The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-10-05

]
Whom she opened tho servants
door. policeman caught her arm.
Down here, mn" he called TO the
man batterlng ut the door above.
and minute later two officers
were inside. and llght was flash.
ms in Matllda's face.
Now, old Rirl." said tho first OF
ficer. what's your little game. Ell ?"
IL live here. sir. I'm the
housekeepor."
Now don't try 20 put that over
on us. | was talkin' TO Mrs. DE
Peyst.r's goodman only yesterday.
lie told me tho housekeepor wasn't
here no more. Where's the other
ones"
"Mha what other one"
Drop a." said the officer.
Didn't we see two women como In
this house hey. hillY"
sure"
$50 | guess you'd better lead us
TO your pal
lilo pushed her before him. light.
ing the way with hts flash.lantrrn,
up stairways aud back into the
dining.room. whore the officer
pulled up Mrs. DE Pcyster's veil and
closely scanned her features.
Well. now" said the officer.
with pollcial POPULARITY. since YOU
two ladies already got your hats
on. guess we'll Just offer YOU our
arms 90 the station
~hut tell YOU I'm Matilda Simp
son. Mrs. DO Peyster's houaekeep
err"
II so, who's the other mournerY"
inquired tho humorous policeman
And what's she dom hcre7"
"Shc's-she's"--and then Matilda
plunged blindly at a lie-"she's my
sister" And having started. she
went on; My sister Angelica. who
lives IN Syracuse. She's come TO
visit me awhile"
The officer Erinncd We'll. Ma.
iIlds and Angelica. We'll rive sou
chance 70 tell that to the iler
tenant. Come on
but tell Won I'm Matilda slmp
SOM cried Matilda. You say you
talked to William. the coaehman
Hen tell you who am. There's
the bell-ring for hint"
The officer scratched hts chin.
Then he pressed biz thumb
against tho hell Matilda had indi.
Gated.
There was n long. sictrrinF wait.
Al Length. hOwev~-. William Ar'
peared. he started ~ sight - the
four fisnrss; tNcn bis rafe faf.ancd
IN Matilda anf grrv hard
srflrnf.~ said tife officer. shere's I
lady "a says she's Matilda simp
son. Mira lie Payatsr's l0usekccper
How about uT"
"she la William affirmed coldly. |
"rh. deuce" said the officer:
and then In q low voice apart to the |
other: "Isacky NO didn't 30 no fur.
ther--hcy. NM"
With u glare ut Matilda, William
withdrew.
well. ladies'" said tho officer
with Negotiating r.easantncss. I'm |
mighty glad It's all right Good. |
night. Don't bother 20 come down |
with Us. I noticed Il was a spring
When III. two policemen ~crc
ont Of the room. Mrs. DE Pcystsr
end Matilda collapsed into each |
o'~sr's arms,
then suddenly they sat upright |
Foot steps we're sounding below
growing nearcr-w what sounded like
more than two pairs OF footsteps /
There In the doorway were the two
policemen. And With thcm vas a
gentleman In a cap and tan summer
ovcrcoat buttonef 10 the chin. The
gentleman Wis The Reverend Mr /
Pyecroft.
MET him EoIn' down the ser
wants steps "a wc were goIn' out. /
and he asked u.s. the officer was
beginning.
hut Mr.. pyecrost was already /
crossing toward Matilda. smiling
affectionately.
My dear Matilda" lie kissed
her upon the cheek. II arrived In
New York very unexpectedly less
than half an hour ago. and could
not delay coming to see you. How
are you. sister,
"whn what" stammered Ma.
tiida.
Mr.. Pyecroft crossed to Mrs. De
Peyster and kissed her veil some
where about the forehead. And
how are you. dear sister," he In
quired.
Mrs. De Peys,er gasped and stiff.
fened
"You ladies' don't seem very glad
to see him." put In the officer.
When we told him about you two
bein sisters. he said he was your
brother. Is he7"
"Of course am" Mr.. Pyecroft
answered pleasantly. "of course.
am your brother. am ! not?'-
patting Mrs. Dc Peyster's arm with
the appearances of affection. and
then closing on II warningly.
Mrs. De Peyster nodded her head.
We'll" said the officer. since
everything Is all right. well be
ieavin' you"
When they had gone, Mr.. Pye-
croft calmly removed cap and over.
coat and stood forth in his clericals.
He smiled at them amiably.
well. my dears. | rather thought
you'd bear watching. 80 I followed
you. And when saw the officers
come out without you knew you
had successfully entertained them
with some sort OF plausible expiana.
ton"
His gaze fixed on Matilda. $50,
my dear sister. you're really the
housekeeper here" He shook his
head chidingly. And tho usual
crook OF housekecper. eh--trying
to make a safe cleanup while her
mistress Ia away. You and our
sister Angelica had already been
planning some kind OF a game sim