The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-22
THE BRAiN-CHiLD

For a moment or two Janet felt
numb She could not formulate any
reply to Nicoll's remark, delivered SO
calmly yet with such deadly informa-
tiveness: your husband won't be at
home. My secretary phoncd me an
hour ago. Walt Is at Lucy Bentons
studio"
Then Dot Grafton had hustled back
from the telephone booth with the
confirming news, There! It's just as
l told you, you little idealist He's
gone out. Probably at this very In
slant he's in some gay party, and We
sitting here plying him for his loneli-
ness and hard work."
Mrs. Crafton's light words released
In Janet flood of feeling. Her numb
ness melted Hot reaction sent the
blood to her face, dizzy resentment to
her brain. She tried hard to mask
under lively manner what was pass
ing in her mind. She would not give
the worldly Dorothea a chance to
gloat ESPECIALLY she would not per-
nit Roy Nicoll to see how his detec-
tive work had shaken her faith and
stirred her smoldering fears into leap
ing fires of suspicion. Is
The rest of the evening was an
agony. 1t seemed TO Janet as if the
stupid play would never end; that
Dot Grafton would never stop her
chatter and let them leave the smart
supper room they went to from the
theatre. At last, however, Nicolfs car
deposited Janet at the door of her
home.
Don't misunderstood my motives in
having Walt Stedman watched" he
whispered as he accompanied Janet
to the elevator, leaving Dot for the
moment alone in the motor. II simply
couldn't see you being duped in that
common, fragrant way With all your
intelligence, all your love OF freedom
and fair dealing, l couldn't and would
not see you being made q fool of. l
had to show you'll"
Nicoll spoke quickly and in the
low, thrilling tone he could so success
fully bring to bear upon a woman.
In spite Of her love and her persist
ing faith, Janet's heart writhed under
the ring of truth Roy's words con-
veyed. A wave of self-pity swept over
her. With difficulty she looked stead
lily back at Nicoll and said: Walt has
his reasons He has done nothing l
didn't know of; nothing that disturbs
me. Good night, Roy"
But her eyes were misted; and her
throat had lump in it as her cold
hand fumbled with her key She
would demand an explanation instant
ly from Walt. She would be frank.
She would state the whole situation,
both as she had supposed it and as
Roy Nicoll persisted in seeing it and
showing it to her. And Walt should
tell her-he must tell her-the abso-
lutte truth. With a resolute lift of the
chin Janet opened the door.
The apartment was empty. Not a
light glowed; not sound broke the
foreboding stiffness.
With dulling senses Janet took off
her things and prepared for bed. Slow
ly every spark of eagerness to be
convinced, of willingness to be pla-
Gated died A sense of outrage now
gripped her. She no longer cared
even to be proved wrong in her sus-
picions. She felt angry and desolate.
A clock somewhere struck 2. To
think that Walt--her man, her mate,
her comrade, her husband and lover
could treat her like this! Then she
slammed her bedroom door, snapped
out her light and crept, cold and very
wretched into bed
1t must have been an hour later
that Waits careful latch key grated
in the lock. The door closed gently
and he paused a moment, evidently
listening for some sound of wakeful-
ness from his wife's room. Then he
turned the knob and came in.
Janet" he whispered, trying to
rouse her without shock. Jan, dear."