Charlevoix county herald., 1913-11-01

Miss sydney Lawrence was a
young lady called by her friends
in default of a better word, &C.
centric. And chief among her &c
centricities was counted her mas
culine love for adventure, a taste
in which she did not consider her
sex in any way forbade her indulg-
ing; and as she was rich and her
own mistress there was nothing
to prevent her gratifying her fame
les however unconventional and
being possessed of a good physi-
que, strengthened by a thorough
athletic training, quick wiz, and
and utter fearlessness in the face
of danger, she had thus far been
enabled to come safely through
all her adventures.
But tonight Miss Lawrence was
neither i'll search OF not expecting
anything unusual as she stepped
from the seven-forty-tive train,
being bent on the peaceful errand
of joining party of friends at
the theatre.
She had come in town from her
suburban home alone, as was her
custom, but thinking she Nigh, see
some OF her party in the station,
she glanced over the waiting
crowd before making her way to
the street. AS she did SO her eyes
met those of a handsomely dres-
sed woman evidently awaiting
some one whom she thought she
had found in Miss Lawrence and
whom she Immediately approached
smiling and holding out a well
gloved hand.
"My DEAR" she said, II am SO
charmed to see you. / had begun
to fear that we had missed each
other in the crowd. / have a car
riage waiting and we will go TO
II at once"
And even While speaKing she was
leading Miss Lawrence through
the throng toward the street.
The young lady's first impulse
had been to explain the mistake
and proceed on her way, but some
thing in the woman's manner, her
haste to get her TO the waiting
carriage, her evident slight ac-
quaintance with the person she
came to meet, despite her effus-
iyeness, and the fact that for all
her rich clothing and skilful make
up she was not lady, decided her
to go with her. 1t might lead to
something and if not il were easy
to make a plausible explanation
later.
Outside the station a carriage
was waiting as her companion had
stated, ana into it they got and
were driven rapidly away.
During the drive the conversa-
ton, which was chiefly carried on
by the elder woman, in an affect
eddy sweet voice, was of the very
lightest nature, but through it all
the girl was conscious that she
was being subjected to sharp
scrutiny and did a bit of the same
thing on her own account.
That there was a mystery here
she was convinced, but what? In
what relation was she supposed
to stand to this woman sitting OPP
posite her? Certainly not that of
guest and hardly that of friend
since the talk was purely imper-
sonal.
Was it possible there had been
no mistake made after all, and this
was simply a trick to decoy her
into danger? 1t might be this
woman did not look like one liza
bic TO make mistakes. In that case
it behooved her to be more watch
full, that was all, since she had
never found herself in a position
yet from which her quick wit had
not been able to extricate her.
When the carriage stopped it
was in the neighborhood of some
fashionable apartment houses.
] hey alighted and entered one aid
Miss Lawrence followed her COM
panion into a beautifully furnish
ed drawingroom.
"And now, my DEAR said her
hostess for such she seemed to bel
"a bit of refreshment first and then
the matter in hand. Not business,
no, no / abhor the word 1t is not
one to be used between friends.
A glass Of wine and a biscuit for
Miss Hazelton," she said to the