The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-30

70 spend their money.
1t was here that Mary, Interestingly pale,
came, accompanied by her devoted and remark
ably good looking maid, Mary. it was given out,
recovering from a severe illness and her APP
pearanoe bore out the statement. 1t was for rest,
rather than the cure, that she had come-Mary
had baked resolutely against drinking the waters
and taking the ba tbs. She had felt, moreover,
that 1t might be a good thing to have excuse
for keeping TO her rooms, il that seemed likely
to further their plan once 1t made.
Mona, In her character Mary's maid,
wasted no time after their arrival They reached
the Springs late in the afternoon; before bedtime
Mona familiar with Mrs. McLean's routine
1t had proved difficult to gather the=facts she
had wanted to learn.
THE whole place talks about her" she told
Mary when they were IN their rooms She's
here with a maid, and she's taking medical treat
ment from Doctor Brown-a nice looking Young
fellow. She spends the whole morning the
terrace every day. summing herself, and for the
last day two she's been quarreling with the
doctor because she doesn't get well more quickly.
She is always complaining OF the expense, and
saying she'll have to go to live In one OF her oVvp
tenements to economic, when she goes home.
bet she will toO-she's done that before! :"
What's the maid look lke2"
shes just ordinary-and she's not of
Ietty's regular servants. She picked up
this trip and ! think she's pretty tired of her
lob, She talks a good deal about Letty's mean
ness I think she's been used to living with rich
people, and that Letty's rather shock 10 her.
II can quite believe il !" said Mary. Shed
dealing with human beings, you know Well
3oul bundle up carefully tomorrow morning,
and find nice long chair for me near TO
Letty's as YOU can manage! Then we'll see what
we'll see
There wasn't so much for them TO As
matter Of fact IL was what they heard that
interesting, II turned out What they saw was
q woman well over sixty, dressed in faded black,
with shabby shawl about her thin shoulders
and bonnet. long out of style, perched upon her
thin gray hair This the formidable Lefty
Mclean, who supposed TO be the richest
woman in the world and certainly the mean
Her maid brought her out TO her accustomed
chair, where the strongest, and in a few
moments her doctor hustled up--a young man;
energetic and forceful. At once Lefty broke out
INTO IA sharp TRADE against him.
You robberr she cried, in high, nervous
voice Just because I'm supposed 70 have little
money YOU think I'll submit TO extortion, You're
like all the rest OF the thieving crew | won't
pay your bl-no wonder YOU sent it to me, and
were afraid to present it yourself! It's ex-
tortion"
I'm sorry you think So" said the doctor.
little angry, but amused too, 1t plain. I've
simply made my usual charge Mrs. Mclean. You
must remember that you've claimed my undivided
attention since you've been here"
Yes and lot of good you've done me,
too I" she said shrilly I'm no better than was
when / came down here! It's al a conspiracy 10
par me from nv money !"
Mona and Mary exchanged meaning glances,
And suddenly they saw that they were not the
only interested auditors OF this dispute. dis
tlnguished looking, bearded man OF the probes
sional type, who stood below the terrace. was
listening. too. Tie smiled, II 1t were ex-
cellent 3oke The two girls looked at him. and At
another.
''T'ye seen him somewhere" said Mary.
so have J." saf6 Mona but can't place
him. I wonder
II think know how 10 And out" said Mary.
Take me in-Im going 20 write some letters
II was three days before the answers to the
Inquiries that Mary had made came On second
thought she had telegraphed instead OF writing
and had used sort Of code, 20 defy possible
curiosity concerning herself Meanwhile things
had not t.een at a stAndstin 40 far as Mrs. Mo-