The Washington herald., 1921-03-22

70 Glad to be relieved Of the respon-
sibility Of the sick-room, Nancy
went downstairs to solitary lunch
con.
Though the Sunlight streamed
through the windows facing the
lake, and the table, with its hand
some appointments and its bowl of
: -hothouse flowers was intriguing to
her artistic eye. she went
through the perfectly-served meal
abstractedly.
She had not liked the expression
Jon the nurses face as she bent over
her patient
What mystery lay there?
Why had Miss Dean said that
she came from the hospital when
Nancy knew that such a statement
was false?
Poor bFIeurette, thought Nancy.
Had she a fighting chance with so
many hands against her?
She wondered IL anyone had
thought 6 notify her shop about
the accident. And what had become
, of the frightened little man VINO was
responsible for 1t all
Her lip curled as she Remembered
his terror over possible damage to
= his precious reputation Never a
thought for the girl! He at least
had wanted her to live. because. IL
she died. IL would be inconvenient.
Men, said Nancy scornfully to
= herself,
There was Major Desmond, leaving
without a wofd. with Stanley's un-
explained innuendo between them.
There was Stanley himself making
worse a practical joke for which ne
and Connie were responsible. There
was Gerry, departing for Peru in
well-simulated rage to cover his
own guilt
There was DR. Langwell-
- Nancy pushed back her plate and
rose from the table.
She was not sufficiently disloyal
To break his bread and think the
things he had given her cause to
n think. at the same time.
= His neglect OF Fleurette, his call
Ing in a nurse who was not Of the
hospital stan and whose professional
- poise had been upset by sight OF
her patient, was damagingly sus-
80 picious-
To think more clearly, Nancy went
upstairs. put on her wrap and hat.
and went for a walk along the lake.
Her feet unconsciously followed
the day previous, and almost before
she knew It, she had descended the
long hill at the foot OF which lay
the overturned car.
As she neared it, she realized
that another motor was drawn up
some little way distant, and that
a mans figure was bending over
the wrecked car.
He did not hear her approach
- over the soft ground. and when she
spoke he jumped with ludicrous
haste.
It was the owner of the wrecked
car. with such an expression of
in his funny little eyes that
Nancy laughed outright.
Detectives say that a criminal
is always drawn to the scene of his
acrime." she drawled. 'T think you're
> fairly caught. Mr.. -ah-"
He did not supply the missing
name. but mopped his brow with a
gayly-bordered silk handkerchief.
Lord. I'm glad it's you! I was
afraid for a moment that meddling
doctor might be with you. Con-
found his nerve, anyway! II I
none of his damn business-beg
.
but the dressing down he gave
me made me sore"
Il dare say you have the priv
ilege of wrecking your own prop
erty. IL you ind 1t amusing, but
I think any fair-minded citizen
would object to your killing an in
nocent companion in the accomplish
ment," remarked Nancy. dryly.
The little mans face went pallid
Good Cod Is she dead?"
Nancy looked at him curiously.
would you be very sorry If she
was?'
"Sorry7" he echoed shriIly, and
Nancy. could fairly hear his teeth
chattering. I'll be in a hell of a
mess II she is For Gods sake,
don't torture me! Tell me, has
She
NO" said Nancy coldIy. Not
yet But she's likely to at any
time, II that's any comfort to you.
I'm glad somebody wants her to
live" she added as an afterthoyght,
IF even the motive is not particu-
larry Christian"
The turned on her heel and away.
and she heard the little man sour
rytng back to the waiting car with
out stopping for further questions
She wondered what had brought
him back to the scene. Had he
remembered Fleurette's handbag, or
was he afraid he might have left
some means of Identification in the
cart
She smiled grimiy. and taking a
pencil from her own handbag. scrib-
bled number on. q card. 1t was
the license number Of the car which
was whirling down the road.