Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-02

mind. like pictures. memories Of when
she was little and of her sister Rosalie.
1t seemed as if now, in the darkness, she
could see Rosalies sad, tired face and
loving eyes fixed on her. Well. she was
doing this for Rosalie, she wanted the
money for Rosalie and-she had gone
pretty far already, why not go a little
farther?
In this resolve the intruder moved
back into the library, and. without Civ
she cautiously assembled the winding
stair that led to Betty Thompson room
If the worst came she did not believe
this kind-eyed girl. her fellow-country-
woman. would betray her. Besides. why
should there be any trouble? 1t was
only a matter of silently turning the
knob. The noiseless, creeping light would
do the rest. If she saw the golf lag.
there by the dressing table. she could
get it without a sound. And. anyway.
Betty must be in her deepest sleep. 1t
would take more than the squeak of a
board or the crack of a too-tense knee
joint to rouse her. None of which rea-
soning availed. for now, when Hester
an unyielding barrier against her; the
door was locked.
So that was settled. If the golf bag
was in Betty Thompson's chamber il
must stay there. She would take no
risks of picking a lock. and-perhaps this
WASH nor lucky night. IeFndES she Ilstu
better fade away before anything went
wrong.
Crouching on the lower step of the
STAIR Hester heard the chimes ring out
the third quarter before >. Only fifteen
minutes since she began her search
Should she make one more effort? Should
she try Mrs. Bakers room. and. If
nothing came of that, then stop for the
night? 1t wasn't likely both women
would lock their doors.
nrfa fha Inv
of the house. Mrs. Bakers room was
ONE flight up by the main staircase, the
second door on the right going down the
hall. 1t was easy enough to go to this
door, and-very WELL she would go there
and then decide. No great harm could
come from listening at a door Alas,
One never knows how harm may come.
Swiftly and silently the restless search
er slided through the great hall. then up
the massive stairs of heavy. polished oak.
finding her way through the darkness by
the guiding flashes Of her lamp Eut
when she reached the head of the stairs
and turned cautiously down the corridor
she stopped with a frightened gasp, for
there, beyond her, spreading under the
second door, Mrs. Bakers door. was a
band of light. And even as She stood.
hesitating. her fears were increased by
the sound of footsteps in the bedroom
Not only was Mrs. Baxter awake, she was
coming toward the door.
Like flash and noiselessly the Storm
girl darted on and vanished into the
black depths Of the corridor beyond II
the mistress Of the house had heard her
on the stairs. 1t was toward the stairs
that she would go now, SO the safest
place was away from the stairs Trem-
bling and breathless the girl shrank be-
hind some heavy curtains at the end of
the hall and waited.
moment later the door opened and
Mrs Baxter appeared in a long. loose
garment and carrying candle The
light was full on her face. which was
deathly white and bore, Hester thought.
look of terror And as the lady moved
down the corridor. holding her pickering
taper. she seemed to shrink away from
the black shadows around her. And
when she reached the stairs She hurried
down with furtive chances behind. as if
she felt herself pursued. What trouble
or mystery was here?
The girl listened until Mrs. Bakers
footsteps sounded in the hall below, then
she followed softly. and. leaning over
the railing. watched the movements of
the candle. 1t disappeared into the IL
brary. and presently there came the
sound of an opening door. Mrs. Baxter
had gone through into the conservatory.
What could she want in the conservatory
at this time of night? Could she sus-
pect there was an intruder i'm the house?
Was it this that caused her fears? I'M
possible! No woman would leave her
room to meet a hidden burglar. She
would scream. she would alarm the
house: she would do anything but face
the dangers lurking in a shadowy con-
servatory-
Then what was the explanation? Why
had Mrs. Baxter, with pallid face and
haunted eyes. gone down those stairs?
She must be looking for something that
she needed very much. Strange that
there should be two women in this house
looking for something that they needed
very much. And. suddenly. Hester real
hat IN
into Mrs. Bakers bedroom. The door
was ajar. the light was still burning.
One quick glance would tell her what she
so much wanted to know.
There. The door opened noiselessly
as she pressed it back. Not a sound from
below Now, then, The girl stepped
into the chamber and looked about her.
On a small table at the head Of the rum
pied bed lay a book. face downward. by
a shaded lamp Mrs. Baxter had evil
IDENTIFY been trying to read herself to
sleep. Some exciting story, NO doubt. that