Evening star., 1917-05-06

with it, replied Mrs. Gray icily, and
walked out of the room.
1t was not long before Jack Sterling
returned with the medicine. He found
Dr. Sterling alone in the library, wear
ing very long face. and when ne
asked anxiously for his wife, the doc
tor told him that she had gone 10 hef
room ;,
That's the best place for her. Jack"
he added Let her rest awhile.
ANY, real danger. Fred! aif askeo 'aeN
You look concerned yourself
Il am little worried. old man, an
swered Sterling truthfully. Ill just
run down to old Crosbys hotel now.
and tell him not to call. Then III come
back Perhaps closer examination
of Mrs Gray
"Shall | give her this now?''
mo, let it wait till ] return. I'll be
back in about an hour: and, taxing ms
hat and stick, the doctor hurried to the
street.
Jack made an Intellectual attempt to
converse with his wife, but she INSIST
ed upon remaining in her ROOM win
the door closed, and finally the trou-
bled man decided to let her nave her
way. He concluded to walk over 10
his club. while he would write note
to Miss Leslie. urging her TO be sure
not to let herself be seen again py ihe
colonel :,
He might have succeeded better IN
Rn0eay0r
hong. for he had scarcely turned the
corner when a taxicab slipped up 10
his front door. and out stepped col
Crosby. The maid assured MN that
Mr.. Gray had Just gone out, Where.
upon the old gentleman insisted tna'
his card should be taken to MRS. brhy-
The card came into the boudoif hke
q little bombsheu, and the council OF
war went into executive session d,
once. Gertrude felt that II she refused
70 see the colonel he would walt uhtil
lack came home; and she knew MAJ
ters would not be improved any os
this. Yet she herself could not yer!
well receive him, when But, OF
course. the solution was easy! Ihe
colonel knew Laura as Mrs. Gray, Ano
here providentially was Laura Iel
trude asked her if she would see the
colonel, and under any pretext get mn
safely out of the house. Miss Leslie
,yas not enthusiastic over the idea al
first. but allowed herself TO be per
suaded She laid aside her nat anu
gloves, and went down to the library
to impersonate the lady OF the houae
while Gertrude promised to keep guar
in the hallway. and to give warning VI
any ones approach.
Miss Leslie scarcely gave her caller
time to speak his greeting. She Hood
ed him with words. and cut his an
swers to mere unfinished exclamatons
She told him he should not even st'
down; she assured him he must ieape
the place at once; she described tht
dangers of smallpox. and informed him
that a case Of II had been discovered
in the house that very morning
"Fyen now this very moment,
must rush SO the Hospital Tor tohta-
gious Diseases and see about getting
u nurse. ~ a,
onel come along Win me i'e s"e
taxi downstairs"
Impossible. IL you want TO be q
good nice man, just get out Oh tiii'
house before you get contaminated:
Very we'll" assented the old genie
man. moving slowly. But when shall
/ see YOU all again? That was nee
little dinner we had last night, WASH
it7'
perfectly lovely" Miss Leslie assuf-
ed him, leading him gently toward the
door,
That's the kind of little dinner
Ike" Persisted the Garrulous coionel
Jacks the right kind. Takes hts wife
out with him when he goes with his
friends, instead of running around
with actresses and such, I'll tell his
uncle Hiram all about II when ! get
home, He had some misgivings about
Jack, but my report will fix all that
Now, let's all dine together again to-
night" finished tho colonel, plankine
himself immovably at the head of the
stairs.
Laura felt that playing host must he
the old fellows hobby, and she quickly
decided to take advantage of his weak
ness.
I'VE can't do that" she depiied, 'buf
will lunch with you, il you Ike, I'll
meet you at one. That's T. little oyel
sans az hour Now II 'aat nd M shs ssna h
pushed him downstairs.