The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-11-26

electric light and Frances walked to a chair, sinking into it with a long sigh of relief
 T guess this has been a hard evening for you" the old lady continued. some what curiously, as she watched the girl.
 James was telling me that there was plenty of excitement afoot" James," Frances repeated plained
 Yes" the girl said after a moment.
 Tt has been a long evening, anyway. certainly enough has happened. Well, as long as you weren't in dan ger" Mrs. Darrow continued. T say. as long as you weren't in danger, there S no great harm done. You weren't ih
 danger. were you?''
 Nc" Frances laughed. q don't sup pose I was. Or not very great danger. anyway"
 "A little danger is all a body wants to
 be in" the housekeeper said. Was 1t you that was having the trouble. or the judge, or maybe Mir. Ballin?"
 On the point of answering, Frances glanced suddenly at the other woman, all
 at once realizing that she was openly
 being pumped for information. "All of us," Frances said guardedly, But I'm foolish about an automobile.
 I'm always afraid it's going to tip over. Aren't your"
 The woman's disappointment showed she said. Well no. I don't ride in an l automobile enough to be afraid of them. Now I'll get you those things. I won't be gone long" For a moment longer she
 paused in the doorway, then went out into the hall, leaving Frances alone in the rooni
 l The girl looked after her with a litte frown wrinkling her brow. What had that old woman to do with the stirring 1, events of the night2 Was she C e- nected in any way with Red Larkin, or the man behind. Red Lsrkin, of whom Judge Crane had hinted darkiy. But even as these thoughts passed through ] her mind, Frances smiled in z spite of herself as she recalled Mrs. Darrow' S i face. The old housekeeper was a woman nearly 50 years old, a sweet, motherIy
 character, who had probably kept the
 judges house in order for years past.
 q guess you're tired" Frances museq aloud. smiling again at her own sus- picions, and raising her hands to ner half, she removed the hair pins. allow 1 ing it to fall in a cloud about her shoul- l ders.
 l The big chair was very soft very in- viting and tucking her feet upon the l seat. she leaned back against the cush-
 
 cle of her frame seemed to relax. I She could not help but compare the 1 bedroom with the one she had occupied the previous night at the farm house, l The queer little room up under the caves was hardly a good comparison to this apartment, furnished as it was, with 1 all the luxuries that money could buy. 1 The bed was a great affair. wide and l inviting, and Frances had a vague idea that it would be wonderful to snuggle down in it's depthrs, but somehow she was too weary to move, 1t was so good just to sit still, and after a moment her thoughts became confused the bed turned into racing automobile, the I pictures and walls and dressing table flashed by as the landscape had done, 1 and with one last effort she put it all sleep.
 Consciousness returned with a sudden ness that was startling. Frances had a vague feeling that some one was in the room, but not daring to move, she re- mained curled up in the chair, her eyes trying to pierce the blackness of the room. With a start she realized that the light had been extinguished. Some enc had come in and snapped off the electrics, allowing her to remain in the chair, oblivious to what was going on about her Who had it been? The old housekeeper?
 The girls whole body was stiff and cramped. but this was not even a eonsid- eration as she waited, tensely listening. All at once a hor -se shouting sounded from the lower hall and with gasp
 Frances sprang from her chair, making a rush for the direction of the door. A curious swish, swish came from be- hind her and the next instant she felt herself grasped by a strong pair of arms. (Copyright 1919, Thompson Feature Service.) (To be continued tomorrow.)