American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-08
CHAPTER XVI.
Treaehery In the Household.

The maid stole into the house, won
derfng II she had been seen. Sh,
wanted to be loyal TO this girl, but
he was tired OF the life; she wanted
o be her own mistress, and the small
fortune offered her would put her on
ne way to realize her ambition. What
mad she not seen and been OF life
nee h Joined the great detective
forcel Lady's maid. cook. ship stew.
ardess. flash woman, actress, clerk,
and a 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
Va done. And II was simple work,
without any real harm toward Flor
snce n far as she WAS concerned.
Tie whole thing rested upon one diff
oalty; would Jones' permit the girls
b leave the housB7
Ono day Florence found Susan sit
ta@g In . chair, her head in her hands.
Why, Susan. what's the matter2"
Med Florence.
I don't know what il tho matter,
ds6r, but ] haven't felt well for two
a. 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
snce. reproachfully. She rang for the
istective-maid. ELLA, / don't know
anything about doctors hereabouts."
. " know a good one. Miss Florence.
Shall | send for HIM"
DO; Susan Is ili.'
, Jones was not prepared for treach-
ery In his wi household; so when
he heard that a doctor had been called
20 attend Susan he was without the
q suspicion that he had been be-
,rayed. More than this, there had
)een no occasion TO summon a doctor
a the seven years Mr.. Hargreave had
lived here. SO Jones q about his
petty household affairs without more
thought upon the matter. The maid
mad 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. lie investi-
gated Susan's condition-brought
about by a subtle though not danger
Gus 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
ner about In no time. The doctor sug-
xested 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.
Il shan't stir" declared Susan IL
shan't leave nay girl even II am sick"
Susan caught Florenco's hand and
pressed Il.
Would you like to go with her,
TorenceY" asked Jones. with a shy
glance at the strange doctor. The shy
glance va wasted. The doctor evinced
no sign that II mattered n way or
the other to him.
1T il nothing very serious new"
he volunteered. but II may turn out
serious II II Is not taken care OF at
oLce.'
what IL the trouble9" inquired
Jones, who was growing fond of Su-
san.
Weak heart. Sunshine and good
sea air will strengthen her up again
No. mo-" as Jones drew forth his wal
let. IN send In my bill the first OF
the month, Sunshine and sea air,
hats all that's necessary. And now.
good-day."
All very businesslike: not the least
cause In the world for any one to
suspect that q new trap was being
set by the snarers. The maid re-
turned to the sewing room. while
Florence coddled her companion and
made much of her.
Jones was suspicious, bu. dig IN
hiS mind as he would he could find
no earthly reason for this suspicion
v that this attribute was now in
sunctive. that II was always near the
top. III Susan was i'll che must be-
given good care. there was no getting
around this fact. Later. he telephoned
several prominent physicians. The
strange doctor was recommended as
\ good ordinary practitioner and In
rood standing; and so Jones dismissed
his suspicious as having no hook to
hang them on.
His hair would have tingled at the
roots, however. had he known thar
Ills same physician was one OF the
two who had signed the document
which had accredited Florence with
insanity and had all but succeeded
In making n superstition a fact. Nor
was Jones aware of the fact that the
telephone wire had been tapped re-
Gently. So when he finally concluded
10 permit Florence to accompany Su-
san to Atlantic City he t~elephoned to
the detective agency to send up a
trusty a who was Swallowed from
the moment he entered the Hargreave
home TILL he started for the railway
station, He became lost In the shut.
ne and was not heard from till weeks
later, In Havana The Rlack M