The Washington herald., 1921-03-30
LxIx-BACk TO TOWN.


The Langwells took Nancy back
to town in the morning.
The latter was not sorry to see the
last of the iIl-fated house party.
Il had more sensations there In
~three days than would have had at
home In q year" she told herself, as
she took q last backward glimpse
f6fough the Limousine window Of the
blue waters Of Lake Michiganf rip
pliag in the sunlight.
She remembered the queer psychic
depression which had enveloped her
on the evening OF her arrival. and
felt justified that she had given way
to her unnamed fear. Somehow she
wanted to run away from the Lang
wells and the vital forces which
seemed to encompass them. She
wanted the dear. comforting strength
ofJGerry's arms. She longed to hear
his tender. scofing laugh by which
he. greatest of skertics. Always dis
missed her fears and imaginings.
For a moment. a tiny panic seized
her when she recalled Comics queer
message
Could It be as Edith had suggest
ed. that something had happened TO
Gerry?
Sne olsnlsseo nef tedF Win
shrug.
cine He had not yet met the dam
gers Of adventuring in tropical Peru.
Then, like q poignant knife-trust,
came the unwanted vision of the
cheque bearing Gerry's signature,
made out to ''Fleurette ct Cie.''
- Nancy realized with sense of
deepest misgiving that the death of
Fleurette was going to affect the life
of other people, besides the Lang
wells and the unknown little man
who was directly responsible for the
catastrophe
The girl had passed on with sealed
lips, leaving a doubt that would for
ever linger in the hearts of two
women. Edith and herself.
That quiet sheeted form with its
riotouS coppery hair, so strangely
-cqntrasted with the still white face,
that lay in a guest room at the
Iangwell country house. lived as
vfvtdly and poignantly as IL its soul
had not departed on the long jour
.ney into the infinite
The trip back TO town was made
'in comparative silence.
Edith was looking troubled. All
the radiance of the night before had
fed There was no sign of the
orchids But Nancy would have
vagered much that they had not
been left at 'Ioiter Long" for a
shousemaid to throw out. but we've
tucked away In some part Of Edith's
luggage.
The doctor was looking thought
full Nancy, studying his face sur
reptitiousiy, could find no trace of
relief there, nor was there any sign
sof regret The passing of Fleurette
apparently meant no more to him
than the death of the most casual
patient IN his hospital wards.
Miss Dean had been left in charge.
calm. efficient. utterly poised. II
'Fleurette had meant anything to
her. as Nancy would have been will
ing to take oath after witnessing
the nurses first glance at her pa
tienf. Miss Dean successfully con-
,eeeled It
!. Nancy sighed absently. her eyes
focused on the landscape that slid
past the speeding car.
What maze of mystery and
Intriguei
She almost welcomed Connie
Stanley's frank interference and
high handed manner of mixing up
cNcIyO OOoy LSNcn
Peggy Lewis and her amazing inn
Dertinence was wholesome
thought. after the weekend of
mystery and disaster.
80 Nancy was glad to see town again.
She welcomed the trafic when they
turned into Michigan Boulevard.
The sight Of people thronging the
Adewalks, the purring motors, and
the clang of the L" few blocks
away, was gratifying to her ears,
after the eerie whisper Of the lake
waters and the sigh of the wind in
the pines.
=. The doctor broke the silence with
deep drawn breath.
We'll. for one, am glad to be
hack! What say. Edith-Nancyr'
- Edith did not reply. Her eyes
were turned to the gay little shop
OF F1eurette which they were pass
ihf. where the smart youngster In
knttons stood soldier-like at the en-
trance.
,sBut Nancy said softly:
rsTWhat Q week end We have had
AL the vital factors of drama: life
dsath-and love-" she added softly