The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-08


cides never to trust another In
order to get away she accepts a
position as governess To little
child in lonely house on the
coast of Massachusetts. When she
arrives there she discovers that
Bruce Henderson, Z. Trix's uncle
casts a siniser atmosphere over
the house and that Trix is afraid
OF him. One day Trx and Nancy
meet Bruce in the hail and a
scene ensues. during which Bruce
tells Nancy to leave Miss Hender-
son, however tells Nancy to take
orders from no one but her. Nam
cy encounters Bruce On the beach
and realizes that by defying him
she has incurred his enmity
When she returns she finds Trix
upset and suspects tha, Bruce is
AZ the bottom Of it,.
CHAPTER XIV
Caught
NANCY. keeping her eyes open for
Bruce's movements. learned that
although he had his meals served in
his rooms. he was out a great deal
of the time. She learned to avoid him
so carefully that for several days
neither she nor Trix saw anything #
his sinister presence and Nancy was
careful not TO allow the child out of
her sight for a single moment.
II the situation had not been 50 Sc.
iious Nancy would have smiled often
as she thought of the bluebeard
rooms downstairs Woman-like. she
was curious about these rooms. and
in spite Of the fact that she hated
Bruce she was curious about him too
II was so unnatural for a man, to
behave as he did and to intimidate a
little child as ne had Tiix Somewhere
back OF his present attitude toward
the world there was on unexplained
mystery OF some kind Nancy was
sure Of that.
once when she was sure that Bruce
was out Of the house. Nancy chanced
to go dcwn the back stairs as she
was accustomed 10 doing For this
reason she was forced TO pass Bruce's
rooms and this time the door OF one
stood half open. so that unconscious
" she glanced in. pausine as she did
so. 1t was q typical mans room fur
nshed simply. A large desk was push
ed between the two windows and on
this desk We're two pictures. one on
each end.
Nancy was curious about these pic
lures. II seemed ncongruous that a
man of Bruce's type would show
enough sentiment to have pictures
of any kind in his room and hastily
looking 10 see if the coast were clear
Nancy sped into the room for a closer
look.
The mans picture was evidently
Bruce's younger brother They had
the same stIuight. clear-cut features,
only this mans mouth was weaker
and his eyes kindlier. The woman
was the most beautiful thing Nancy
had ever seen. She was as Trix would
be some day, and there was an al
lure about her face fascination
that made her doubly attractive.
Fearful lest Bruce return suddenly.
.NdlIN OuNs Dul iIlt tUlUb PiI
zled her. Since Bruce hated Trix so
cruelty why did lie have those pic
lures of Trix's mother and father on
his desk? II was all very strange ana
mysterious and Nancy wished with
oil her heart that she could unravel
the mystery.
In the hall she met Bruce and her
heart leaped suddenly into her throat.
Ought she 10 speak TO him? Would
he expect It? Certainly, after his
trea tment OF her she owed him moth
ing at all, but she hated to pass him
by without any sign Of recognition.
1t seemed 30 childish.
He settled the matter by noddng
TO her curtly and she returned the
nod with slight lift OF her chin. She
had an impression of dark flashing
eyes turned on her as she passed
and she realized dimly why il was
that he troubled her. II was the
nance that hrookcd no interference
that made her conscious OF him in
spite Of the fact that every thing about
his nature made her dislike him the
more.
Nancy had been about to 20 out
but lnasmuch as Bruce had return
cd she turned back 10 so TO the
room where Trix was asleep. AS she
did 80, she almost colllded with Bruce
He held square OF linen in MS
hand which he proffered 10 her sar.
donically.
II believe this belongs to YOU
found II on the floor by my desk.
Nancys cheeks suddenly famed.
Why had she yielded TO the i'm
pulse 10 examine the photographs On
his desk, why? She might have
known that something would happen
TO betray the fact that she had been
in his rooms. Under The fiery in