Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-30
The Meh of Life


TNHE breakfast room at Silver Bluffs
l. the next morning was as softly
radiant as il the air were an impalpablc
solution of luminous gold. \ gentle
eastern breeze, sauntcring across the
sound from its birthplace out upon the
wide ocean, bore sea fragrance and q
broad exhilaration through open doors
and windows. Nature did not know
how to bring out Of the night more
gracious summer morning
But when Jennie came in to breakfast
a tri1e late--at Silver Bluffs the family
breakfast was served at { :1J for the
sake of the city going men-shc did
not so much as note the rare splendor
Of the day. Most of the night she
had kept going through again and again
that scene with Harry on the Grantham
roof, and she had kept seeing the de-
spairiug yet quiet look which he had
given her at parting. Her decision had
been wise and proper--she knew that ::
but the approval of her judgment had
not brought her that calm which is the
necessary prelude to sleep. So she was
worn this morning, and nervous, though
her habit of self control enabled her to
seem the usual Jennie.
She had just said good morning to
the others, and had attacked her grape
fruit, when a sharp exclamation from
Mr.. Harrison caused her to raise her
eyes. Mr.. Harrison was staring
mouth loosely open. at the morning
plate.
"God!" he gaspcd--"God I"
"What is it?" cried the startled Mrs.
Harrison.
He did not even look at her. Instead
he addressed his son.
Kenneth-Murdock' s dead -
dead ~ CALCULATED Kenneth.
'Murdered-shot last night ~
This Murdoch was barely more than
name to Jennie his fate had so little
interest to her that only her outer
consciousness was aware of what had
been said But she did notice that a
look of vast relief had come into the
face of Mr.. Harrison held upon his
son, and that a similar, if lesser, relief
was in Kenneth's face.
For moment. in the significance and
the surprise of the event, the two men
forgot that they were not alone.
"kenncth. that clears up our situa
tion entirely ~ exclaimed the older man
in n marvclng tone. Understand what
= il means to our busincss|'
''Of course! We're in better shape
than ever !"
''And the very day we thought mat
ters were going to explode for us !"
Were certainly playing in luck
And so is Sam Conway :" A quick,
keen look came into Kcnueth'S face.
"Who killed Murdoch Conway
81 don't know. I've only just seen
the headlines
Mr.. Harrison glanced back ut the
paper and skinned the text. The next
moment he was looking up, new as
toundment in his face.
"Murdock was killed by that young
man in our ofice-you know, Harry
Edwards "
Out of her apathy Jennie came star
ingly to her feet. ''killcd by Harry
Edwards?" she cried.
That's what the paper says.
"Killcd by Harry Edwards - she re
pcated with shivcring gasp.
Only her hands. one of which
clutched her chairs back and the other
the edge of the table, prevented her
toppling over. -.
"Why, Jennie-what's the matter"'
cried Kenneth, springing up to her side
and seizing her in his arms.
She saw that all were gazing at her
in amazement. Fighting for self
troll, she managed a smild, though il
was a very white one. "I'm all right
now. ] guess it was just the shock. You
know-the shock of man I'd met in
this house, and once had danced with,
actually doing such thing