Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-14
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i: ::. Ley; E'c.
SKe was suffering, 70 was I. Jim 10
- ven - he ever was. He's upstairs
somewhere. I'll send for him."
She gripped me again. and held on
while her color came back.
you'll do nothing Of the kind" she
said. and she had quite got hold Of
herself again. II do not want to see
him: hope you don't think. Kit, that
came hero to sec James Wilson.
Why. have forgotten that there 10
such . person. and you know It"
Somebody upstairs laughed. and
was growing nervous. What II Aunt
Selma should come down. or Mr.. Har-
bieon come out Of tho den?
why did you come. then, Bella?"
inquired. He may come in"
Il was passing in the motor" she
said. and honestly think she hoped l
would believe her. land saw that
am" She stopped and began again.
Il thought Jim was out of town, and
came to see Takahiro.' she said
brazenly. "He was devoted to me,
and Evans Is going to leave. I'll tell
you what to do, Kit. I'll go back to
the dining room, and you send Taxa
there. II any ono comes. can slip
into the pantry"
TITS immoral" protested. ITS
immoral to steal your"
my own butler!" she broke In i'm
patiently. You're not usually 20
scrupulous. Kit. Hurry! I hear that
hateful Anne Brown"
So We slid back along the hall. and
rang for Takahiro. But no one came.
II think I ought to tell you. Bella. !"
! said ~ We waited. and Bella was
staring around the room-'T think you
ought to know that Miss Caruthers 10
here" Bella shrugged her shoulders.
We'll. thank goodness" she said.
n don't have to sec her. The only
pleasant thing remember about my
year Of married life 10 that did not
meet Aunt Selma"
rang again, but still there was no
answer. And then It occurred to me
that tho stiffness below stairs was al
most oppressive. Bella was noticing
things, too. for she began to fasten
her veil again with q malicious little
smile.
''One Of the things l remember my
late husband saying she observed.
was that he could manage this house.
and had done It for years. with nav
less service. Stand on the bell. Kit"
did. We stood there, With tho
table, Just - 1t had been left, be-
tween US and waited for Q response.
Bella was growing impatient. She
raised her eyebrows (shs 10 very
handsome, Bella is) and dung out her
chin % II she had begun to enjey the
horrible situation.
thought heard Q rattle Of silver
from the pantry Just then. and hur-
ried to the door In . rage. But the
pantry was empty Of servants and
full Of dishes, and all the lights were
out but one. which was burning dimly.
could have sworn that saw one Of
the servants duck into the stairway to
the basement, but when got there
the stairs were empty. and something
was burning In the kitchen below.
Bella haA followed me and was peer
ing over my shoulder curiously.
There isn't servant in the house"
she said triumphantly. And when We
won't down 10 the kitchen, she seemed
TO b right. It was in disgraoeful or
der, and ono Of the bottles Of wine
that had been banished from the din
ing room cat half empty on the floor.
Drunk" Bella said with conviction.
But didn't think 20. There had not
been time enough, for one thing. Sud
denly reDembsred the ambulance
that had besn the cause Of Bella's ap-
DeaFaDoe-for NO one could believe
hsr silly story about Takahiro. I
simply lst her there. staring helpless
II ct the confusion. and ran upstairs
again: through the dining room. past
Jimmy and Aunt Selma, past Leila
Mercer and Max. who were flirting on
the stairs. up, up to the servants bed
rooms. and there my suspicions were
verified. There was every evideoce Of
. hasty flight: in three bedrooms nve
trunks stood locked and ominous. ana
the closets yswned with open door,
empty. Bella had been right: there
was not . servant in the house.
AZ I emerged from the untidy emptt
ness Of the servants wing. met Mr..
Harbison coming out Of the studio.
II wish you would let me do some
Of this running about for you. Mrs.
Wilson" he said gravely. You are
not we'll. and cant think Of anything
worse for . headache. Has the but
1erAs illness clogged the household ma
chine1yr
Worse" I replied. trying not to
breathe in gasps. ~ wouldn't be run
ming around-like this-but there 1s
not . servant In the house! They
have gone. the satire lot"
That's odd" he said slowly. Scene!
Arc you sure?'
In reply I pointed to the servsnts'
wing. Trunks packed" said trag-
ically. rooms empty. kitchen and PAN
tries fun q dishes. Did you ever
hear Of anytAing like ft7'
''Nsvsr." he assorted. TT makes me
suspect" What he suspected he did
not say; instead he turned On his
heel. without . word Of explanation.
aad ran down the stairs. I stood star.
ing after him. wondering II every one
IN tia 1lann had Rono 0ra4Y Then