The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-09-17
CHAPTER w.
In the Jade.Room.

Lydia met Brood and Frederic at
the top of the stairs. She had re-
ceived the message through Jones
and was on her way to dress for tea.
The master of the house greeted her
most cordially. He was very fond of
this lovely, gentle daughter of John
Desmond. Into their association had
stolen an intimate note that softened
the cold reserve Of the man to
marked degree. His chief joy was to
chat with her over the work he was
doing and to listen to her frank, hon.
est opinions. She regarded herself
as his secretary-or his amanuensis,
in the strict sense of speaking-but ne
considered her to be friend as well,
and treated her with freedom that
was not extended to others.
A faint CLEAN Of establishment
lurked in the girls eyes as she stood
before the two men. Never. in her
experience, had there been such an ex-
hibition Of friendliness between father
and son. A curious throb Of joy
rushed up from her heart and lodged
in her throat. For the first time she
found it difficult to respond with COM
posture to Brood's lively comments.
Tears were lying close to the surface
of her eyes-tears of relief and graft.
tude. The buoyant expression in Fred
cries told a new story. Her heart
rejoiced.
"Nonsense!" said Brood when she
announced that she was going tc
change her gown. "You never looked
so pretty, my dear, as you do at this
moment. Come just as you are, tt
please me-"
"A tea party and an autopsy are
very much alike, Mr.. Brood" sale
she. Zone can learn lot at either
Still, If you'd like to have Mrs. BROOD
see me as | really am, I'll appear sani
pfumage"
"I'd like It," said he promptly. "
am sure you will like each other
Lydia"
81 am glad you did not say we woul'
admire each other" said she quantity
"You look very happy, Mr.. Brood,
she went on, her eyes bright.
II believe l am happy,% said he.
"Then we shall all be happy" wa
her rejoinder.
She returned to the jaderoom Of
the upper floor, where she had bee
at work on the catalogue. Brood ha
very large and valuable collectio
of Jade. The jade-room, SO called, wa
little more than a large closet off tn
remarkable room which James Broo
was pleased to call his hiding place,
or on occasion, his retreat" No on
yentured into either of these room
. except by special permission.
Raniab, his Indian servant, slel
! in an adjoining room, and it was viii
pered about the house that not eve
James Brood had viewed its interio
9 This silent, unapproachable man fro
: the mysterious heart of India, locke
9 his door when he entered the roo
and locked it when he came out. \
. one, not even the master, thought
entering Mr.. Dawes, in his cups
, out of them, was responsible for Il
; impression that the man kept dead
. serpents there. AS matter of fat
Raniab was a peaceable fellow al
q desperately afraid of snakes.
o Lydia loved the feel of the cold, OF
4 Jumps of jade. There We're a f
1. pieces Of porcelain of extreme rari
!. and beauty as well, and several priC
. less bits of cloisonne, but 1t was t
% Jade she loved. There were two
II three hundred objects of various siz
d and color and all were what might
called museum pieces.
"a She had been at work for half
10 hour or longer when noise in t
a outer room attracted her attentit
is She had the odd feeling that some @
20 was looking at her through the OF
| Jon. opd swiftly turned