The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-11-26
CHAPTER XVI.

Treachery In the Household.
The maid stole into the house, won
dering if she had been seen She
wanted to be loyal to this girl, but
she was tired of the life; she wanted
fortune offered her would put her on
the way to realize her ambition. What
had she not seen and been of life
since she joined the great detective
force! Lady's maid cook, ship stew
ardess, flash woman, actress, clerk,
and dozen other employments. Her
pay, until she secured some fat re-
ward, was but twelve hundred a
year; and here was five thousand in
advance with the promise of five
thousand more the minute her work
was done. And it was simple work,
without any real harm toward Flor
ence as far as she was concerned
The whole thing rested upon one diff
Guilty; would Jones permit the girls
to leave the house?
One day Florence found Susan sit
ting in chair, her head in her hands.
why, Susan, what's the matter?"
cried Florence.
Il don't know what is the matter,
dear, but l haven't felt we'll for two
Or three days I'm dizzy all the time,
can't read or sew or eat or sleep.
Why didn't you tell me?" said Flor
ence, reproachfully. She rang for the
detective-maid. Ella, l don't know
anything about doctors hereabouts."
"I know good one, Miss Florence.
Shall l send for him?"
DO; Susan is ILL.,"
Jones was not prepared for treach-
cry in his own household; SO when
he heard that doctor had been called
to attend Susan he was without the
least suspicion that he had been be-
trayed. More than this, there had
been no occasion to summon doctor
, In the seven years Mr.. Hargreave had
lived here. So Jones went about his
petty household affairs without more
thought upon the matter. The maid
had been recommended to him as
one of the shrewdest young women
In the detective business.
The doctor arrived. He was a real
doctor; no doubt of that. He investi-
gated Susan's condition-brough
ous poison-and instantly recon-
mended the seashore Susan was not
used to being confined to the house;
she was essentially an out-of-doors
little body. The seashore would bring
her about in no time. The doctor sug-
gested Atlantic City because of its
mildness throughout the year and its
nearness to New York.
I'm afraid she'll have to go alone"
said Jones, gravely.
81 shan't stir!" declared Susan Il
shan't leave my girl even if am sick"
Susan caught Florence's hand and
pressed it.
Would you like to go with her,
Florence?" asked Jones, with shy
glance at the strange doctor. The shy
glance was wasted The doctor evinced
no sign that it mattered one way or
the other to him.
1T is nothing very serious now,"
uC NOiuhIclOu DuI IL may Iuih Oub
serious If it is not taken care of at
once"
What is the trouble?" inquired
Jones, who was growing fond of Su-
san.
Weak heart. Sunshine and good
sea air will strengthen her up again.
No, mol" as Jones drew forth his wal
let. "Ill send in my bill the first of
the month. Sunshine and sea air;
that's all that's necessary. And now,
good-day."
All very businesslike; not the least
cause in the world for any one to
suspect that new trap was being
set by the snarers. The maid re
turned to the sewing room, Will,
Florence coddled her companion an,
made much of her.
Jones was suspicious, hut dig II
his mind as he would he could fin,
no earthly reason for this suspicion
save that this attribute was now in
stinctive, that 1t was always near tn
top. If Susan was i'll she must b
given good care; there was no gettin
around this fact Later, he telephone
several prominent physicians. TIL
strange doctor was recommended a
a good ordinary practitioner and 4
good standing. and so Jones dismisse