Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-15
CHAPTER LXXXIH.
Copyright, 1913, Star Company.

Copyright, 1919, Star Company
Samuel Leighton's house was on
corner. The owner was walking up
the opposite side of the street, and
was still some feet away, when he
heard a dooF slam. Stopping in the
shadow of a large tree, he peered
across the street.
1t was his own front door that
had opened and shut. Desiree must
have had a caller who had stayed
late.
Still in the shadow, he saw some
one descend the steps and turn
down the avenue. The rays of Il
street lamp fell full on the tall ana
erect figure of David Smith DeLaine.
Smith himself" Leighton whis-
pered, his lips twitching and his
hands clenching.
= There was no mistake. The in
truder's figure and bearing were too
striking for the watcher to fancy
himself in error. But what was he
doing here? Had he the effrontery
to attempt to call on his former
employer at this hour of the night?
Still motionlCss, Leighton gaZed
after the departing form. Smith
walked with an assured swing his
head thrown back, as if he were as
honest as Desiree had insisted he
was.
A shocking idea forced itself upon
Samuel Leighton's consciousness.
Smith had been to call on Desiree.
What did it mean? Was she party
to the deception the chauffeur had
practiced?
The world seemed to be slipping
away from under the fathers feet.
Crossing the street he glanced up
~ hi Il H. atfs. hot
instant n light flashed out. She had
evidently just entered her room.
She had received her caller-and
had gone upstairs as soon as he had
left.
Noiselessly the parent let himself
into the house. He wanted to be
alone before talking to his daugh-
ter.
Five minutes reflection in the
darkness of his library brought him
to a decision. He would give Desiree
the opportunity to tell him all that
she was willing to confide to him.
She had always been open and
honest with him. He would make
it possible for her to be so now. Ii
she were not it would be because
her head had been turned by the
rascality of this fellow who called
himself Smith" and who was real
ly the good-for-nothing nephew of
Miss DeLaine, of Baltimore. What
a fool the father had been to allow
his child to visit that eccentric old
lady.
Going upstairs, he knocked at his
daughters door.
Dear" he called in a voice he
struggled to make natural, may /
come in?"
Certainly, Dad" she called back.
Come right I'M"
He found her seated in an easy
chair. She had taken off her dress
and put on soft negligee. Her
loosened hair fell about her shoul-
ders. Her cheeks glowed and her
eyes shone. There was an air of
suppressed excitement about her
| that the man noted with q sinking
OF the heart.
Il am feeling a bit restless" he
said, "and thought If you were not
asleep yet we might have a little
chat"
"I am not even sleepy" she as
sured him" Sit down here Dad"
motioning him to a chair. "I want
to talk with you anyway. I had Il
call from Smith this evening"
Her Own Accord
She said the words without look
ing at him. He was glad, for he
knew that his face changed. Yet
he drew breath of relief. OF her
own accord she was going TO tell
him the truth.
Smith" he repeated. He would
not let his indignation betray itself
in his voice.
Yes" she said, still without look
ing up. The reason for his coming
is quite a long story"
II shall be interested in hearing
it, if you care to tell it to me-" Leigh
ton remarked
Desiree was surprised. She had
expected and feared violent out
break.
What had changed him-or was
he exercising an unaccustomed SELF
restraint?
He may have felt the inquiry in
her eyes, for he said hastily, as If
to disarm suspicion
would you object to my smoking,
my dear? May ! light cigar?
"Of course you may smoke" she
replied. What a ridiculous ques-
ton for you to ask of me! Haven't
YOU always smoked where I was?"
But not in your bedroom" lie
reminded her.
Then you must begin now." she