The Washington times., 1913-10-11
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
(<TT'S preposterous! It's unthinkable,
There's no sense in 1t at all. And
then for her to show UP here

TnereS no sense IN IL at ALL anu
then for her to show UP here
you fellows must te mistaken. !
tell you IT'S simply absurd
Il know it." replied Phillip doggedly.
ut seems absolutely without reason, on
the face OF IT, but the fact remains that
it's true. I'll stake my oath on it
True or not" put in Bertram, I'm
Just as sure of it as Phil is. Why don't
you watch her for a bit-she'll give
herself away sooner or later. see if sne
doesn't. Maybe you can find out what
she's up to.
We've got to shove of now il we
want swim before breakfast" he add
ed. scrambling none too gracefully TO
his feet.
Going to take Lucy a little way Up
the river this morning, and we want to
make an early start before it gets too
hot
Don't forget to be here sharp at
O'Clock this afternoon, then" said Robin.
I'VE ought to make a good catch to-
night, III think over what you've told
me. but can't for the life Of me be-
Well you Just keep a quiet lookout"
tdvised Phillip over his shoulder.
No need of alarming Mrs. Van Rens-
selaer yet, you know. Only ] advise
YOU to try to find out what her game is.
II will Thanks for telling me. So
long"
He stood watching their canoe as it
glidsd out, rounded the point, and dis
appeared from view, his mind chaos
OF conflicting thoughts.
The evident sincerity Of the two men
had impressed him, unquestionably, but
the Observation-Disclosures of their state
nent, more, the seeming absurdity of 1t,
the lack of all motive for such a mas
against his every attempt 10 accept as
fact the conviction they so firmly en-
tertained.
He started back to the house in
cided upon. He would follow their ad-
vice about watching the girl and see II
he could discover for himself any evil
dence Of her being other than the quiet.
unobtrusiye, well-trained domestic she
had appeared.
He hadn't noticed her. save casually.
She had seemed neat looking. rather
pretty, now he thought of IT,
Oh! the whole thing was impossible,
unbeHevable-but, he would watch.
As he mounted the veranda steps. a
little pathetic haunting melody came
softly through the open French windows
of the nvine-room:
Some one was singing just within
nlsing. beautifully modulated mezzo.
1t was not Victoria-he was quite sure
he had never heard the voice before.
And the scng-its delicate. recurring
voice giving II just the plaintive shade
which brought out its charn-where had
he heard OF it before?
He stepped softly across the veranda
till he stood near one OF the Windows
near enough to catch the almost Groom
ing words:
Tel On ruban qu'on mutt autour des
neurs ecloscs,
Tient encor le bouquet alors qu'll
est Jane
Tel IhumbIe anneeu dargent que
vOus m 'ayeZ donne
Garoe en- son circle retoit nos prom
esses enclose6
The Silver Ping" Who could II be,
singing Chaminade. here in a lodge in
The heart OF the Adirondacks-and at
$40 in the morning?
Whoever IL was, sang-or rather
hummed quite to herself, ami half un-
consciously, for there was unexpect-
ed. absent minded little pauses and
lapses. as II the thread of the song
was momentarily snapped by some |
thing which now ard then diverted
the thoughts of the singer, only to be
picked up meditatiyely where II had |
been Interrupted.
II was as II the singer unthinkingIy !
was expressing her morning rrocd in !
gong.
Robin tiptoed still nearer the win
dow. and shamelessly peeped in. |
There at the center table. arranging |
masses Of purple star-eyed asters in |
an irldescent bowl. and totally un-
ofs any eye upon her, stood |
the mysterious new maid !
She was pretty distractingly |
pretty. Her rusBct- brown hair was
drawn back as severely as its ripping |
curls would permit beneath the de- |
mpre little cap. and her long la.hes |
swept her rshcd cheeks as she bent |
ever her task.
He noticed the perfect poise of her
small lead Tn the slim neck the grace
full lines Of the slender, girlish figure--l
even tns delicate arch of the tiny foot |
In its fat. practical slipper
This girl 4 servant? The very thought
was iaughabIe in its absurdity.
What could her motive be for such
q masuuerade-what was she doing in
mental position ir his brothers house,
That her object could be a nefarious
ane ht could not for an instant believe
after this prolonged scrutiny OF her
when she was unconscious OF any
eEpionnge completely off guard
suddenly as II subconsciously aware
Of his regard. she glanced I'm and met
his eyes. and the song stopped.
A slight tinge of red mounted In her
cheeks and she bent still lower over
her task. but gave no further indication
ef being aware Of his presence