The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-11
The PlOtters
AN UNUSUAL SERIAL OF EAST AND WEST
Butler Leaves House in Which Chaplin
Lies Dead Without Any Explana-
ton to Elizabeth.

tired. for you never moved"
what time Is It noWT@ the EaE1
questioned.
After Z. Now 60 and change
your clothes to freshen yourself NJ
q bit Then come down and have
some coffee. just remembered
you've not had q bite nor q sun
since yesterday noon"
Perhaps that's why I feed -
queer and dizzy" the girl said e
she went toward her own room.
''Why-stopping as she head soma
one moving about in the kitchen
below-"who Is getting breakfast
MRS Miller" Martha Chaplin sx-
planned. II went down Just now
and had a talk with her. II seems
that Mr.. Butler asked Mr.. Miller to
let his wife come over here and
do for us until you and mo are
feeling real good again So she's
arranged to stay on for several
days" 800
@Thars very kind EllzaSsn
muttered.
She had slept so heavily and wa
so faint from lack OF food that her
brain worked slowly. She recalled
as in q dream the happenings Of
last night And abe Bhrank from
dwelling on them
Seeks Butler In vala
Yet As she bathed and drssss6
The haze lifted from her mind. and
one by one each incident Of the afe-
ernoon and evening stood cut
clearly.
Was John asleep9 Had ne sher-
IF been bere yet? What had The
coroner saId7 She must get down.
stairs as soon as she could and AK
her lover these questions
But when she entered the dining
room he was not there. Mrs. Miller
was. and Mrs Chaplin introduced
her, seating herself At the table -
she did 50.
elizabeth, my dear, this Is -
neighbor, Mrs Miller" she said
PLEASED to meet you" Mrs M
er smiled Il remember seeing 30
when I first came to this place -
live, Just after my marriage But
guess you don't recoIlect. me Yea
was only a small child then"
NO" Elizabeth responded POM
", Il am afraid I don't Pecollecf Il
Mrs Chaplin has told me OF yO1R
kindness in coming to us just nONS
We both appreciate It"
"WeIl, one must stand BY nekxA
bors in trouble Mrs Miller ~
marked That's what ] told ny
Sam last night when he como 01eR
for me And I promised Mr. BuS-
Ter I'd stay. He was kinder wors
ried about you and Mrs. Chaplin
looked pale and nervous. and she
changed the current OF the CONVEX
sation-
Dear she urged. do take soms
coffee. 1t Is 50 good and hot
well. I'm glad you enjoy IT.
Mrs Chaplin re5oinsd Ny, but I
feel all weak and gone-like this
morning! I suppose it's on account
OF the shock" she added. tears com
ing to her eyes
"Of course it Is" Elizabeth sym
pathized- you will feel bettaF
when your son arrives"
The words had the desired eneeG
The mother began to talk about
her boy, with Mrs Miller Is an IN
terested listener.
In silence, Elizabeth Wade ate .
little breakfast and drank q cup OF
coffee, her thoughts busy with tn
man she loved.
Why had he not come down to
breakfast? Was he, too. so tired
that he. had oversight It was not
like him not to be present at a
time when he must know she would
be nervous.
She thought Of tie form lying in
the harLanaA thu hail
and felt suddenly sick and very
much alone. She must not seem
eager about John Mrs Miller was
watching her and might suspect
her anxiety II she asked questions
about him Yet she must md out
how and where hey was A happy
inspiration came to her.
when went upstairs last
night" she remarked, casually, Mr..
Miller was here Has he gone
home?-
yes" the wife nodded He had
matters to attend to on our farm.
you see. So I fixed him up q little
breakfast real early and he drove
back home"
EIizabeth's ruse had not proved
successful She must Try again
Buffers Absence Explained.
1T Is too bad that you have -
many breakfasts to prepare she
ventured First, one for Mr.. NIL
Ter. then another for Mrs. Chaplin
and myself and one later for Mr..
Butler when he comes down.
"Oh, no." Mrs Miller spoke qufcE-
Iy as II to conceal her eagerness to
impart a bit OF interesting news
81 don't have to get breakfast for
Mr.. Butler. He's gone away, And
that reminds me, he told me TO tell
you folks that he had some business
he'd got to attend to in Midland"
Elizabeth wet her dry lips with
her tongue
when win he Be 6asEF ~
asked
Suddenly she did not care wh0
knew that she was engaged to JohA
All she cared about was his safety.
~Wen"-Mrs Miller svaded .
direct reply, watching the girl oCrt
ously-"he was not sure But hO
told me to tell you that you would
either see him or hear from him
by noon
Il asked him II there wasn't ~
other message. but he said no. I
promised to repeat to you lust whEe
he said. And that was an therO EHS
to It"
Go BE COntinue&9