The Carlisle independent., 1917-02-22
COPYRIGHT .s,s. BY RANK A sps.at,s

pAoyeI gave none, but the heavy car, scarcely slackening speed, swerved through the open gates and the lodge Keeper lifted his cap as the party swept past. Something in his salute 1 aWoke old memories-could he be the same who had served her father? she asked herself. That man." she re- marked to Rhinelander, looks exact. ly like fathers old keeper"
 He ought to" returned Rhineland- CT, 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 call here?"
 Yes, answered Rhinelander pre- pairing to get out while footman. run ming down the steps, opened the ton neau door for him. And" he added, T want you to come in with me"
 Helen's brow furrowed a little in perplexity. But I 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 every one here. And even from those you don't know, can promise you a genu- inc welcome"
 Uncle Amos" demanded Helen. hurrying with him up the flight of steps that led to the familiar vesti- bule, and toward which Rhinelander seemed hastening with unusual en- ergy, what do you mean?"
 'I'll tell you what, Helen, the mo- ment you cross the threshold"
 Her maid was at her elbow and in the excitement of the little French woman in her sparkling eyes and com pressed lips-Helen read more of the great secret. She drew deep breath and standing in the big hall, looked around: Why" she faltered, every thing seems just as I left it. Am I dreaming?" She drew her hand faint ly across her eyes. What does this mean? These furnishings-every- thing. Uncle Amos" she cried under her breath. who lives here? What is it? What has happened?"
 ''Helen," he took 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 wom- en, stood at the entrance to the dining room. They were familiar faces to the agitated girl.
 Tears welled into her burning eyes as she looked into the faces smiling around her.
 Annette" said Rhinelander briskly to the maid, Miss Holmes wishes to go to her room"
 Like one dazed, Helen turned to- ward the foot of the stairs but she did not go up. Instead, she ran impulsive- ly to Rhinelander. threw her arms about his neck and kissed him. The two stood for moment in silence, neither of them equal to speaking. then Helen turned to Annette who waited and Rhinelander, blowing his nose vigorously, walked out into the garden.
 Some hours later he and Helen were on the lawn when Spike came hurry ing up the drive carrying in his arms two little dogs. They're for you" he muttered gruff1y to Helen when she l. Rhinelander was doing all this time," he said, relaxing into a grin, "and 1 couldn't keep up with his pace in mak- ing presents, but I wanted to bring you something"
 "Why, these little dears are a royal gift" insisted Helen. Spike you ought never to have done such a thing They're beauties!"
 "Oh, mo-" demurred Spike.
 But they are" declared Rhineland- CT Where did you get them. Spike?"
 Spike made light of the matter They didn't cost much" he said mod estly. q traded an old kit of burglar tools for the pair O them. I thought, he added simply, T might never need the tools again-they were mostly old models-and you might need the dogs That's no joke" he insisted, when he saw how Helen and Rhinelander were laughing These dogs are better than all kinds of burglar alarms. And he nodded slightly toward Rhinelander, "as I've been given the job of watch man on these grounds, I'm thinking about myself too. They'd be a big help to me as we'll as a guard for Miss Helen"
 Everything that day seemed to come lust right While the three were to- gether messenger boy appeared with telegram for Helen. She opened it and read:
 Miss Helen Holmes, Signal. a<t ka I