The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-08

ion OF Dilly'a need aa being greater
than his own.
IL had been an unpaiatable revela
ton. for Rachael was a woman proud
as well as beautiful But presently
she had accepted the situate as u
stood. somehow lighting her way. as
the years went by. to fresh accept
ances the acceptance OF Buys ripcn.
ing charms. the acceptance OF Clar.
cnce'H more and moro frequent times
Of inebrinted irrcrponslblllty. Silently
nhe made her mental adjustments
moving thru her gay ana empty life
I IN an unsuspectcd bitterness OF soil.
tude. won to protest and rebellion
only when the cold surface She pro.
scented 90 the world was threatened
from within or without.
IL was distinctly threatened now
she realized with a little aici, twist OF
I apprehension AZ heart. when her ems.
ual inquiry TO a maid upon entering
was answered by a discreet. Yes.
Mrs. Breckenridge. Mr Breckenridge
came home half an hour ago. Alfred
IL with him.
I This was unexpected. Rachael ala
I not glance either AT her guest OF her
stcpdaughter. but she disposed OF
them both Ia n breath.
Some one wants you on the teic.
E phone. Biliy," hhc repeated after the
maids information. Take II Ia the
library. Run right up To my room.
Elinor. and IN be there in two min.
utcs. IN send some one in with tow
ella and brushes. you've time for n
tub. Take these things. iielda. and
give them 90 Annie, ana tell her TO
look out for Miss Nanderwail"
The square entrance hall was sweet
with flowers In the early spring eve
ming. Oriental rugs were spread on
tho dun mirror OF the floor. opened
doors gave glimpaez Of airy colonial
I Interiors. English chlntzes crowded
with gay coiorcd fruits and flowers
brick frcpiaecs framed In classic
white and showing n brave CLEAN OF
brass firedoEs IN the soft iamplight
Not a book on the long tables. no,
an etching on tho dun rich paper Of
the walls. struck fnlac note. y, was
all cSqulslteiy in tone.
but Rachael breckenridge. at best
saw less rs positive projections than
the unleat opening thru which an I'm.
perfection might push It's way. and
IN such an hour an this she saw II
not az all, Her mouth trine FIRM
In It's outline. her face a little pale.
she went quickly up the widc white
stairway and along the open balcony
above. There were several doors on
this balcony. which was indeed the
upper haii Mrs. breckenridge opened
ono II them without knocking. and
clcncd Il nosscieHRiy behind her.
Tho room into which rhe admitted
herself presented exactly the picture
she bad expected. The curtains.
again Of richly coiorcd rreionne. were
drawn. softly toned lamp on tho
FcadilE table. and smother beside Tho
bed. cast circles Of picasan; ugh, on
tho comfortably. wicker chairs. tho
cream. coloFrd woodwork. and the
scattered books and magazines. Sew.
erai photographs 81 Carol. beautifully
| framed we're on bookcase and
dresser. and a fine oil painting Of the
child 81 ~ looked down from the
rnantel. on the bed. n mahogany
four poster. with carved pinsAppiss
finishing the posts. the friiicd ere
tonne cover had been aung back.
Mr.. breckenridge had retired. his
/ blond head was sunk IN tho pillows.
hc ciutched tho blankets about him
with his arms. bis face was not Wis
ible.
A quiet man servnnt. who was by
turns butler. chauffeur. and valet.
was stepping softly about tho room.
Rachael Intercepted him In a low
tone:
Asleep. Alfrcd7"
"oh. no. ma'amr' the man said
quickly. Hes been feeling H. lie
says he has a chill"
when did he get homer" the wife
asked.
About half an hour ago. Mrs.
Breckenridge. SIR. Butler tslephoned
me. Some OF tho gentlemen were
going Onto one OF the beach hotels
! for dinner. believe. but Mr.. Breck.
enrldgc felt himself too unwcll 10
I Join them. SO went for him with the
little car. and Mr. Joe Butler and Mr..
Parks came home with him. Mrs.
Breckenridge"
do you know II he went 10 bed
last night az aliT"
mo. ma'am. he said he did not
An tho gentlemen looked as II they
hooked az II they might have
Alfred hesitatcd deiicnteiy. 1T was
Mr.. Berry Stokes bachelor dinner
no presently added
| At this moment there was con
vulsion Ia the bed. and the red face
I OF Clarence Breckenridge revealed H.
self The eyes were blood stained. the
/ usually pale skin flushed and oily.
Z the fair, thin hair tumhied across
high and well developed forehead
l Rachael knew every movement Of
the red and swollen lips. every tone
OF the querulous voice.
Does Alfred have 60 stay up here
doing a chambermaid's work." de
mnnded the man OF the house. fret.
| fully. MY Cod Can you or cant
you manage--between your teas and
card parties--to get some one else TO
put this room in order7" lie ended
In long moan. and dropped his head
again into the pillows.
do you know what he wants."
Rachael asked he man IN n quick
whisper. Go down and get IL. thenr
"I'm co-o-oid,' said the man In the
bed. going into "A sudden and violent
chill i've caught my death.
think. Joe made a punch--somc sort
Of an eRgnog were bad think.
I'm poisoned The stuff was rotten!'
He sank mumbling back into the pill.
lows.
Rachael. who had been hanging his
coat carefully in the big closet nd.
1 Joining his room. came TO the bedside