Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12


backness descended to her.
Her last sensation of all the room, turned hide
ousy ebon crushing in upon her walls and ceiling, and
then-she knew
A large automobile with a limousine BODY closely
curtaned had driven up the curb outside and halted
there. Five minutes later three wrapped figures. sup
porting between them what appeared to be helpless
invalid descended the steps. made hurried entrance to
the with their charge and were rapidly driven away
Chapter XxXIII. A Still Alarm
A T one o'clock with the increasing in fury and
Threatening to become blizzard, Alice Van Kirk
already impatient and blaming herself for having
permitted Thurey to respond reckeSSy person to
the needs of her unfortunate cousin
She remembered the dread with which she had per-
mtted Thurley visit to the place on the former
sion. With a of uneaSneSs and lndefnabe pre-
monition expanding in her subconscious self
she thought OF the weather, OF Ihureys unprotected
condition. and her beauty that marked her at once for
attention she rebuked herself for permitting the
girl undertake another of these doubtful excursions
alone.
She stood by the window commanding view of the
well the street running east, eagerly
scanning every carriage that might contain the PI1n-
cess" Countless important trifes neglected She
owned herself frankly worried before she might in
reason have expected Thurley home.
By half past one, with the all but deserted in
the fury of the gale and driving snow, Alice hdget
ing feverish, and thoroughly distressed. She felt
utterly helpless! She aggravated by the knowledge
that the house where Edith lived hornd place,
without telephone and without proper heat for such
a day. Thurey would be certain to contract cold, if
nothing occurred to make this adventure the last
of its kind that should ever be permitted.
Alone with her servants, Alice felt more than ever
isolated and haunted by multiplying fears. At two
o'clock unable to endure the uncertainty longer and
possessed of all of suggestions and suspicious,
she ordered of the go at with the
to the place of EdthS residence and determine
what had happened
"Phone once, before starting home, she in
sructed concealing her agitation best she might,
land insist that Miss Thurey return without delay,
though her task is unfinished
She certain Thurley would come before the man
could reach the house She told herself she felt relieved
now that something had been done Nevertheless she
oscillated back to the window times innumerable.
sraning her eyes to peer far down the gloom,
to detect the form of James and the dark maroon OF her
carriage.
When the phone bell finally tangled its demand for
attention her were all on edge She fastened to
the instrument.
We'll! Hello! Hello! Is that you, John? You're
coming hone?"
Like the voice of ghost hard riding on the storm,
of er, Maam. Not there Ala'am. The 'ouse was hap
parently hempty, Ma to hopen the door
nothink alive about the place, Ma am.
Alice felt sudden overwhelming confirmation OF her
nebuous fears Something sank in her bosom leadenly:
Are you you had the right number, John?' and
she gave it again with most distinct particularty.
There could be no doubt that John had applied tor
admission to the house that Edith had named.
Alice all but moaned. But, she demanded, where
is James,"
''Drivnk up and down, Ma to keep is orses from
freezing He 'asnt seen nohink of Miss Thurley. Els
stoppink where she posted i'm, Ma'anl, to wait.
Alice hesitated, settled conviction OF disaster to
Thurey taking unopposed possession OF her being.
John she called, why ddn you ask at the other
houses near? Go and do at once-and then phone
again.
$50 did, Maam - John replied across the wire. Il
knocked up three of the neghbors and two knows no
think at ALL Ma am and the third old person says all
the parties in the ouse I referred moved out and
went away this morning, Ma am takin sick one with
them. and goin in car
"Wheno" cried Alice sharply. Was it after Miss
Tfurley arrived?"
The old party didn't say, Ma am, not aving seen