Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-20
''THE INSIDER"
CHAPTER xxx
BY virginia rerhune Van de water.

rather! Doesn't she look like a
little num-" Tom demanded when
we were in the limousine.
My employer and 1 were on the
rear seat, of the tonneau; Tom and
Hugh Parker on the adjustable
seats in front of us. The car was
so wide that all four of us might
almost have squeezed into the rear
seat.
Mr.. Norton looked at me ana
smiled. Yes, she does" he agreed.
II have not seen you wear that coat
before"
IT'S not mine," L explained. "I
had no evening wrap and Mrs. Gore
kindly lent me hers.
Which accounts for it's covering
YOU from top to toe" Tom said. rs
the scarf hers. too?"
NO., l acknowledged, 'it is mine.
/ don't need it anyway"
l slipped the black thing off my
head and Hugh Parker laughed.
"A transformation" he exclaim-
ed. Then, as he and Tom began to
chat together my employer spoke to
me IN low tone.
Your face looks like a flower
that had suddenly shaken off OTIS
Winter wrappings," he said. cor
perhaps like a nun that has dared
take off her veil. l don't like to see
you in black, child. I know you
are in mourning. but I wish YOU
We're not Now. that cloak of Ade-
ladies is not the kind of thing you
should put on"
But ] had no evening cloak" L
insisted. But for Mrs. Gore would
have had to wear a black cloth
street coat, and that would have
been much worse than this"
He sat regarding me thought
W IA
then, breaking off suddenly-"By
the way YOU told me you were
twenty-five when I engaged you.
Even in the dark I was afraid the
nush that arose to my face would
be evident. For I had not been
quite sincere about my age.
Now that / am, apparently, Civ
ing some satisfaction" I confessed
in low voice, 'I will tell you that
am only twenty-five this Spring.
was in my twenty-second year
when you engaged me-" I hurried
on to excuse myself, "and I had to
secure position-and I was afraid
my youth would be against me-so L
Just said | was twenty-five. Do
you think 1T quite unwarrantable
deception ?"
He laughed as if he was actually
pleased. Then you have not had
your birthday yet?" he inquired
eagerly.
I shook my head. NO" 1 ad-
mitted. 81 have not"
All at once he pretended to look
very stern. How soon will you be
the age you pretended to be at our
first meeting?" he questioned.
I'm ten days"
Exactly what date?"
April twentieth"
Again he laughed. then his face
became sober Don't you think you
might lay aside your black then,
child? What good does it do?"
None, of course" I said slowly.
well. then, why not?-but never
mind. Well talk of that later" as
if thrusting the subject aside for
the time.
But all the rest of the way down
town l was wondering what he had
started to say.
In the theatre Mr.. Norton placed
me between Tom and himself, Civ
ing Hugh Parker the seat next the
aisle.
1 soon surmised the reason for
this arrangement. 1t afforded the
host an opportunity to talk with
the tutor about the plan for having
Tom coached at home next summer.
Interested as l was in the play, I
vet longed to know the result of
the conversation between father
and teacher I soon saw that Tom
was even more nervous than I about
the meaning of his parents schemes
for this evening.
Miss Dart" the boy said under
cover of the orchestral music,
you've had n talk with father,
haven't you?"
! nodded.
"Only what was right and kind,
Tom" / told him. "I must not re-
peat it to you. But this much l will
say-he thinks the idea you and [
discussed an excellent one"
The boy fairly jumped with de-
light Do YOU mean that it all
rests with Mr. Parker now" he
asked incredulously.
"I think so," I replied.
you're a trump" he began.
Then the curtain rising checked
further comment.
We had a merry drive home. first
leaving Mr.. Parker at his hotel. Mr..
Norton suggested our stopping
somewhere to get little supper,
but l protested.
please not tonight" I pleaded.
"T hate to be a spoil-sport but L
have not left Grace for n whole
evening before, you know-and
Mrs. Gore may be nervous"
Next time. them" Mr.. Norton
tnTedleneu. 10 tiitil a. piOiAlSO'
perhaps so" I laughed.
We entered the house softly Mr..
Norton opening the front door with
his latchkey On the table at one
side of the hall lay a yellow tele-
graph envelope.
81 suppose this is some business
matter" Mr.. Norton remarked,
opening it calmly.
AS his eyes fell on the message I
saw his face stiffen. I did not know
why / stood still watching him.
Tom. too, had paused.
An instant later Mr. Norton had
thrust the paper. into his pocket.
"I find 1 must leave town early
tomorrow on business" he said in
casual tone. $50 I'd best go right
up to bed now. Good night"
Ito BE Continued.)