Evening star., 1912-11-03
Cleveland Moffett and Oliver Herford.


tdtlOn with hiram. Betty engaged new
cook and one housemaid by telephone
from London agency.
That afternoon the cook confided to the
laundress. in frightened whisper. that
she had been told In strict secrecy by
Parker, who got 1t from Gibson. Mrs.
Paxter's maid. that Mrs. Baxter had a
white mark on her forehead she would
carry to her grave, made by the Icy An
gers OF the Gray Lady. The story
spread among the servants Ike an epi-
demic.
AS night came on the last remnant Of
courage accumulated In The daylight
ooZed away, the frightened females re-
fused to be separated and passed the
night on sofas and chairs in the servants
rarlor.
As for Mrs. Baxter, the shock she had
received was no mean tribute to Hesters
histrionic power. Nothing could remove
from Eleanor's mind the conviction that
she had actually beheld the supernatural
shape of Lady Ysobel Ippynge. dead and
buried these hundreds of years.
Mingled with ner physical distress there
was childish sense Of outrage in that,
having survived a unique and Painful ad-
venture, she should. by its belittlement.
be robbed of the distinction she felt to
be her due.
II. reasoned the aggrieved lady. the
shock to my nerves isn't proof enough
that have really seen a ghost. then 1t is
because OF my great Self-cOntrol: and a i
the thanks you get for self-control is to
be told that you have nothing the matter
with YOU"
Very well, she would cease to cast this
pearl Of self-control before the swine of
unsymTathy. She would let them know
now really i'll she was. And so, aegra-
waited by the wei meant but irritating
optimism of her family. Eleanor Baxter s
nerves grew daily worse. until. on the
afternoon of her third day in bed. Hiram
telephoned to a nerve specialist In Lon
don. who took the first train for Ipping-
ford and informed the suffering lady
after careful examination. that she was
on the verge of complete nervous pros
tration. This was the first sensible re-
mark Eleanor had heard for a week.
Mr.. Baxter" said the doctor. as Hiram
put him aboard the train. "All your
wife really needs is a change of air.
Better take her down to Brighton
II m! Brighton. Swell place by the
sea amt it?''
Its quite fashionable resort just
what Mrs. Baxter needs
mo ghosts there?" chuckled the big
fellow.
mo ghosts" laughed the DOCTOR as he
waved farewell.
Hiram sent Bob back in the automobile
and walked home. With this mention Of
Brighton there had come to him an idea
that he wanted to work out an idea hav-
ing expenses. If stay at the seashore
was what Eleanor needed. why not give
her enough OF it, say fortnight or a
month? And, if they We're going to be
away month, why not close Ipping
House and get rid Of raft of servants? :?
And why not-then frowning. he thought
of the relatives and Of his favorite pur-
pose regarding them as he had outlined
1T to the Bishop of Bunchester, and then
he thought apprehensively of E eanor
a yn; ;rs
to be a job, but I'll do it."
That evening after dinner he went to
his wife's room and asked her carelessly
how she would like to go down to
Brighton for week or two. Eleanor
beamed. She would love it. Was he
really going to take her? How soon?
Could they stay a whole fortnight in
Brighton?
Hiram assured her most considerably
that they could .tay whoe month in
Brighton, If she wished. And they would
start the next day. She had been through
great strain. 1t was no joke to see
ghost, he understood that. They ought
to have known better than to take a
house that had a ghost in it. And then,
as tactfully as he could the old boy came
around to his point that it might be jus.
as we'll to close Ipping House and-and
give the ghost a rest.
EleanOrS eyes narrowed dangerously
as she watched him from her lace pillow
Close Ipping House?" she repea ted, in
a cold, even tone. DO you realize what
you are Saying?'
Hiram took off his gloves and polished
them with his handkerchief first blowing
on them deliberately.
Sure do; that's why I'm sayin it. If
we shut this house we can fire the serv-
ants. all of EN-: then, when we come
back we can get new ones. half as many
that way dearie. l hate like everything
to disappoint you. but" he reached
over and stroked her white hand tender
ly, ''you know what l said about ex-
penses? Well. I meant it then and
mean it now. We've got to ecOnomiZe."
what about my relatives? Our
guests?' she demanded, angriiy.
81 guess your relatives II have to take
their chances in a new DEAL Ereanor.
I'm go:n' to have little talk with .'em
Don't worry, l ant goin' to say a thing
but what's for their good. Bet ye three
dollars and half. when ye hear my
little speech"
You think ANYTHING could induce me to
be present while you humiliate members
of my family? / think it's abominable."
Hold on. There amt anything hu-
mi.iating i.is, .. in a, little % honest work.
don't mean-you're not going to put my
relativeS-to Work?
Hiram shifted his legs with exasperat-
ing calmness. pulled at his short. gray
mustache and was about to reply when
Robert strolled in cheerily and went at
once to Eleanor's bedside.
"HOW'S the little mother tonight?" he
asked. affectionately. Whereupon, to his
surprise and to Hirams great discom-
future, the lady burst into a flood OF
tears.
I'm so-unhappy." she walled. Your
father is treating me most unkindly and
and" her words We're lost in hys-
tercai sobbine.
Whereupon Baxter stalked out of the
room like a rumpled Newfoundland dog.
leaving Bob to administer filial comfort
and smelling salts. the result being that
Eleanor was presently able to give her
son a fearful version of Hiram's icono-
elastic purposes. Bob listened with an
amused and incredu'ous smile
Don't you know. mother" he reasoned.
that dads bark is always worse than
his bite? He won't close TIPPING House:
not a bit of it. I'll tax to him. and
what you need is sleep. especially if
you're going to BRIGHTON tomorrow
Il surpose you're right" sighed Flea
nor You're a dear boy. Bob Send
Gibson here. Tell her to bring a hot
water bag and my sulphonel tablets. And
do speak to your father. Tell h IN / can't
bear it if he closes Inping House."
II | tell him. Goodnight, little moth
er. There! It's going to be all ri hit
He kissed her lovingly and stole out OF
A few moments later young Baxter
joined his father in the library, where
the old man was frowning over important
Tapers that he had brought up from town
with him that evening Things were GO
ing badly the news from America was
SON weary and troubled. sat discussing
il until long after midnight.