The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-22
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&PROFESSOR,S -
M MYSTERY l5N,
KN@AMNM, GIT MAX&
SEM Wells HASTINGS MxI4gg2
~ !" HRIAN HOOKER A"Y
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misfortc-c. who had chosen a seat
by herself, scarcely looked up. IL
was no great walk TO the house and
presently Miss Tabor pointed II out
to me. II was large and low. set well
back upon a great lawn that a tall,
dark hedge divided from the outer
world
As we neared the pillared gate a
high-shouldered man stepped out
nervously from the shadow. Miss
Tabor put her hand upon my arm.
Just wait here moment. please"
she said and ran forward to him
II had grown almost dark, but
could see that she leaned toward him,
placing both hands upon his shout
ders. The soft sibilance or her whis.
pered words and the startling rumble
Of his bass came to me indistinctly.
merely wordless tones. I grew red
In the darkness and turned my back.
for had caught myself trying toI
listen.
Presently Miss Tabor came to me. II
didn't mean to keep you SO long," she
apologized. "bdt you see"
1T wasn't long," I said shortly. sur
prised to find myself angry. So as
we climbed the steps the shadow had
dropped between us again.
For moment l stood blinking when
the door had shut behind us. Tho,
large, low room In which we stood
was not brilliantly lighted, but the
sudden change from the soft outdoor
gloom dazzled me. The room was
very large indeed. floored with dull
red tile, paneled In dark oak; great
Dutch fireplace, filled with flowers.
breathed fragrance. Opening from
the rooms far end, and raised three
steps above its level, was a dining-l
room. On our entrance two chairs
had been pushed back from theI
table, and now slim, pretty littlel
woman came running down the steps
and across the big room.
Lady, dear" she cried, what ont
earth has made you so late?" Shol
flung herself into Miss Tabor's arms,
hugging her as a child would.
Miss Tabor kissed her gaily wei
will tell you all about 1T, mother
DEAR" she laughed Let me intro
duce Mr.. Crosby, without whose helpI
should have probably been muchI
later. And, Mr.. Crosby, this is myI
mother"
She greeted me graciously, turningl
| to introduce me TO her husband. whol
| had followed her more slowly. Hell
was a ford man and rather tall. hisl
gray eyes being level with my own.
| When places had been made for us'
at the table, and we were gathered In!
the close radius of the table lights, \!
Found myself surprised that the!
daughter looked so little like either.I
] Her mother was much smaller than|
she, one of those women who never
grown thin or fat, but whose age|
comes upon them only as sort of dim-I
ming of color and outline. And ind
deed In the more intimate light d
| found her looking more her years,
pretty and soft and doll-like, but tool
| delicate a vessel for any great
strength OF spirit, a sweet little wom>
an, affectionate and inconsequent.l
Her words came quickly and with Al
certain merry insistence, but within
little nervous pauses that were almost|
sad In their intensity; and once whenl
| a bicycle sounded family from the
street she stopped altogether. her
hand at her heart, her head turned
and listening, until her husband 81
quick laugh brought her blue eyes|
questioningly TO him. Then we all
plunged into conversation at once asI
IL ashamed of the sudden pause 1t had
given us.
Miss Tabor and were made to give|
an account of our accident, or rather
she gave 1t, and very nicely tem1
pered account Il was, too. was kept|
busy devising plausible confirmation
of surprising advertisements. She
seemed for some reason very angious|
to hide possible seriousness in the
matter. and her first brief. pleading
glance bound me to her, freely accept
ing the judgment OF her conscience!
for my own. Under these circumI
stances | expected no mention OF thd
loss and finding Of the ring and there
was none.
(To he continued).