The Washington times., 1919-09-10
By Virginia Terhune Van
de Water.
AuthOF Of many novels and one Of
the e0uutFy's best-knOWn writer's
OF short storles.D

de Water.
AHthOr Of many novels and one oi
the eOuHtry's best-knOwn writer's
oT short StOrIes.)
CHAPTER LV.
H ESIREE LEIGHTON was
passing through the hall
when her fathers voice sum-
moned her to the library.
x, Come here, daughter" he called.
5-T have just received a special de-
livery letter
'Fron whom?" she queried, as
she crossed to the table at which he
eat.
AFrom Smith. He is going to
flsave US"
Leave US" The words were
scarcely more than a whisper, and
the parent did not notice them.
aThat is. he has written to give,
up his pIace-says he has to leave
4town in reply to a letter from
= somebody somewhere. Rather odd,
81 think, that my chauffeur should
be obliged to go to another city
Son such short notice"
why, Dad?
This time the speakers voice vas
audible.
q Because" the man explained, 1T
looks queer-tbats all. wish l
we're sure OF the fellows honesty
Dad" Desiree forced herself to
speak naturally, ''if Smith were not
honest he would not notify you Of
= his intention to depart"
kuH
OF course" Samuel Leighton ad-
mitted. Another thing in his favor
is that he has the grace to say he
hopes he is not inconveniencing me.
Still. the thing makes me uneasy"
He paused and sat pondering for
full minute. Desiree feared he
= would actually hear the heavy
poundings OF her heart. At last he
> spoke.
's.FII tell you what think I'll' do,
I'll tell him that it will be very in
! convenient to meas IL will be-to
engage a new chauffeur for the
= next few days. Then, if he offers TO
stay on until I get another man,
viii be pretty sure that he knows
nothing about the pendant. If he
insists that he must leave at once,
= will have grave suspicious Of him.
II he will only stay in New York
long enough for me to set on foot
certain Investigations, it will
simplify matters for me"
''Then-then-you will send him
word that you wish him &c stsy?"
Debiree asked.
. Only for a few days. don't
want the fellow il he wants to
s chuck a good place-although con-
fess he has a way with him that
makes me like him. He certainly
came up nObly to the scratch last
night. He made a good-looking
= butter"
she was startled to note that her
hand tEembled as she took the sheet
! Of paper. Her father noticed it,
: too.
/. Dear, you are -over-tired. You
should have laid abed this morning.
E You are. not like yourself these days.
: Aren't you weIl?''
"Oh, yes, perfectly we'll" she re-
plied quickly.
writes a good hand, doesn't hee"
the parent commented. glancing at
David's epistle.
: He did write a good hand. but
that was not what the girl was no.
icing. Instead she was reading and
D 1re-readiug the address at the head
Of the sheet of paper.
For she had made a swift resolve.
sac had driven once to the door Of
the house in which David lodged,
but she did not recall just where it
was. Now she must know the exact
: l6eaIity.
Doesn't be-" the parent repeated.
! Il beg your pardonT' the dRugh-
ter exclaimed, coloring. what did
you say?'
"Only that Smith writes a good
hand which Is a matter of no i'm
Portance compared with the nerv-
Gus state you are in" was the
; lbrUsque rejoinder. NY dear, there
something wrong with you. Are
you worrying about that pendant?"