The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-01
CHAPTER w.
In the Jade-Room.

m Ine JdOe-hOOm.
 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 a 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 we'll and treated her with freedom that was not extended to others.
 A faint gleam of astonishment lurked in the girls eyes as she stood before the two men. Never in her experience, had there been such an ex- 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 Broods lively comments. Tears were lying close to the surface of her eyes-tears of relief and grati- tude. The buoyant expression in Fred cries told a new story. Her heart rejoiced.
 "Nonsense% said Brood when she announced that she was going to change her gown. You never looked so pretty, my dear, as you do at this moment Come just as you are, to please me"
 "A tea party and an autopsy are very much alike, Mir. Brood" said she One can learn a lot at either Still, if you'd like to have Mrs. Brood see me as I really am, I'll appear sans plumage."
 I'd like it." said he promptly. q Lydia
 q am glad you did not say we would admire each other" said she quaintly You look very happy, MT. Brood" she went on, her eyes bright.
 q believe I am happy" said he.
 Then we shall all be happy" was her rejoinder.
 She returned to the jade-room on the upper floor, where she had been at work on the catalogue. Brood had a very large and valuable collection of jade. The jade-room, so called, was little more than large closet off the remarkable room which James Brood was pleased to call his hiding place, ," or on occasion, his retreat" No one ventured into either of these rooms except by special permission.
 Ranjab, his Indian servant. slept in an adjoining room, and it was whis- pered about the house that not even James Brood had viewed its interior. This silent, unapproachable man from the mysterious heart of India, locked his door when he entered the room and locked it when he came out No one, not even the master, thought of 6ulSIluS. MI. OdMSSt III HIS cups or out of them, was responsible for the impression that the man kept deadly serpents there. AS a matter of fact, Ranjab was peaceable fellow and desperately afraid of snakes.
 Lydia loved the feel of the cold, oily Jumps of jade. There were a few pieces of porcelain of extreme rarity and beauty as well. and several price less bits of cloisonne but it was the jade she loved There were two or three hundred objects of various sizes and color and all were what might be called museum pieces.
 She had been at work for half an hour or longer when a noise in the outer room attracted her attention. She had the odd feeling that some one was looking at her through the open door, and swiftly turned
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