The Washington times., 1918-07-23
Part One-(Continued)

WI hnO" why DuN al" agS
thought he went to Adderley-and
when he came back it was horrible
to see him You know how strong
and broad he was? Well, his shoul-
ders seemed to have fallen, and he
stopped like an old man
r HE shambled when he walked
as a matter Of fact, he hardly ever
walked, not in the garden, that is
to say. as he used to do. He used to
walk upa and down in his room,
though-an night long. I could
often hear him, for my room adjoins
one Of his, and the sound was most
pitiful. Then his face changed
oh, how terribly it changed! All the
flesh seemed to leave IL, and it was
as IL the skin was just drawn over
bone. You remember Mr.. Probyn,
the rector of Helm? Harold's face
became just like his. 1 begged him
TO see a doctor. but he always curt
ly refused. You see, his manner
changed, too, and when he spoke
which was not often-he was quite
rough He would not allow me to
have any guests in the house, ana
he told DR.. Fleetwood-you remem-
Der DR.. Fleetwood? He has a prac-
tice near here-he told DR.. Fleet
wood that he did not want him pry-
ing about: that was his expression.
DR.. Fleetwood thinks that Harold
Is addicted to some drug-probably
morphia-"
He has contracted the drug hab-
IT," interrupted Lillian. so much
I can tell you for certain"
@How do you know" Esther's voice
expressed her surprise.
Il will tell you later" said Lii
ian. after you have finished your
story"
you see how lonely am" Esther
went on. Harold has at last isola-
ted himself completely. He occupies
one wing Of the house, and he has
practically shut it off from the rest
I see him only when he gos out and
returns. He takes no notice OF me
at all now, and does not interfere IL
I have anyone to see me- 1t is
almost as il he did not know OF
other peoples presence. He allows
no one to go into his rooms, no one,
At least, except his own servant
such a horrid creature-yoU will
see him. q foreigner, who can
scarcely speak English.
strange Events Taking Place
And now such strange things are
happening, happening, while Harold
is sway. hardly know how to eX-
plain them or to tell you why am
frightened-but 1 am afraid, Lillian,
horribly afraid
As she spoke the carriage had
turned into the drive, and a few
moments later the lights of the
great house came into sight The
hall looked cheerful enough as the
door was thrown open and two or
three man servants appeared TO
offer their services. One Of them
stood silently in the background,
and his dark, evil face attracted
Lilian's attention
-Is that the man." she whispered
70 Esther.
Yes" was the reply. II tell you,
Lillian, that I am afraid!-
Lillian and Esther were unable to
renew their conversation till after
dinner that night, for, following
their arrival at the Towers, there
was but time to dress before a gong
announced that the meal was
served. During dinner, owing to
the presence of servants, they had
TO restrict their talk to common
place, Lillian noticed that the for
eign man servant, he whose face
had struck her as being so pecu-
iiarly evil, did not again put in an
appearance
Neither OF the two women was
hungry. and the meal was, there
fore, a perfunctory one
I'D have ordered dinner in the
morning room" Esther explained,
herself conscious OF the depressing
atmosphere, but Mrs Borradale
always insisted upon using the hall
for the evening meal II was
matter Of sentiment with her, and
somehow, though she has gone, We
have never abandoned the practice.
You may imagine how lonely it was
for me last night-sitting here all
by myself. It's all right in sum
Tner. when the shutters can be kept
open, and in the daytime the room
Is cheerful enough-but somehow 1
have got to hate it at sight"
whom do the pictures repre-
sent" asked Lillian, as the meal
progressed
The BOrrudnle Gallery.
They are Borradales-alI OF
mem. The pictures were brought
here from AdderIey when the family
gave up living there. They are
supposed to be very fine works Of
art. but I don't understand very
much about pictures. I want you
70 notice them particularly-after
dinner. Lillian, not now" Esther
whispered the last words as IL she
feared being overheard by the
servants There is something
orange in connection with them"
Aloud she continued in a careless
voice: There are two at the end
OF the room which did not come
from AdderIey-Harold's mother
and Harold himself The picture
Of Harold was painted just before
knew him"
Conversation after this followed
the ordinary conventional lines.
Lillian spoke Of New York and an
uounced that she had practically
adopts-d two children. They were
proteges Of Won Geldenstein. and he
had asked her to look after them.
She had decided that she was not
justified in telling. even 10 Esther.
the true story of the millionaire
and Of her inheritance
ave will take coffee in my bou-
doir'" said Esther, after the butler
had set the dessert and wine upon
the table. You can take it UP
there in a quarter OF an hour"
As soon as the man had closed
the door behind him Est her