Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-10
INSIDER"
CHAPTER XIV.
1: by Virginia Terhune Van de Water.

OhaI-IEfI AAIt.
Copyright, 1917, Star Company
1t had been an easy matter for me
to promise Tom that l would have a
talk with his father. 1t was not so
easy to make an opportunity to see
Mr.. Norton alone.
When he came upstairs in the
evening for his twilight chat with
Grace, it was always about dinner
time, and l could discuss no subject
at length with him. Nor did / wish to
drag Toms need forward unless the
father himself made an opening for
me to do so.
/ cudgelled my brains to find way
TO accomplish my ends. And then,
one morning, l had an inspiration.
might request my employer to give
me a few minutes, and when he did
this / would make as my excuse my
desire to learn if he was content with
Grace's progress in her lessons.
| really did want to be sure wheth-
er he thought the child was advancing
satisfactorily, yet my need to know
this was not pre-emptory. 1t would,
however, serve as the entering wedge
TO the conversation had planned.
on the morning following my prom
Use to Tom, l came into the hall as
Mr.. Norton was putting on his over
coat preparatory to going downtown.
Excuse me-" ! ventured. but shall
YOU be too busy for the next day or
two to spare me five minutes? l want
TO ask you about one or two mat
ters."
why, no." he said kindly. 81 will
he glad to talk with you at any time.
Shall it be tonight when 1 come up
TO see Grace"
l shook my head. "I think not l
do not want her to fancy that we are
discussing her, and it is. of course, Of
her that l wish to speak. Moreover,
dinner is always ready by the time
YOU come out of Grace's room.'
That is true" he admitted. "and,
with a smile, las Mrs. Gore likes peo-
pie to be prompt, she might not be
pleased if we fingered talking"
No Comment Made
1t was the first time he had referred
TO his sister-in-law's jealous tenden-
cies, and l made no comment
Il tell you what you do.' he ex-
Waldorf this afternoon and have tea
with me-will you?"
Il can't" 1 demurred. "Grace has
TO have her supper at o'clock"
Some one else can give it to her
if you are not at home by that time.
Meet me in the Turkish room at 4.
Let Maggie attend to Grace's supper
for once. You will reach home before
the child's bed hour
But Mrs. Gore may mott be- |
gan.
I got no further. Striding past me, /
he called to his sister-in-la law, who had /
fingered in the dining room to give |
some orders.
Adelaide" he announced, II have I
Just been telling Miss Dart of a little |
business matter l want her to attend /
TO for me this afternoon. She will have /
sr be out until 6, or later. Let Maggie |
look after Grace during Miss Darts
absence-unless you yourself can ar
range to be with the little girl
Il can keep her with me in the
afternoon until her supper-time," /
Mrs. Gore replied. Then Maggie will |
impossible for Miss Dart to get back !,
by then"
1T may be impossible" Mr. Norton !
informed her briefly. With n nod to
his sister-in-law, he turned to me.
You understand what l want done, |
Miss Dart?" he asked. You have the
address all right?''
Yes I told him, I had the ad-
dress.
felt like a hypocrite as I met Mrs. /
Cores eyes. No suspicion lurked there, |
vet I was sure that she expected me
TO tell her what the errand was upon !
which
ing his daughters governess.
Il must find Grace" l remarked |
hastily. And, to avoid any questions, |
L hurried upstairs.
Tom was home to luncheon that
noon, and the subject of my going |
out was not broached in his presence. I
The lad was evidently trying to be as
polite as he could. I forced myself TO !
talk of Indifferent matters, and he did
his best to be agreeable.
A Bit of Diplomacy
After luncheon, Mrs. Gore inquired
when l was to start downtown.
/
When / was ready to go out, l took
Grace to Mrs. Cores room.
DO you want the little girl in here
with you?" l asked.
Yes" the widow answered, "she |
can stay here with her old auntie-I
can't you, darling?"
think she was secretly glad to have /
the child alone to herself, and l was (
only too thankful that she was in a
good humor. Grace gazed at me long
ingly, but voiced no resentment at my
leaving her. ] had explained to her !
that l had some business to attend to, |
so could not take her with me.
'Good-by," she said clinging to me !
and kissing me. Please come back |
soon"
LAS soon as I can" I promised.
paused in the lower hall to glance
at myself in the mirror. My gray
spring suit, although cheap. was be- |
coming. This was the first time l had !
worn it. The toque of the same color |
suited my face and 1 noticed how
prettly my hair waved beneath the |
narrow brim. 1 was glad 1 looked so |
nice.
Yet. I demanded of myself as 1 |
started toward the subway, what diff
ference did it make how 1 looked? |
was only an employe going to talk !
TO her mployer-ostensibly about his |
Enthusiastically about his son.
Had I done wrong in acting a part I
to accomplish my aim? Well, If so, /
the aims were surely kindly-and in |
some conditions the end to be ac- |
complished might justify the means |
used.
(To Be Continued.)