The Raymer enterprise., 1911-01-19
CHAPTER ~.
| Mlqht Have Known Il.

Tho minute | had consented I re-
gretted II. After all, what were jim
my's troubles to me? Why should I
help him impose on an unsuspectlng
elderly woman? And It was only put
ting on discovery anyhow. Sooner or
later. she would learn OF the divorce.
and-Just at that instant my eyes fell
on Mr.. Harbison-Tom HARRISON, as
Anne called him. He was looking on
with an amused. half.puzzled smile.
while people were rushing around hid.
ing the roulette wheel and things OF
which Miss Caruthers might disap-
prove. and Betty Mercer was on her
knees winding up toy bear that Max
had brought her. What would he
think? 1t was evident that he thought
badly Of us already-thst he was con.
temptuously amused, and then to
have to nsk him to lend himself to the
deception!
With gasp hurled myself after
Jimmy. only to hear a strange voice
In the hall and to know that | was too
late. was In for II, whatever was
coming II was Aunt Selma who was
coming-along the hall, followed by
jim, who was mopping his face and
trying not to notice the paralyzed 81.
lence In the library.
Aunt Selma met me In the doorway.
To my frantic eyes she seemed to
tower above us by at least foot, and
beside her Jimmy was a red. perspir.
ing cherub.
Here she Is" Jimmy said, from be-
hind temporary eclipse OF black
cloak and travelling bag. He was on
top OF the situation now, and he was
mendaciously cheerful. He had not
said, Here is my wife" That would
have been lie. No, Jimmy merely
said. Here she Is" II Aunt Selma
chose TO think me Bella. was II not
her responsibility? And II chose to
accept the situation. was II not mine?
Dallas Brown came forward gravely
rs Aunt Selma folded over and kissed
me, and surrept!tiously patted me
with one hand while he held out the
other to Miss Caruthers. | loathed
him
We always expect something un.
usual from James. Miss Caruthers,"
he said with his best manner, but
this-this is beyond our widest
dreams"
Well. It's too awful 70 llnger over
Anne took her upstairs and into
Bella's bedroom. II was n fancy OF
Jim's to leave that room Just as Bella
had left It, dusty dance cards and IA.
vors hanging around and a pair OF dis.
carded slippers under the bed don't
think II had been swept since Bella
left It. believe In sentiment, but
like II brushed and busted and the
cobwebs OF OF II. and when Aunt Sc.
lima put down her bonnet, II stirred
up a gray white cloud that made her
cough. She did not say anything, but
she looked around the room grimly,
and saw her run her finger over
the back OF chair before she let
Hannah. the maid. put her cloak on It.
Anne looked frightened. She ran
into Bela's bath and wet the end OF
. towel and when Hannah was chang.
ing Aunt Selinas collar-her conces.
sion to evening dress-Anne wiped
OF the obvious places on the furniture.
whats that young woman's
name7" she asked me sharply, when
Anne had taken the towel out TO hide
II.
Anne Brown. Mrs. Dallas Brown"
replied meekly. Every one replied
meekly to Aunt Selma.
Does she live here?"
"oh. no." said airily. They are
here to dinner. she and her husband.
They are old friends Of Jim's-and
mine"
Seems to have Q good eye for
dirt" said Aunt Selma and went on
fastening her brooch. When she was