The Lamar register., 1917-07-04
Copyright, by w. G. ChapmanJ

strange home that had been my abode
for two months was also regretfui.
This was Miss Naomi Sterling.
She acted otherwise; in fact, distant,
and fancied an expression of distinct
censure in her beautiful face. At all
events no opportunity was afforded me
to fathom or explain. Her employer
and my own had coldly handed me an
envelope containing. / knew, my weeks
salary, with the words:
you can go ut once"
And he added. darkly suspicious
and resentful look in his ever-restless,
ever-probIng eyes:
"And you need not refer to me-
Miss Sterling, who was the reading
companion Of his invalid wife, stood
nearby rs he spoke. She had directed
IL searching look ut me. Then she
dropped her eyes. I saw tear fail.
Then. there being nothing more to say,
[ bowed politely and left the room and
The house.
need not have been surprised at the
action of Marevelll, for he was ever an
uutocratic, eccentric old man. He was
Of Italian-French extraction, had in
herlted fortune and had given his
life to study along artistic and scien-
tific lines. He had whole cabinets
stored with curios. and magnificent
library. had been employed to cata-
logue all of those, besides acting us his
secretary. The mien of my employer
and the general atmosphere of the dull
old house were gloomy and untriendly
alike. My labor was light and con
geninl, however. and then again | was
occasionally thrown into the company
nf Miss Sterling.
cannot describe the rare dream Of
grace and beauty that drew me under
the influence of this peerless creature.
She was mostly in the rooms of the in
valid mistress, and there was little
opportunity for more than casual
erecting, or a few words exchanged at
the table. There was the walled gar
den, however, and l managed to stroll
there whenever | saw Naomi among
the flowers and shrubs.
Twice I spent II delightful half-hour
with her. left after those occasions
fully impressed with the hope. nay.
for her clearly. tluttering emotion
which she had betrayed had given me
hope One day she gave me a rose from
her bosom and blushed and moved
away quickly. l determined upon "A
confession of love the next evening,
but before that day was over | was
summarily dismissed from the service
OF Mareyelll as | have told you.
had only u small amount OF money
at my command and my first idea was
uf going East, where 1 had business
friends. The thought of Naomi de
TERED me. While her latest action Ind
clearly repelled me, yet l could not
readily forget her. As | left the Mare
velll mansion | tried to fathom the
cause of the drastic action Of its own
er. Suspicion seemed to be the i'm
pelllng motive of his behavior; but
why in my case? | was aware that
he had been the victim, rs "A couutryman
Of wealth. of that mysterious league of
villains known as the BLACK Hand"
had seen their letters, menacing him,
demanding large amount of money as
blackmail. or his life. Outside of the
usual sordid motive Of personal gain
of these schemers, | had heard that
Marevelli was especially detested by
these especial members of the League
on account of some political differences
reaching back to his former career in
Italy.
Always on guard against those mall
evolent plotters, generally viewing
them with contempt instead of fear,
was 1t possible that Marevelli suspect
ed me as a possible spy in their inter
est? Further, was it probable that he
had Impaired these suspicious to his
wife. who in turn had communicated
them to Naomi?
l dwelt strongly, mentally, on this
phase Of the situation. Several times
during the ensuing week L hoyered
about the Marevelli place. l caught
sight Of Naomi only once. She was in
the garden. l lifted my hat. She
bowed in return, sadly. 1 thought, and
went into the house. l was aggrieved,
disappointed; but at least she did not
betoken her former coldness.
had just finished n promenade past
the house one evening when sinister
faced man of foreign cast swung along
by my side. He was specious and in
sinuating in his address. After dwell
t,r, ,,po,, n fav indifferent evarydav