The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-08-24
SIXTH EPISODE
The Dead Come Back.

IlIE DGdu OuIlIG DdGks
1t was some time before Peter re-
covered sufficiently from the opera
tiOR resulting from the pistol shot !
wound to go about among his friends. |
During his convaleScence his thoughts |
were occupied with the strange be-
haviOr of Philippa and her strange
engagement to Bentley.
OF Bentley and Philippa he had
heard nothing further. Barring flow
ers from the Brewster Conservatives
and a pretty little note from Philippa
he seemed to have been forgotten by
the Brewster family.
Peter had been told of the strange
going out of the lights during the criti-
cal moment of the operation, and later
he had learned that the electric wires
| had been found mySteriOusly cut. In
some way he connected Bentley with
the whole affair.
It was a relief to be able to go about
again, and strange to say the desire
to travel had suddenly left Peter. He
had too much to do to keep pace with
the Vaccinations of his successful
rival to think of running away. He
wondered now how he had ever
| thought of 1t.
On this particular afternoon Peter
had been out for an airing, and he was
on his way home at about the same
moment that lady with dark hair
and big hat entered his sitting room,
and glancing anxiously about, clipped
one of her dark curls with a delicate
gesture, and laid it lovingly on note,
which she placed on the table.
Having done this, she heard foot
steps and before she could replace her
hat Peter appeared in the hall. The
visitor looked arOund-terrOr in her
glance-and seeing no place to hide,
fattened herself against the wall just
behind the partially opened door. Pc
ter opened the door and proceed
ing to the mirror carelessly gave his
tie twist. The mysterious lady, Slip
ping out, sought to escape while his
back was turned, but the swish of her
skirt caught Peters ear. He wheeled
and was aware of disappearing hg
ure.
His haste proved of no avail
I for the strange visitor having reached
a the street. dashed around the cornel
e and vanished, while Peter, still veal
t from his illness, stood staring rather
r stupidity into space.
G Then he stared again, and this TIM
e into the face of the girl he believed
5. to be Philippa of the Double Cross
d she had apparently been out for wall
y and she showed her surprise at see
ing him bareheaded in the street.
"Where's your hat, Peter" sh
, called.
"Where's your hat, Philippa" he an
, swered, and they both laughed.
J "Nfine blew off" said the youn
lady; "but never mind the hat Pete
q I need your help, and need it badl!
May l count on your
=, "You certainly may" said tn
D amazed Peter, and he walked with ne
to the house.
"If you'll take a chair, Phllippa
said Peter as they entered the slttll
= room, "Tll be back in a minute-D'
n hello, what's this-hOw'd that nj
Y get in here? and he pointed to
y black feathered hat on a chair,
r. The young woman laughed. dor
X ask me, Peter; really you ought
- know"
y Peter had moved to the table al
- the sarcasm in the girls remark W
= lost on him as he picked up the nc
x staring him in the face.
y His surprise was genuine. he ne
y It out to his companion and they re
6S 1t together. -,
x 1.-THE girl you seek may be the daut
Y fer of Herbert Brewster, but her nal
y Is not Philippa."
e SWELL" cried the young man, wi
x do YOU think of that?"
x "Oh. don't think anything OF it
q looks to me like a piece Of nonsens
e was her easy reply.
r "But you ought to know" 2
X sisted Peter.
y "And the fact that l don't seems
g me to be good evidence that there
Il nothing in it. But, Peter, can't $
x here very long-and If you are WIN
x to help me-"
q go ahead" said Peter.
o. SWELL" said his visitor, Il don't kI
exactly how to begin. You see a pa
Fl with some details about mystery
+ corning my birth has strangely '
! ished from my fathers safe an
have reason to believe M. Ben
/ has It. wanted you to help me
! It,"
i "But you're engaged to Bentley,
+ you're IN love with him. How can
/ suspect him Of such q thingT