Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-28
CHAPTER XLIX.

Helen Goddard was always pleas
ant and attentive to elderly people.
Therefore, when the refreshments
were being served she took a seat
near Mrs Duffield.
! II am sure that Annie and Smith
! understand their duties perfectly
! she remarked sotto voce. Il have
J given them full directions"
lit has been a relief to Desiree to
! have you here" the matron OBJ
| served. The poor child was quite
| put out about by one thing and an
/ other"
! You mean she was upset at not
| having regular waitress to-
night?" Helen queried. Really that
/ is quite ridiculous of her-and not
bit like Desiree. She is usually
/ so sensible"
( Mrs. Duffield regarded Helen as
her niece's very good friend, there
! fore spoke out what came into her
mind.
! No, my dear" she dropped her
tvoice to a confidential whisper. That
I is not ali that disturbed her. l do
not mind telling you-for you will
not speak of it outside-but De-
siree's amethyst and diamond pend
ant has been stolen"
| stolen" Helen repeated.
( 'Yes-at least that is what We
! fear" Then, tiattered at having so
attentive listener, Mrs. Duffield re-
cited the full particulars of the af
falr OF the missing property.
Helen listened absorbedly. Here
was indeed mystery. Her interest
Increased when the narrator re-
peated Mr.. Leightons warning to
his daughter.
"Of course it made Desiree feel
very uncomfortable" Mrs. Duffield
ended. And, l must acknowledge,
l am uncomfortable about it myself.
But | am sure that Smith is all
right"
Smith again!" a low voice ex-
claimed so near the speaker that she
and her listener started nervously.
! I am always hearing something
about Smith when l get into touch
with any member of the Leighton
| household" Walter Jefferson accus-
ed with his light laugh.
Jefferson as u Gossip
! Then, as some one on the other
side of Mrs. Duffield engaged her in
conversation, Jefferson addressed
shis remarks to Miss Goddard.
! Il suppose that YOU, too, find the
! chauffeur fascinating topic?" he
I challenged.
"Oh, 1 don't know" Helen evaded.
| Il do think, however, that there is
something rather mysterious about
him. He makes a good butler this
evening, doesn't he?"
What do you mean?"
Didn't you see that he is serving
! the refreshments? ?" Helen asked.
He brought you some punch just
now"
Il never even glanced at the
! chap" Jefferson told her. Il took it
! for granted that he was some hired
! waiter. When he comes in again, l
will get good look at him. Like
| you, l am sure there is something
! queer about him."
Such as WHAT"
"Oh. we'll his looks for one thing;
| I have seen him somewhere - in
| other circumstances-yet where 1
| cannot recall. But if I had ever
talked with him before he entered
our hosts employ, l am certain l
would have remembered that Irish
brogue."
That brogue?"
| Yes, and that is another thing
that puzzles me. He does not look
| a bit like an Irishman."
He is not one" Helen asserted.
II have talked lot with him. He
| is no more Irish than I am"
But his speech" Jefferson began,
when a warning glance from his
companion checked him.
David was approaching with a
tray laden with plates of ices.
Gravely, as to a complete stranger,
| he offered the dessert to Miss God
| dard
AS she helped herself to an ice
Walter Jefferson's eyes met those
of David De Laine.
| 1t was a dramatic moment to
which the. girl thrilled. While she
! could have counted ten. the two
men gazed into each others faces.
! The look in Jefferson's eyes was
! inquiring and searching; that in
| David's was almost defiant.
| A Recollection
Then the chauffeur spoke in a
calm tone.
will you have an ice, Mr.. JEFF
| ferson?"
The guest gave vent to a short
laugh.
"why yes, my man, I will" TAX
ing a plate from the tray II was
! not aware" he added slowly, that
I you knew my name"
I David made no reioinder, but
passed on. his manner that of a
well-trained servant.
When he was out of earshot JEFF
ferson spoke. His tones were rather
unsteady, as if he were suppressing
his excitement.
"I know where I met that man."
he said with conviction.
"Where?" his companion asked
eagerly.
Down in Baltin IRE It was at
the house of a cousin of mine-at a
dance"
Really? What was he doing? ?
Was he a waiter?"
"No-he was guest"
Helen Goddard clasped her hands.
How romantic! I suspected"-
Jefferson interrupted her. "I will
ask YOU" he said sternly, "to men