Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-15
BvJOHN BRE( kENRlDGE ELI
Copyright. lel2, The

ByJOHN bRkA
Copyright. lei2, The 500
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)
Grace, conscious of doing all that
one could in consulting Mrs. Gregory,
too, looked toward the choir loft,
and smiled into Hamilton Gregory's
eyes. How his baton, inspired by that
smile, cut magic runs In the air! An
anthem rose buoyantly, covering the
ensuing conversation with it's mantle
of sound.
Mrs. Gregory" Grace said in a low
voice. II suppose Professor Ashton Is
so surprised at seeing you in church
it has been more than five months,
hasn't It? /. that I'm afraid he
isn't thinking about what I'm saying"
She paused as if to ask why the other
was there,-as If she we're an inter-
loper, who, having by absence forfeit
ed her rights, now came in her AFRO
gance to claim them. Not only Grace's
tone, but her very attitude seemed to
ask, why is this woman here?"
Mrs. Gregory could not help feeling
in the way, because her husband
seemed to share Grace's feeling In
stinctively she turned to her mother
and laid her hand on the invalid's arm.
They amt bothering me, Lucy"
said the old lady, alertly. II can't
hear their noise, and when l shut my
eyes can't see their motions"
Il have something to tell you both, "
Grace said solemnly. Last night.
couldn't sleep, and that made me SEN
sitive to noises. I thought I heard
some one slipping from the house just
as the clock struck half-past eleven.
It seemed incredible, for I knew If it
were any one, it was that Fran, and l
didn't think even she would do that"
1t was as if Abbott had suddenly
raised window in a raw wind. His
temperature descended. The others
manner OF saying THAT Fran" OBJ
scured his glass of the future.
Mrs. Gregory said quickly, Fran
leave the house at half-past eleven?
Impossible"
Grace smiled unpleasantly. Believ-
ing Fran, possibly an impostor, GER
tainly disturbing element, it was her
duty to drive her from her employers
house; but however pure and noble
her disapproval, Grace could not speak
of the orphan without tone or look
suggesting mere spite.
How do you know" Abbott asked,
that Fran left the house at such a
time of the night?''. The question
was unfair since it suggested denial,
but his feeling for Fran seemed to call
for unfairness to Grace.
II will tell you," Grace responded,
with the distinctiveness of one In
power. At the time, / told myself
that even Fran would not do that
But, a long time afterward, heard
another sound, from the yard. | went
to my window. I looked out. The
moon was bright, but there was a very
dark shadow about the front gate.
heard voices. One was that of Fran.
The other was the voice Other tone
vibrated in it's intensity-"the voice
of man! '.....
1T was not Fran's voice." Mrs.
Gregory declared earnestly.
81 do not know. l wish now, that l
had called out" responded Grace, pay
ing no heed to Mrs. Gregory. THAT Is
where | made my mistake. The man
got away. Fran came running into the
house, and closed the door as softly
u
from the outside! concluded 1t
would be best to wait till morning be-
fore l said a word. So this morning,
before breakfast, strolled in the
yard, trying to decide what had bet
ter do. l went to the gate, and there
on the grass-what do you suppose I
found?"
Abbott was bewildered. What seri-
Gus consequences was Grace about to
evolve from the bridge romance?
Mrs. Gregory listened, pale and with
apprehension.
1T was a card" Grace said, with aw-
full significance, "a gambling card! AS
long as have lived in the house, no
body ever dared to bring card there.
Mrs. Gregory will tell you the same.
But that Fran. {. =. She had been
playing cards out there at midnight
and with man.
81 can not think so,' said Mrs.
Gregory firmly. .s'-.
After making up my mind what to
do continued Grace evenly, II took
her aside, / told her what had seen
and heard. gave her back her card.
But how can we be sure she will not
90 IL dSdlu. nat lS WHAT LTOuDlOS
me- Oughtn't to tell Mr.. Gregory, so
a scandal can be avoided?"
Abbott looked blankly at Fran, who
was singing with all her might. She
caught his look, and closed her eyes.
Abbott asked weakly, What did she
say?"
Grace answered. "She denied it, Of
course-said she hadn't been playing
cards with anybody, hadn't dropped
the card I found, and wouldn't even
admit that she'd been with man. II
tell Mr.. Gregory about her playing
cards with man at that hour, don't
believe he will think he ought to
keep her longer even If she does claim
to be his friends daughter"
"But you tell u.s." Mrs. Gregory in
terposed swiftly, that she said she
hadn't been playing cards.
"She said" Grace echoed unpleas-
antly, "she said"
"Thaf card yo,1 found - hopan An