Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-07
Copyright.
CHAPTER XIV.
Celestine the Maid.

Trent, seated on the bed, quickly
sketched in his notebook a plan
of the room and its neighbor. The
bed stood in the angle between the
communica ting door and the sash
window, its head against the wall
dividing the room from Mander-
sons. Trent stared at the pillows;
then he law down with deliberatlon
ond the bed and looked through the
open door into the adjoining room.
This observation taken, he rose
again and proceeded to note on his
plan that on either side of the bed
was a small table with cover.
Upon that farthest from the door
was graceful electric lamp stand
ard OF copper connected by a tree
wire with the wall. Trent looked
at it thoughtfully, then at the
switches connected with the other
lights in the room. They were, as
usual, on the wall just within the
door, and some way out of his reach
as he sat on the bed, He rose, and
satisfied himself that the lights were
all in order. Then he turned-on his
heel, walked quickly into Mander-
sons room, and rang the bell. =,
Il want your help again, Martin,
he said, as the butler presented
himself, upright and impassive, in
the doorway. Il want you to pre-
vail upon Mrs. Manderson's maid
to grant me an interview"
Certainly, sir" said Martin.
what sort of a woman is she?
Has she her wits with her:'
She's French, sir" replied Mar
tin succinctly; adding after a
pause: She has not been with us
long, sir. but | have formed the
impression that the young woman
knows as muc!, Of the world as is
good for her-since you ask me. "
you think butter might possibly
melt in her mouth, do you?' SAID
Trent. We'll, l am not afraid. |
want to put some questions to her
Il will send her up Immediately,
sir" The butler withdrew, and
Trent wandered round the little
room with his hands at his back.
Sooner than he had expected, a
small. neat figure in black appeared
quietly before him.
The lady's maid, with her large
brown eyes, had taken favorable no
tice of Trent from window when
he had crossed the lawn, and had
been hoping desperately that the re-
solver of mysteries (whose reputa-
ton was as great below-stalrs as
elsewhere) would send for her. For
one thing, she felt the need to
make scene; her nerves were over
wrought. But her scenes were at
discount with the other domestics,
and as for Mr.. Murch, he had chilled
her into self-control with his official
manner. Trent, her glimpse of him
had told her, had not the air of a
policeman, and at distance he had
appeared sympathetic.
As she entered the room, how
ever, instinct decided for her that
any approach to coquetry would be
a mistake, if she sought to make a
good impression at the beginning.
1t was with an air of amiable cam
dor. then, that she said, Monsieur
desire to speak with me" She
added helpfully, II am called &C.
lestine."
Naturally" said Trent with bus
inesslike calm. Now what l want
you to tell me. Celestine, is this;
when you took tea to your mis-
tress yesterday morning at 7 o'clock,
was the door between the two bed
rooms-this door here-open"
Celestine became intensely ami
mated in an instant ooh. yes" she
said. using her favorite English
Sidiom. The door was optl as al
ways monsieur, and shut it as al
ways. But it is necessary to explain
Listen! When l enter the room
of madame from the other door in
there-ah! but if monsieur will give
himself the pain to enter the other
ROOM all explains ITSELF She trip
ped across to the door, and urged
Trent before her into the larger bed
room with a hand on his arm. See !
| enter the room with the tea like
this. I approach the bed Before
l come quite near the bed, here is
the door to my right hand-open,
always-so! But monsieur can per-
ceive that see nothing in the room
of Monsieur Henderson. The door
opens to the bed, not to me who ap-
oroach from down there. | shut it