The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-20
cE1EG
&PROFESSOR,S
NM MYSTERY
kAEAM 0D
TGM VEILoHASTINGo 4
SkNN%N and II
% /" DRIAh H@kER ...,
G1D
WEIISHASTIN6S
anu
An HOOKER


them know as soon as may be that
I've been more fortunate. I'd tele-
phone IL knew where they Were"
But It's all SO ridiculous. I'm not
child, you know" Her petulancs
was rising again. Because a tramp
came into the house the other day Is
no reason for hedging me about as
II We were all back In the dark ages.
It's never likely to happen again; and
besides. there was no danger at the
time OF anything worse than losing
some OF the silver. l can't see the
least excuse for all this mysterious
caution. And it's been going on 80
for months-long before there was
even that shadow OF q reason"
| tried to play up to the situation.
Its just the exaggeration Of their
care for you, suppose You haven't
been quite well, and they worry need
lessly because IL matters so much.
Didn't you used to feel the same way
about Lady when she was little and
getting over the measles?"
4 The next instant / realized that !
should hardly have used the nick
name; but Mrs. Tabor did not seem
to have noticed my slip. She was
looking hxedly out through the part
ed curtains as though there were
some one In the hall, and I instinc-
lively glanced In the same direction.
When looked back again, she was
tBtiil distract, and went on And
anyway, it's splendid to see you SO
well at last"
She smiled. Il haven't really been
much laid up at ALL Eve only been
a little overtired. People worry about
me too much, Mr.. Crosby. have a
poor heart, but I'm always pretty
careful of myself: yet neither Mr.. Ia.
Dor nor Lady can seem to let me out
of their sight. l don't like It."
She brushed the hair from her fore
head with q weary little gesture OF
limpatience. She looked very much
as a pretty spoiled child might have
Yet I felt rather disloyal to the rest
OF them In listening. or course. Mrs.
Tabor meant nothing; she was, mere
ly tired and fretful; but stih, | did
not like being made the confdant Of
these family petulances. Lady, /
knew, loved her mother devotedly,
and so did Mr. Tabor-at least, he
had given every evidence of affection.
How would you like II, Mr.. eros
by" she added, If you could never
go out for even q walk all alone1
And Mr.. Tabor has been acting 30
strangely all this while-as IL he and
Lady shared some secret that they
were anxious to keep from me OF ali
people"
I was by now frankly embarrassed.
and I must have shown IL. II don't
Iquite see why-,"I began.
Are you in the secret too?" she
asked suddenly.
MY hair prickled. mo, OF course
not" I stammered. And don't real
lily think that there can be any secret,
Mrs. Tabor, or anything they would
keep from you" Yet began to won't
der whether she were acting cleverly,
lin ignorance of how much really did
know, or were actually guarded from
Iall knowledge OF the admitted mys-
terry. While I scrambled after a safe
word, | heard the crunch Of wheels
upoo the gravel.
There they are now" I said.
Lady and her father came hurry
ling into the room with all the air Of
having come home merely to touch
base, as the children say; az II they
but wished to inform themselves of
developments before starting out up-
on another quest. Lady saw her moth
er first.
why, mother dear!" she cried.
We" she stopped.
Mr.. Tabor coughed. Where n
Waiter" he asked.
Indeed, IdoH.t know Mrs. Tabor
answered rather sharply. What on
earth do you want OF him7"
Mr.. Tabor smiled slowly and en-
pansively. II don't want him at all,
my dear; but I do very much want
my dinner. Do you think Il IL nearly
ready7 Lady, suppose you poke things
I am nearly famished."
Well" said I, II had nearly for
gotten about supper, and believe We
are to have wafhes at the inn -
night" and got to my feet
Ito ~ Conaanu,AA