The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-06
CHAPTER Y.
HELEN SURPRISES swEErwArER.

Sweetwater reached the lower
floor. He was at the side door
when they came III, and n single
glance convinced him that all had
gone off decorously at the grave and
that nothing further had occurred DUR
ing their absence to disturb them
He followed them as they filed away
into the kitchen and, waiting till the
men had gone about their work. turn
ed his attention to the girls. who
stood about very much as IL they did
not know just what to do with them
selves.
"Sit. ladies'" said be. drawing up
chairs quite as If he were doing the
honors Of the house. You're all up
set. you are. by what Mr.. Cumberland
said in such an unbecoming way at
the funeral. He'd like to strangle Mr..
Ranelagh! Why couldn't he walt for
the sheriff? Ii looks as IL that gen
ueman would have the Job. all right"
"Oh. don't" walled out one OF the
girls, the impressionable. warm heart
ed Maggie. The horrors OF this
house will kill me. l can't stand it a
minute longer. I'll go-Ill go to-mor-
row.
you won't; you're too kind hearted
10 leave Mr.. Cumberland and his sis
ter in their desperate trouble" Sweet
water put in. with a decision as sug-
gestive OF admiration as he dared to
assume.
Her eyes filed. and she said no
more. Sweetwater shifted his atten-
ton TO Helen. Working around by
her side. he managed TO drop these
words into her ear:
''She talks most. but she doesn't feel
her responsibilities any more than you
do. I've had my experience with wo-
men. and you're OF the sort that
stays"
She rolled her eyes toward him In a
slow. surprised way that would have
abashed most men.
81 don't know your name or your
business here" said she, but 1 do
know that you take good deal upon
yourself when you say what / shall
do or shan't do. l don't even know
myself"
world he launched forth in a TRADE
against the man then in custody. as
though his guilt were an accepted fact
and nothing but the formallties OF the
law stood between him and his inal
doom. ut must make you all feel
queer" he wound up. ito think you
have waited on him and seen him
tramping about these rooms for months
just as If be had no wicked feelings
in his heart and meant TO marry Miss
Cumberland-not TO kill her"
"Oh. oh!' Maggie sobbed out. "And
a perfect gentleman he was too.
can't believe no bad of him. He was
not like Her breath caught and so
that Sweetwater was always
that the more cautious Helen
had twitched her by her skirt. Like
like other gentlemen who came here.
1t was kind word be had or a smile.
~ She made no attempt 10 finish.
but bounded 10 her feet. pulling NJ
The more sedate Helen with her. Lets
20" she whispered. I'm afeared OF
the man."
The other yielded and began TO cross
he door behind the impetuous Mag.
gle.
Sweetwater summoned up his cour-
lge.
zone moment" he prayed. ''win
rou not tell me before you go whether
he candlestlck have noticed on the
lining room mantel is not one or n
)air?"
"Yes: there were two-once." said
Helen. resisting Maggie's effort to drag
Ter out through the open door.
"0nce." smiled Sweetwater; 'by
which you mean three days ago"
A lowering OF her head and q sudden
make for the door.
Sweetwater changed his tone to one
Il simple inquiry.
And was that where they always
TODD. the pair Of them. one on each
nd OF the dining room mantel?"
She nodded, involuntarily perhaps.
'ut decisively.
Sweetwater hid his disappointment.
The room mentioned was a thorough
are for the whole family. Any mem
,er OF n could have taken the candle
tick -
Continued on Page Four.