The Washington herald., 1914-10-11

this was the coatroom- First making
sure the library and. hall were free of
servants, Fred tiptoed to the courtroom
and, opening the door, switched on the
electric light. The naked man. leaving
IN his wake trail of damp footprints,
followed at his heels.
Fred pointed at golf eapes, sweaters,
greatcoats hanging from hooks, and on
the floor at boots and overshoes.
Put on that motor coat and the ga
loshes," he commanded. They'll cover
you in case you have to run for it. I'm
going to leave you here while / get you
some clothes. If any of the servants
butt in, don't lose your head. just say
you're waiting to see me-Mr: Keep. ]
won't be long. Watt
Waltz snorted the stranger. "You
bet I'll waltz
As Fred closed the door upon him,
the naked one was rubbing himself vio-
lently with Mrs. Keeps yellow golf
Jacket
In his own room Fred collected a suit
of blue serge, tennis shirt, boots, even
a tie Underclothes he found ready
laid out for him, and he snstched them
from the bed. From a roll of money
in his bureau drawer he counted out
hundred dollars. Tactfully he slipped
the money in the trousers pocket of the
serge suit, and with the, bundle of
clothes in his arms raced downstairs and
showed them into the courtroom.
Don't come out until l knock" he
commanded. "And," he added In a
all unless you have clothes on"
The stranger grunted.
Fred rang for Gridley and told him
to have his car brought around to the
door. He wanted it to start at once
within two minutes When the butler
had departed, Fred, by an inch,' again
opened the coatroom door The stran-
ger had draped himself in the under
clothes and the shirt, and at the moment
was carefully arranging the tie. a
Hurry commanded Keep. The
car'll be here in minute Where shall
/ tell him to take you
The stranger chuckled excitedly; his
confidence seemed to be returning. New
York" he whispered, fast as he can
get therel Look here" he added doubt
fully there's a roll of bills in these
clothes"
They're yours" said Fred.
The stranger exclaimed vigorously.
You're all rightl he whispered Il
won't forget this, or you either I'll
send the money back same time send
the clothes" ...
"ExactlyP said Fred.
The wheels of the touring car
crunched on the gravel drive, and Fred
slammed to the door, and like sentry
on guard paced before it. After period
which seemed to stretch over many
minutes there came from inside a eau
tious knocking. With equal caution
Fred opened the door the width of a
finger, and put his ear to the crack.
you couldn't hnd me button hook,
could you% whispered the stranger.
Indignantly Fred shut the door and,
walking to the veranda, hailed the
chauffeur. James, the chauffeur, was a
Keepsburg boy, and when Keep had
gone to Cambridge James had accom-
panied him. Keep knew the boy could
be trusted
You're to take a man to New York, y
he said, cor wherever he wants to go.
Don't talk to him Don't ask any ques-
tons. So, # you're questioned, you can
say you know nothing. That's for your
own goodH
The chauffeur mechanically touched
his cap and started down the steps. As
he did so, the prison whistle, still IN
satisfied, still demanding its prey, shat
tered the silence. As though it had hit
him a physical blow, the youth jumped.
He turned and lifted startled, inquiring
eyes to where Keep stood above him.
Il told you" said Keep, TO ask no
questions"
As Fred re-entered the hall, Winnie
Keep was coming down the stairs to-
ward him. She had changed to one of
the prettiest evening gowns of her trous-
seau, and SO outrageously lovely was
the combination of herself and the gown
that her husbands excitement and anx-
iety fell from him, and he was lost in
admiration. But he was not for long
lost. To his horror, the door of the
coat closet opened toward his wife and
out of the closet the stranger emerged.
Winnie, not accustomed to seeing young
men suddenly appear from among the
dustcoats, uttered sharp shrek.
With what he considered great pres
ence of mind, Fred swung upon the
visitor.
Did you fix it," he demanded.
The visitor did not heed him. In
amazementA in abject admiration, his
eyes were fastened upon the beautiful
and radiant vision presented by Winnie
Keep. But he also still preserved suf-
6cient presence of mind to nod his head
DULY.
Come" commanded Fred. "The car
is waiting"
Still the stranger did not move. As
though he had never before seen a
woman, as though hf dazzling lowell
ness held him in a trance, he stood still,
gazing, gaping, devouring Winnie with
his eyes. In her turn, Winnie beheld a
strange youth who looked like a groom
out Of livery, so overcome by her mere
presence as to be struck motionless and
inarticulate. For protection she moved
in some alarm toward her husband
The stranger gave sudden jerk of
his body that might have been intended
for bow. Before Keep could inter
rupt him, like a parrot reeiting its les
son, he exclaimed explosively:
my names Van Warden. I'm Harry
Van Warden"
He seemed as little convinced of the