Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-20

Where was Jenny, and why did the
usual silence of that well ordered house
hold seem increased hundredfold,
deepening into something strange and
sinister and forbidding?
They paused before Mrs. Hartshorne' S
door. Rose raised her hand ITO knock
when the Frenchwoman stopped her.
1T will do no good. Look through
the keyhole, Mademoiselle.
Rose drew back, her round eyes fairly
starting from her head.
What do you mean, Matilde?" she
whispered. Something - something
dreadful has happened to Mrs. Harts-
horne?'
II fear that she is very ill.," the
woman responded slowly as if choos-
! ing each word with care. "She must
have tainted when she returned from
| the dance. The door is locked, and |
cannot make her hear me. Look
Mademoiselle
| Without more ado Rose stopped and
peered through the keyhole. The next
| instant she recoiled and her handbag
| fell to the floor.
Through the orifice she had beheld the
head and shoulders of Mrs. Hartshorne,
who appeared to be lying face up
ward upon the floor. The hair was
arranged as it must have been on the
previous evening and the marblelike
neck, encircled by string of huge
pearls, arose from the shimmering satin
of marvellous dance frock.
"She-she isn't" The word would
not come.
MADAME has had fainting spells be-
fore which lasted for hours" Ma
tide shrugged.
but we must get help Immediately !!
Why didn't you do so at once when
you saw her lying there?" After the
first shock the girls alert brain had
reacted and she gazed sharply at the
| FrenChwOman.
1T was only a moment before you
came that | myself looked through the
keyhole, Mademoiselle, and 1 thought
that you would know best what to do.
Jenny and the cook, they are impossi-
BILE, they know nothing, and l preferred
that you should be here" Matilde hes
itated, then added in cool significance.
a fainting spell, after all -
With a GOODNESS at her heart, Rose
seized the handle of the door and shook
it violently, but with no result. Then
backing off few steps she hurled heI
1.-THE young strength against it. The
door did not even culver. The next
instant Rose was flying down the stairs.
She tore open the front door and
stood for moment on the steps gaz-
ing up and down the quiet street. A
physicians landaulet stood before the
house across the way. Motorcars were
coming and going, and a delivery boy
went whistling past, but there was no
sign of that which she sought.
With an inarticulate mutter of ex =
asperation Rose sped down the steps
and toward the nearest corner needless
of the curious glances cast after her.
She had neared the intersection of the
avenue when a blue coated figure hove
in sight, sauntering along in apparent
aimlessness. He quickened his pace
when he perceived the approaching girl
"Officer! :" Rose exclaimed breathless =
ly. You know Mrs. Hartshorne'
house, No. 1892
Certainly, Miss" His tone was
tersely interrogatory.
Come quickly, please. There's trou.
BILE therer'
The front door was open as she haC
left it. Speechlessly she pointed VI
, the stair. The Frenchwoman still cow
cred in the hall before her mistress
; room, but Rose gestured eloqucntly t.
the keyhole and the policeman looked
through it.
One glance was sufficient. The of
icer backed away and then lungct
forward, his huge shoulder meeting tn
door with crashing impact. 1t strain
ed at the first onslaught, bent under tn