The Washington times., 1916-01-22
(contInued from Yesterdav.N

T was this sudden iarring that awak-
ened Mary from her nan in the deep
j chair. With the dull half-quiet
gaze of n person just reused from
4leep. the old woman rubbed her eyes
and looked about. In the same room.
nut far distant corner, she heard the
soft rustic of a woman's skirt Then
the clink of glass against metal
Completely hidden by the high
backed chair she listened irtently.
Not that she wanted to play the spy.
out rather because she wished to con-
ceal the fact that she had been nap
= ping. The pronounced stiffness. broken
only by strange but almost inaudible
sounds, got on her nerves.
She twisted quietly in the chair un-
til she was crouchinG on her knees on
the seat of it. facing the back. Cau-
uously she raised her body until her
eyes were just above the edge. What
she saw made her forget her own pre-
dicament.
Over in a half-lit corner was a large
square pedestal holding bronze stat
uette. Standing so that its shadow half
concealed her, was the daring Woman
in Black. her right hand lifted so that
the feeble light from the hanging lamp
ten athwart its hack. On it blazed a
Red Circle!
Mary lodged down behind the chair
top as the woman slowly turned her
head. After a few seconds the sound
Of liquid dripping into glass made her
anNious-to to look again.
lac Nundn holding a small
sponge in her lett hand. She squeezed
IL dry into a glass half fun OF water.
Smiling -whImslcally to herself, sne
rubbed the back of her right hand
with me dampened sponge. Ihe Red
Circle disappeared.
GREATNESS with excitement Mary
strained her eyes to catch every move
She saw the woman take up the glass,
deliberately spill the liquid on the moor.
and gather a brush. tiny box OF water
color paints, and the sponge from the
pedestal. Leaving tne giass wnere ~
was she opened a false pocket in the
skirt OF her gown, dropped the severaI
articles into 1t, and quietly lett the
room.
Mary waited until she was reason
ably sure the woman would not return
then lett her chair Hurrying over -
the statue she picked up the glass ana
1t except the ring that the colored
water had left. At the foot OF the
pedestal was the large, damp spot
Mary bent to feel it with the palm OF
her hand; to make sure the whole
lnlng wasn't strange cream.
When she found her way back to the
ball room it was nearly deserted.
Wandering about looking for Mrs.
with young man who was saying
goodnight to one of the hotel guests
why, Nary" exclaimed the man IN
great surprise. Where have you
been? Miss Travis was looking all over
for you. When she couldn't find you
she decided you had gone home without
her knowing II. She and Mrs. Travis
nave left. I'm gong that way. Let
me take you home IN my car
.'Oh. Mr.. Pearson" star.tmcred the
4 Old woman. Don't You bother, [ can
walk. I've Eeen WAITING in ons of the
nktle rooms. l didn't know it was so
let your things; now h. con,-
us and We won't say another word
about it. You shant walk that dis
When he ydt her down at the cottage
he warned her:
"pont wake Mis- Travis IL she's
sleeplnE:, Mary. The poor girls half
there-nrostly with that cPap la mar.
Mrs Travis said she was going TO
make her sleep until noon tcmorr1w."
"Oh / wouldn't think. Of waking her.
Mortified at the thought. i've hrourht
Miss June III from n baly and / know
now she needs slec9-Nnu know. all
lively people need y lot of It, ] don't
YOU for bringing nee home. It was yery
nice OF you. Mr.. earsun-hLt tlien YOU
always were a nice Lnv--even frcm a
Mary picked hcr way up the SOFTLY
carpeted steps as ndrOiily as = post-
graduate Raffies. When she reached
her own rcum shN hlcuthcd sigh OF
relief and started to undress I'm the
dark. her mind hhsv with this queer
est, latest phase of the Red Circle mys-
terry.
The next morning at i1:@0 June ran
out on the perch aud clappeG her LANDS
over Mary's eyes Just aR The nurs" was
finishing her happy daily reTusal Of the
death colunIi-in the Morning Star.
Guess" she CONNIE nded.
ITS my lamb" said Mary, compla-
Gently. trying to smooth her ruffled
front hair.
aren't you slv old lady. sneak
irg home hours ard hours ahead OF
me. last night? I didn't dare 90 rear
your room whom | came In for fear
yc'''d u--l'o IN"
"I wasn't there. pet" Mary told her.
Il didnt cave the hotCl until after
you dld."