Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-04
Mary Roberts Rinehart 81
Thrilling Mystery of
The Curve of the Catenary'}

put, a1ter ali, L nadn sHB
my own business and l knew it.
Well. the ride didn't amount to
much. She sat with her eyes closed
and l babbled as cheerfully as l could.
But l got sick of the sound of my
own voice and the last part of the
trip examined my right hand,
stealthly.
How did you do that?"
l jumped. but made up some sort
of story of having caught it in the
taxicab door, and because a girl thinks
every thing that's hurt ought to be
tied up at once l put handkerchief
around it,. Her eyes were closed
again and took good look at her
profile. It's funny. when you think
about it, how you can see girl every
day for year and she's a part of an
office machine or something like that
Then all at once something happens
and you're q man and she's 4 woman,
and to thunder with the office.
I was getting the feeling pretty
strong. She didn't think much of me.
Shed seen too much of fathers go
out and play, Ollie.' But then and
there 1 made up my mind. or what
| choose to call my mind, as the gov
ernor has been known to put 1t, to
make that young lady sit up and take
notice. I'd clean forgotten the sweet
heart, or what ever it was that might
be in tree.
However, she didn't take much no.
tice that morning. But as we got
near the house she opened her eyes.
IF you will come in she said,
''I'll bathe your hand and tie 1t up
properly"
1 didn't exactly have to be coaxed.
I'd reached that stage already.
will you do something for me, Mr..
Oliver?"
Anything up to murder" I said
And saw her turn white. 1t got me.
But she pulled herself together.
IF the morning paper is still on the
step. will you put it in the taxicab
and take 1t away with you?"
l hadn't really started on my mad
career as a detective then. I was in
the formative and theoretical part.
Then and there I took it into my fool
head that she had an insane relative,
4 brother or somebody, and that he'd
got loose with a razor. 1t didn't quite
fit the tree idea. and the spring didn't
belong, apparently.
But l was wrong. If you've been
guessing insanity, you'd better start
over. Insanity nothing On the con-
trary.
She lived in little white house,
sort of bungalow, plaster, you know,
with garden and window boxes.
Pretty? 1t made our place look like
mausoleum. Green shutters, too.
| took another look at her. Why, it
was the only sort of a house she
could have come from. And I'd been
thinking of her in a dusty office, with
the roar of the mill all around. This
| last is hyperbole. There hadn't been
any roar to speak of for about a year
The paper was still on the porch
steps. 1t seemed to make her feel
/ hat fNr- 20 4,
taxi and followed her into the house.
I'd like to live in that little house.
1t was full of old mahogany, shin
ing to beat the band, and faded oil
portraits in tarnished frames. And
father was as old as the rest. Moth
ing but Miss Hazeltine seemed young
But it was bright. Even father was
and still cheerful about it! He was
coming down the staircase when we
entered and the girl spoke before he
had a chance.
ITS all right, father" she said.
There is nothing to worry about"
Where is it?" he demanded, not
grouchy. you know. but eager, like a
you could notice it.
"Pll tell you about it later. This
is Mr.. Gray
don't know that I've given my last
name before. Yes, I'm one of the
Grays. I'm Oliver Gray w., to tell
the terrible truth
I'm afraid 1 wasn't very cordial to
the old chap. He looked too SNUG and
contented. Why the deuce did he let
pretty girl go wandering about the
town at night while he stayed peace
fully at home? Why, the man with
the razor-it made me shiver
Miss Hazeltine made me sit down.
and she brought little basin of warm
water and bandage and fixed up my
hand. She put a whole bandage on
1t and then split the end and tied it
In bow around my wrist 1 looked
ike hospital case, but 1 liked it.
Doing something for somebody had
helped her, too. Girls are like that.
Some girls Even Sis came up to the
scratch the last time I had tonsilitis,
and wanted to read to me.
Miss Hazeltine's color came back.
and she made me promise not to use
the hand that day. AS under ordin-
ary circumstances the only labor I
do with that hand is signing bar
checks at the club and dealing at
bridge, I was willing to promise. Then
rather asked me to breakfast, and
when l refused he went with me to
the door.
II don't understand about the news
paper" he said, with the first hint
or discontent I'd heard in his voice.
There was none yesterday or to-day.
L must report the carrier"
L left him there, looking shaved and
SNUG and rosy. My grandfather. Ollie
the second, is still alive. He's the
sort of old duffer who SHES his boots
at his mans head. but he's not SNUG.
thank heaven. 1 visit him now and
then, for excitement I've seen him
throw book through a window to
get breezel
1t was o'clock by that time. and
L decided TO go home. I'd left the
mater and Sis longer than I should
have, as 1t was. Fathers no good in
an emergency; he loses his head and
raves. Besides, if he'd gone back to
Boisseau's, as he jolly we'll might
there was chance that he'd heard
I'd been there with Miss Hazeltine and
| knew I'd have to square myself.
SO went home. The house was
quiet, but mothers maid met me in
the hall and said the mater wanted to
see me. They were all there in the
room, the mater in bed, propped un
with pillows. the governor by a win
COW, staring out, and Sis reading the
paper aloud. She put down the pa-
per and they all turned and glared
at me as l stood by the door.
(To Be Continued.)