The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-08-03

but as the 'front.' door closed behind
the tall figure OF man who had been
admitted to the house ! realized that
II was some one l had seen before.
There was something reminiscent In
the broad shoulders, I'm the walk. Il
was some one / knew. or ought TO
have recognized, yet who II was or
where l had seen him | could not az
the moment recall.
/ I was not three minutes behind him
I'm reaching the door. Though the other
visitor had been admitted at once,
there was no Immediate response TO
my ring | waited while and rang
again. II seemed minutes before any
one answered. then one of the maids
opened the door trifie and peered |.
out
mfr. Kent 10 see Miss Louise"
said. -
To my great amazement she did not
open the door TO me. but still holding
II Just barely enough to enable her 10
talk TO me. said I'm sorry, but
have orders TO admit no one 10 the
house"
still thought she was only carrying
out a general order. the wisdom for
which l could readily see.
"Of course, understand that You
have your orders, but please tell Miss
Louise that Mr.. Kent is here"
"I1l tell her. II you WISH" she said
doubtfully. carefully closing the door
before she went on the mission
The shutting OF the door In my face
gave me an odd sense OF desolauon.
Il seemed as IL l were being shut out
OF the life of the woman l loved. Yet
on second thought / smiled at my per
turbation. The maid was only carry
ing out necessary order. AS soon
as Louise knew was there she would
come running to the door herself. IN
n minute she would be folded In my
arms and all Misunderstanding would
be cleared away. Undoubtedly she
would have a good explanation for
her telephone message OF the niEnt
before. | told myself that II was only
lack OF sleep and the incident In tie
park that had upset my nerves Ny
misgivings were utterly foolish.
AT length the door opened slowly
had expected 10 see Louise herself BE-
hind II, but Il was the same maid. This
time she held the door hardly as wide
as before.
"Pm sorry, sir, she said, but Miss
Louise says she can not see you now.
"What?" / gasped
She repeated her message while 4
stood there dazed. There must De
some mistake. Louise must have mis-
understood the name.
did you tell her II was Mr. kentf
Eyes, sir. told her"
What did she say"
"She said she could not see you OF
any one else now"
| was puzzled beyond expression.
why should Louise refuse 70 see met
| was conscious OF having done moth
ing TO offend her II only | could see
her for Just n minute 10 find out what
was the matterl felt that must
reach her. For an instant ! was
tempted to brush past the maid and
force my way In. Surely Louise or
her own accord would not treat me
thus. She must be beside herself with
grief. Perhaps she was under the
same malign influence that so DIS
tnessed her sister. Yet even In the
depths OF despair We observe the con
ventionalities.
"Wnl you ask Miss Louise when
she can see me?" found myself say
ing in calm tones TO the maid
Again she closed the door in my
face. Again ! waited,
Miss Louise says that she will see
you II you will return I'm an hour,
was the message that was brought me.
! left the Parrish door and stumbled
blndly up the street The plight In
which | found myself seemed inexpli-
cable, maddening was sure Louise
loved me. Had she not turned TO me
In the first hour OF her distress? Had
she not telephoned me. when her sis
ter shot herself? Had she not permit
ted me 20 take her In my armsY Had
she not commissioned me 10 solve the
mystery Of the yellow letter? Yet
why had she babe me discontinue my
search? Why had she shut her door
to mel What could be her motive?
What could have influenced her
against me?
Torn by a hundred conflicting emo
tons, I traversed street after street,
not knowing or caring whittier my
feet were taking me. | must have re-
traced my steps, for ! found myself
In the block where the Farrishs lived.
looked at my watch and saw Il was
still half an hour before the time !
had been told 20 return. turned
away from the house and wandered
aimlessly on There was some mys-
terry In I,ouise's conduct ] could not
fathom. She refused to see me, yet
Just ahead of me some one else had