Evening star., 1917-05-06
miss Pf1GNIX"---ByA Albert Lee ~

house, whether I go to church or not"
Mrs. Gray was still pondering what
course she had better pursue when the
maid appeared and announced lady in
the reception room. lady who gave no
name. but who said it was important.
She's veiIed." added the maid
Haven't l trouble enough already"
ladies?'' But after brief considera-
tion she told the maid to show her up.
When the woman lifted her veil she
disclosed the smiling countenance of
Laura Leslie.
4 just had to come she began. Il
did not dare telephone"
What's happened?"
In the first place, your husband
found your comb in Harry's rooms
"oh. yes interrupted Mrs Gray.
calmly. He showed 1t to me this
morning. but l fixed it all right L
think 1 am one of the greatest liars on
earth" she added. with a sigh. I'll
tell YOU all about il later"
Then. there's another thing" con-
tinued Laura, who was not a very good
fabricator, and who did not know ex-
wanted to tell. her without telling her
the facts. ".Just after you got away
from Harry's apartment" she went on.
AN old gentleman came in
Col Crosby?'
Yes. You konw him."
NO. He is friend of Jacks father
and of Jack. l haven't met him"
Well" pursued Laura, slowly. when
tied for some reason. and when the
colonel said OF me, This is your wife,
suppose he let it go at that and pre-
sented me YOU
Gertrude gasped. and then rippled all
over with laughter.
The colonel invited us all to dinner
proceeded Laura, "and we went and
when we parted at the close of the
evening-which, by the way. I don't
think your husband enjoyed very much
the colonel whispered to me that he
would drop in to see me-you-this
morning"
Fine and daisy" exclaimed Ger
trude, "And what shall we do about
that?' tShe did not know how worried
her husband was to prevent such a con-
tingency) Il think" she continued
presently, you and I had better seek
the seclusion of my boudoir. where we
Will put our heads together to confound
the enemyi"
1t was not long after the two young
women had reached this seclusion that
Or Sterling was ushered into the Ii
brary. Jack Gray came down immedi-
ately, and did not even give his friend
time TO wish him good morning.
Fred" he began in the doorway.
m worried almost to death. In the
mrs, place. I'm worried about my wife's
health. and in the second. I'm worried
about that old fool. Crosby"
Don't bother about Crosby said Dr.
Sterling. confidently
Suppose he calls here and meets
Gertrude insisted Jack. How many
wives do you suppose he'll think 1
nave? And ] can't very well tell Ger
trude about it,
And what's the matter with her
health?' asked the doctor.
She was at Roosevelt Hospital yes-
terday afternoon. visiting a friend
Yesterday. during all that smallpox
scare. Do you suppose there is any
chance of her having caught it?'
Was she exposed?"
,,n,i,d y don't know But she looks pale and
to have you see her"
BY all means" returned Sterling
Gould you tell as soon as this il
tnere was any danger?' Jeck inquired,
eagerly.
That depends. Probably not" was
the Doctors -commttal reply. But.
just as precautionary measure I'd
tell her to go and take a Turkish bath
this afternoon"
"A Turkish BATH exclaimed Jack,
aghast
Yes, that will open up her nores-,.
But you told me it was dangerous
for her to take Turkish baths" protest.
ed Jack.
When" asked the doctor. blankly.
before you went east?"
on. well. that was three years ago"
replled Sterling. You said your wife
was in delicate health at that time.
She's all right now. isn't she?"
Well. she's not all right enough for
me to suggest a Turkish BATH" assert
ed Jack. with emphasis. Those words
nave been taboo in this house ever
since l rowed with her about taking
one against your orders. If you want
her to take Turkish bath. you'll have
to tell her yourseuf. I wouldn't dare
"Oh. very well, I'll tell her.; and the
conversation dropped.
BY this time Mrs. Gray and Miss Les
lie had settled the affairs of the ma
tion and Gertrude stepped quietly from
the boudoir to reconnoiter the stairA
ways. to see if Laura might reach the
front door unseen. Jack Gray and the
doctor were conversing In so low a
tone that she did not hear them in the
library: and thus 1T happened that she
was standing almost in the doorway
before she realized the trap she had
walked into.
''Oh, come in, Gertrude" called Jack.
hearing the rustic of her skirt. Fred"
he added come and meet my wife"
II is difficult to describe just how
DR.. Sterling felt when he saw Miss
Phoenix. entering the room. and far
more difficult to describe how he looked.
The traditional feather would not only
have knocked him down, but would
doubtless have swept him clear into the
middle of the street. He simply stood
and stared. Mrs. Gray, on the other
hand. having 40 doubt foreseen the pos
sibilfty of the encounter, maintained
her composure. She smiled pleasantly
and walked toward the doctor with out
stretched hand.
What's the matter, Fredr asked
Jack. who could not fail to notice his
friends peculiar action. Did YOU ex-
pect to see a freak"
Or a slab-sided, pie-faced dyspetic?"
added Gertrude
Her husband frowned at this Ievity.
and was about to say something In
mitigation, when DIR. Sterling took
two steps forward. placed his hands on
Mrs. Gray's shoulders, looked her dra-
matically In the eyes. and exclaimed:
Smallpox"
You don't mean it," cried Jack
There's time to lose" continued
the doctor briskly. and now appa rentIy
quite himself. Go to the drug store at
once, Jack, and have this prescription
hlled. He was scribbing rapidly on a
small pad. GO yourself old man, go
at once. Don't send servant
And Jack was gone in a second
CHAPTER VIII.
Your presence of mind, Dr. Sterling"
began Gertrude. as soon as they were
alone, is certainly far greater than
Your control over your features
Il am not practiced in deception" he
replied coldiy: and then, sardonically,
So you spent yesterday afternoon at
Roosevelt Hospital. did your
I'm not a very good guesser. am I?'
she commented YEARLY.
DO you consider this a subject for