Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-29

sion to nicely bound books. / once was
very poor. 1t was when ! was first
married and long before Clement had
begun to make his fortune 1 was 30
poor then that frequently l went hun
cry. and what was worse. saw my little
daughter cry for food. And why? Be
cause my husband was a bibltomaniac.
He would spend on fine editions what
able. 1t made me hate books SO that 1
have to tear the covers of before ! can
find courage to read them
Il can understand your idea. Mrs.
Quintard. but as everything else has
failed. ] should make a mistake not to
examine these shelves. II is just pos
sible that we may be able to shorten
the task very materially: that we may
not have to call for help. even. To
what extent have they been approach
ed or the books handled since you dis
covered the loss of the paper we are
looking forr
Not at all. Neither Of US went near
them.' This from Hstty.
Nor any ono else?'
NO one else has been admitted to the
room. We locked both doors tho mo
ment We felt satisfied that the will had
bssn left here"
to do something. Hetty. you look like
a very strong woman. and 1. as you
see. am very little. Would you mind
lifting me up to these shelves? want
S,
at the shelves themselves"
The wondering woman stopped and
raised her to the level Of the shelf she
had pointed out. Violet peered closely
at It and then at the one just beneath.
Am 1 heavy?" she asked. TT not let
me see those on the other side of the
door"
Hetty carried her over.
Violet inspected each shelf as high rs
a woman of Mrs. Quintards stature
could reach. and when on her feet
again. kne1t to inspect tho ones below.
No one has touched or drawn any
thing from these shelves in. twenty :
four hours" she declared. The small
has not been. disturbed at any point.
II was very different with the table
top. That shows plainly where you
had moved things and where you had
not"
Was that what you were looking
for? Well. ] never"
Hetty turned toward her mistress,
then back to Violet. whom she seized
by the arm.
What's the matter with Mrs. ouin-
tard?" she hurrisdly asked IF It were
night ! should think that she was in
one of her spells"
Violet started and glanced where
Hetty pointed; Mrs. Quintard was
within few feet of them. but as oh
livious of their presence as though
she stood alone in the room. Possibly.
she thought she did. With fixed eyes
and mechanical step she began to move
straight toward the table. her whole
appearance Of q nature to make Hetty's
blood run cold. but to cause that of
Violet to bound through her veins with
renewed hope.
The one thing l should have
wished" she murmured under her
breath. she has fallen into a trance.
She is again under the dominion of
her idea. If we watch and do not
disturb her she may repeat her action
OF last night. and herself show whore
she has put this precious document"
Meanwhile Mrs. Quintard continued
to advance. moment more and her
smooth. white locks caught the rudy
glow conferred upon the chair standing
In the hollow Of tho table. Words
were leaving her lips. and her hand.
reaching out over the blotter, CROPPED
among the Artiolss scattered there till
It settled on q large pair of shears.
Listen" muttered Violst to the
woman pressing CLOSE to her side. You
are acquainted with her voice; catch
what she says IL you can"
Hetty could not: an indistin Ruisha =
bic murmur was all that came to her