Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26

the chauffeur. as we swung down the
! drive to the lodge.
! At the station 1 found telephone
booth and called Miss Hoyt's home.
After some delay I heard voices cross
! ing confusedly. and then a woman's, an
i operators. said family: "Riverton's
calling. Hold the wire, please" And
then more loudly to me: There's your
i party"
Hello" said I. There was no answer.
| ''Hellot Heilo.'
I 1 waited, and presently caught
hardwood floor; and at last feminine
voice, high and eager, spoke:
That you, Higgs? What Is 1t? Have
you heard anything?
i Why-you-" I was going to in
form her that she had made a mistake.
that l was not her Higgs, whoever he
was; But she cut me off impatiently.
! Don't stammer like that, for
drive me mad. Is there any news?"
wondered who the speaker was.
That high-pitched. thin toned voice
was not Miss Hoyt's nor was it
you've made a mistake" said.
Higgs?"
| I'm not Higgs." shouted.
| oh" She had evidently heard me.
There was a pause. Who are you?
They said it was Riverton calling
! Il wish to speak to Miss Roberta
Hoyt.' L said loudly and distinctly.
Another pause; then: Miss Hoyt is
| i'll. Who is this?"
I'm very sorry to hear that" 1 re-
piled, ignoring the question. Has she
been i'll long,"
She has not been able to leave her
! room since last Friday. Who is this?"
| | hesitated. Under the circumstances
it seemed better not to give my name;
yet. in my surprise at her reply, could
not at once think of an evasion.
| no is this?" she repeated. And on
my again failing to answer the re-
ceiver clicked on the hook.
| l was left staring into the transmit
! ter. l had hoped for enlightenment,
| and. instead, was more mystifled than
| ever.
We loafed back to the Martins, and
II encouraged the chauneur to talk,
just to keep myself from asking my
| self questions I could not answer He
was cheerful, expansive boy, nine
| teen or twenty, ready enough to talk
and full Of Information and gossip of
the people who lived in the houses we
passed. We had short wait for Tai
and as soon as he rejoined US we start
ed again for the station.
1t was fine night, remarkably warm
| for late October. and the moonlight lent
| a glamour to an otherwise monotonous
l
quarter Of a mile or SO without meeting
any cars. when suddenly, on turning
corner. we came upon large Limousine
at standstill In the middle of the road.
| 1t was facing toward us. and our driv-
er, veering trif1e. brought up alongside,
calling out pleasantly: Need any help"
| Thanks no." came back politely from
a man In long ulster. who was bending
over the engine with his back to u.s. OPP
posite, helping him. was a woman who.
the instant we stopped. unexpectedly to
| her. as it seemed. turned and disappear
Ell on the other side of the car. She
| was too quick for me to get an impress
| sion of her face, but she wore no hat,
and l could see that her hair was very
light.
1 Just thought you might. I'm pretty
fair mechanic" returned our driver
good humoredly. and put his hands back
| on our way again.
| Thanks, I'm pretty fair one myself"
AT the words, spoken with an unmis
| taxable British tntonation. our boy jerked
MS mead round sharply and, leaning for
ward. stared at the speakers back. And
| the next moment there came from within
| the car a sound that caused all three of
us to start and stare, for 1t was the moan
htm hadl being ing In great pain or grief
OF the stopping man twitched and he
raised his head little. Then there came
the noise OF the closing Of the car door
| on the other side.
We're taking a sick chap to the hos
I pltai over at South Eden.'' remarked the
man. and again lowered his head over
| the engine.
Anything we can dor" asked Tai.
We're making the nine-twenty to New
York. and have time to spare, and II our
chauneur can be OF assistance Wen be
glad to wait"
Thanks. I'll not trouble you," tho
stranger replied courteously, but still
n Id 4n~
| Now. 1t CHANGED that 7 was seated on
the side OF our car near the limousine.
ana unthinkingly let my eyes rest on
the windows. I had no Idea of spying.
ana. indeed. could see nothing. for the
body Of the big car was Swallowed from
the moonlight by tree. Consequently
| i felt the sting of unmerited rebuke
when woman's hand appeared at the