Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-27

might ell mean.
Rhinclandcr only looked straight ahead
ard preserved an unruffled silence,
silence that Helen. herself. was
not unwilling TO break as the car sped
on toward the iron gates that guarded
tie entrance 20 her fathers former estate
Would it turn in there. ste asked herself
or continue on up the bay road?
The great gates were vice open ana a
lodgekeeper busted himself close to en-,
Of them. Helen was not left long in
suspense Apparently, Rhinelander's
driver had had fis orders for his EN-
ployer gave none. but the heavy car
scarcely slackening speed. swervtd
;hr,ugh the open gates and the lodge
k eper lifted his cap as the party swept
past Something in his salute awoke old
mcmories-could re be the same who had
served her fathel2 she asked herself.
That man" she remarked II Rhine
lander looks exact y like fathers old
keeper"
He ought to" returned Rhinelander.
evenly.
why so?"
Because he is the same man"
The car drew up before the house and
STOPPED; What are you going to do?"
asked Helen in an undertone, make a
call here?"
Yes" answered Rhinelsnder preparing
to get out while a footman. running down
/ the steps. opend the tonneau door for
| him. And" he added. Il want you to
come in with me-"
! Helen's brow furrowed a little in per-
pleXity: But don't know these people,
she murmured under her breath.
Rhinelander standing on the ground
while the footman waited at the other
side of the open tonneau door for Helen,
held out his hand: You'll find you're
/ mistaken" he said to Helen convincingly
You know almost everyone here. And
even from those you don't know, l can
promise you genuine welcome"
Uncle Amos demanded Helen, hurry
| ing with him up the flight of steps that
| led to the familiar vestibule. and toward
which Rhinelander seemed Fastening with
unusual energy, what do you mean?'
"Ill tell you what, Helen. the moment
YOU cross the threshold"
Her maid was at her elbow and in the
excitement of the little Frenchwoman, in
her sparkling eyes and compressed lips
Helen read more OF the great secret
She drew a deep breath and standing IN
the big hall. looked around: Why" she
! faltered, everything seems just as left
!, It, Anil dreaming?'t She drew her hand
ia 'ntly across her eyes. What does this
mean? These furnishings-everythin
Uncle Amos" she cried under her breath,
who lives here? What is It? What has
happened"
Helen" he t, ok her two hands into his
own, this is now your home Just as it
used to be. And your old friends are
nearly all here to greet you"
A group of servants, men and women,
stood at the entrance TO the dining room.
They were familiar faces TO the agitated
girl Everything here, Helen has been
restored for you as closely as l could
restore II j" he went on quietly '1 never
told you that II was / who took all OF
the furnishings over myself at the sale
They were taken, at least, for me-and
put away for YOU now they are restored
to you This estate stands again in your
rame: it is my own little gift TO you
; for what you have done for me-"
Tears welled into her burning eyes al
she looked into the faces smiling around
her.
to the maid. Miss Holmes wishes to &c
to her room" lie looked at his watch
? She will tell you, PrigKs" he added
- speaking TO her fathers old butler, who
stood at hand, when luncheon is to bt
1 served, since from this moment she givei
! the orders to this household But" HI
e added, with decisive emphasis, II an
r still Briggs. at liberty to say to you tina
- Il
4 to retain my complete respect you viii
4 see we are not kept waiting after Mis-
= Holmes is ready to sit down.
4 Like one dazed Helen turned towart
q the foot OF the stairs. but she did not 81
y up. Instead she ran impulsively t.
r Rhinelander. threw her arms about hi
5 neck and kissed him. The two stood 70
n a moment In silence, neither Of then
q equal to speaking. then Helen turned T.
n Annette, who waited. and Rhinelander
5 blowing his nose vigorously walked ou
= into the garden.
o Some hours later he and Helen wer
s on the lawn when Spike came hurryinI
o up the drive carrying in his arms tw
little dogs. They're for YOU" he NUT
r. tered, gruffly, TO Helen when she aske,
q about them. II knew what Mr.. Rhine
| lhnutT WAS uolnE All lHls llile, ne sdAu
a relaxing into grin, and couldn't kee
up with his pace in making presents, bu
4 I wanted to bring you something
"Why. these little desTs are roys
- gift" insisted Helen. Spike, you ough
{ never 10 have done such a thing. They'r
o beauties"
2 "Oh, no." demurred Spike.
> But they are" declared Rhinelandel
q Where did you get them, Spike?'
K Spike made light OF the matter The
didn't cost much" he said, modestly.
traded an old kit OF burglar tools for IN
!, pair o. them. I thought" he added, sim
I, ply. Il might never need the tools agai
"a they were mostly old models-snd 20
!, might need the dogs That's no joke,
% he insisted, when he saw how Helen an
= Rhinelander we're laughing. These dog
are better than all kinds Of burgla
!, alarms. And" he nodded slightly towar
Rhinelander, "as I've been given the 10
OF watchman on these grounds. I'm thinl
., ing about myself. too. They'd be a bi
help 10 me, ss well as a guard for Mis-
a Holmes
- But Spike" objected Rhinelander. .
n difficulty occurs to me. The fellow 20
: traded the tools TO may be your fir
d. | callerl't