The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-04-30
TheHOlOW >
BIZ $ Of Her Hand
George Barr MoCutCheOn

/ appeared in two or three of the
musical pieces produced in London
| two seasons ago, in the chorus.
never got beyond that, for very good
reasons. was known as Hetty Glynn.
Three weeks ago | started for New
York, sailing from Liverpool. Previ-
ously l had served in the capacity of
governess in the family of John Bud
long, a brewer. They had a son, a
young man of twenty. Two months
ago / was dismissed. A California
lady, Mrs. Holcombe, offered me a sit
uation as governess to her two little
girls soon afterward. | was to go to
her home in San Francisco. She pro-
vided the money necessary for the
voyage and for other expenses. She
is still in Europe. | landed in New
York a fortnight ago and, following
her directions, presented myself at a
certain bank have the name some
where-where my railroad tickets
were to be in readiness for me, with
further instructions. They were to
give me twenty-five pounds on the pre-
othAdlAOn Vi my lCllCi AIODl MIb. IlOi-
combe. They gave me the money and
then handed me a cablegram from
Mrs. Holcombe, notifying me that my
services would not be required. There
was no explanation. Just that.
"On the steamer / met-him. His
deck chair was next to mine. / no.
ticed that his name was Wrandall-
C. Wrandal' the card on the chair in
formed me. +"
You crossed on the steamer with
him?" interrupted Mrs. Wrandall
quickly.
yes"
"Had-had you seen him before? In
London?-
Never. Well, we became acquaint-
ed, as people do. He-he was very
handsome and agreeable" She paused
for a moment TO collect herself
VERY handsome and agreeable"
said the other slowly.
I'VE got to be very good friends.
There were not many people on board,
and apparently he knew none Of them.
1t was too cold to stay on deck much
OF the time. and it was very rough. He
had one OF the splendid suites on
the"
pray omit unnecessary details. You
landed and went-where?"
''He advised me to go to an hotel
can't recall the name. 1t was rather
an unpleasant place. Then | went to
the bank, as have stated. After that
/ did not know what to do. was
stunned, bewildered. called him up
on the telephone and-he asked me to
meet him for dinner at a queer little
cafe, far down town. We"
And you had no friends, no ac-
quaintances here%
mo. He suggested that l go into
one of the musical shows, saying he
thought he could arrange it with a
manager who was a friend. Anything
to tide me over, he said. But would
not consider it, not for instant.
had had enough of the stage. II am
really not fitted for it. Besides, / am
qualified-well qualified-to be gov
erness-but that is neither here nor
there. l had some money-perhaps
forty pounds. found lodgings with
some people in Nineteenth street He
never came there to see me. / can
see plainly now why he argued 1t
would not be-well, he used the word
wise But we went occasionally to
dine together. We went about in a
motor-a little red one. He-he told
me he loved me. That was one night
about a week ago. /"
81 don't care to hear about it," cried
the other. mo need of that. Spare
me the silly side of the story"
SILLY, madam? In Gods name, do
you think it was silly to me? Why
why, l believed him! And, what is
more, believe that he did love me-
even now / believe it."
81 have no doubt of it," said Mrs.
Wrandall calmly. you are very pref
ty-and charming"
Il did not know that he had a
wife until-well, until" She could
not go on.
Might before last"
The girl shuddered. Mrs. Wrandall
| turned hes face away and waited.
There is nothing more / can tell
you, unless you permit me to tell all, u
the girl resumed after moment of
hesitation.
Mrs. Wrandall arose.
II have heard enough. This after
noon / will send my butler with you
to the lodging house in Nineteenth
street. He will attend to the removal
of your personal effects to my home,
and you will return with him. II will
be testing fate, Miss Castleton, this
visit to your former abiding place, but
I have decided 10 give the law its
chance. If you are suspected, watch
will be set over the house in which
| is quite unknown, you will run no risk
in going there openly, nor will be
taking so great a chance as may ap-
pear in Offering you a home, for the
time being at least, as companion-or
secretary or whatever we may elect to
call it for the benefit of all inuuirers
Are you willing to run the risk-this
single risk?"
Perfectly willing" announced the