indeed news and of a start
ling nature. I suddenly remembered
Ferguesson's agitation two nights
previous, his interest in the weather,
and his restless pacing to and fro
, while I watched the clock and waited,
So 1 sat in open-mouthed astonish-
ment, revolving these things in my
mind while Julia Smith sat and
watched me.
"Well?" she said.
RANDY" I gasped.
2 II prefer Randolph, it is SO much
/. more digniied. Yes, but for YOU
: And but for YOU" I interrupted,
81 too"
= She nodded.
: Il know. 1t was a strange coinci-
dence. I think'-she smiled mean
ingly-"that you were very wise to
come and talk things over with me.
Let US be comfortable.
She settled herself in a low chair
and waited for me to begin. I found
1t difficult to do so, but finally plunged
desperately.
How did you get out?"
Flow thoughtful in you to in
quire! I suppose you were dread
fully worried about me. BY the way,
how did you get out?"
~ Don't you know"
mo, but I have my suspicious.
say Mr. Casey this morning-in the
presence Of witnesses"
The dimple was again in evidence,
and l felt most uncomfortable.
= How was he?"
I tried to. speak indifferently, but
failed abjectIy.
HE seemed we'll in body but per-
turbed in spirit"
Julia Smith laughed at some recol-
lection, then became suddenly serious,
"Mr. Leigh" she said, I"where is
Randolph"
I said most truly that I did not
know.
Don't you?" I inquired, for really
it seemed fitting that she should be
Informed as to his movements
mo, I dont-truly. You see what
happened, of course. I thought you
were he, and he thought Miss Welles
was me. They must have arrived at
the corner shortly after we left it,
and got all mixed up, just as we did.
You can see from Miss WelIes' note
u saw you read it over Mrs. Robin
sons shoulder) that when they found
their mistake he left her and started
back for me. What became of him."
But I was more interested in Nancy
, than In Ferguesson.
where did he leave herr" I asked
eagerly.
Don't you know?"-there was as
tonishment and doubt in her voice.
- mo, : don't"
Julia Smith stared incredulously,
and finally announced her opinion
with startling frankness.
II don't believe you"
Nor did my most eloquent appeals
move her In the slightest.
The story I finally extorted from
Julia Smith was something of this
nature:
She and Randy had been secretly
engaged for some weeks, and had
planned to elope, as being more ro-
mantle than the usual course of
events, az we'll as more convenient
under the circumstances, At first
when everything went wrong, she had
determined that she could never re-
turn to her aunt's house, no matter
what happened, but after a night in
the police station she had changed
her mind, and telephoned them at
home. Her aunt had come to the
rescue and taken her away at once
I'm not exactly free" she con.
fessed, in a frightened whisper, "be,
cause OF Aunt Harriet. You see, she
disappeared the night I did. They
the police-seem to think I know
more about her than I VIII tell, sc
I'm what they call out on bail. IT..
a horrid feeling"
She shuddered, and I felt a creepy
sensation about my own spine. Bal
had been refused for me. and that
also was a "horrid feeling"
do you think" I said, that she
Miss Schuyler-Starr, you know
"No, I don't. Neither does Aunr
Caroline. because-well, I'm not e
49, - co., DIT ,l-~-O -. H. 49,