The Washington herald., 1921-03-15

LNIInE AAlIEsa Or n OhI<SS.
Nancy went down to the doctor.
vsitias in the hall below, pondering
Edith's words.
what q queer thing love was to
make . splendid woman like Edith
know such depths of wretchedness!
II seemed to be the penalty of
great devotion. while some lesser.
lighter fancy was rewarded by hap
piness.
She tried 10 look dispassionately
IT the man who stood at the foot
pf the stairs; tried to separate him
from, the queer magnetism which
his physical presence exercised;
.ried TO see him as he was-just an
ordinarily pleasant looking man.
with slightly Increasing weight,
whose face showed traces of self
Indulgence and faint suggestion Of
sruelty.
she tried to build up an armor
against the overpowering atthzction
pf him when he spoke, when his
brilliant eyes we're turned full upon
her. and she had come within the
.sdius Of the strange psychic some
Thing which made him not only
fascinating man, but q great sur
geon-
she succeeded only in returning
his smile as he took her arm and
,iloted her down the veranda steps
% the waiting car.
why don't we take Edith with
us?Y she suggested Il found her
nooning In the twilight upstairs. ]
.hink sthe air would do her good
She seems dreadfully upset by tho
tcctdent Of FIeurette."
she was rather interested in the
girl, I believe" replied the doctor.
gnoring the suggestion and send
ing the car leaping down the drive.
Edith goes in for all sorts Of
:harity."
"T1eurette didn't look like an OBJ
iect of charity In that gown she
wore when she was lunching with
Eou." said Nancy deliberately.
The. doctor looked at her keenly.
DO you think Edith suspects?'
DO you think Edith is a fool?'
sounteFed Nancy. -.
she Is about me-" was the COM
,lscent reply.
-en-szspsr-Exary. .how I could
rate youi"
But -howsyou viii love me-some
lay!' he said softly.
For a moment Nancy believed that
she could not have heard Alright
Her second instinct was one of blind
age But she realized quite well
Rat nothing would be so stupid as
2 'esentment or denial of such an out
.ageous statement.
Perhaps I shall" she agreed
veetly. when I've done being in
owe with Gerry and Major Des-
nond and q few others. You can
ave the remnant of my affection,
you like - -
watching him closely in the faint
Glow of the dashlight. she noted
hat he looked a bit disconnected:
hen he set his chin stubbornly
put made no reply.
Here we are"
He brought the car to a stop be-
'ide the mudhole where the over
urned touring car, doomed darkly.
There was no sound but the mur-
nur Of the water against the shore
rhe little man who had wrought
he damage had vanished from the
Gene, Isaving no trace. The license
late vas gone. and the number o,
he car crudely obliterated.
He didn't caue what he did to
he remains" muttered the doctor
fter an examination. The cars
Tot wrecked beyond repair. Pretty
.ood salvage since it's been com
,ietely abandoned. Hello, what's
hisy''
In stepping ginserly across the
muddy space. his heel had caught or
What looked. In the rays of the
motor lamp. like a bit of cord. A
le pulled back his foot, something
anne to view out Of the muddy
rater.
He stopped and picked up tn,
tripping object. ..,.-
a poman's handbag, Fieu.
,ette's eyfdentiy. Neither you no
sdita-AeS-ese-.wtth you this morn
nr dfd YOU
Nancy shook her head, reachin,
sut q hand 70 examine II.
beautffur thing, isn't IL? On,
4 the imported beaded bags. wha
shame that the mud has ruined
The contents are o. K, anyway
emsrked the doctor. opening tn,
,ag and running a hand through
l. -F1eurette mast have just got
ier bank statement-tbere's a bun.
lie of cancelled checks here. ant
sothinE else"
He was stufing them back int
ne handbag when his hand wa!
nddeniy ARRESTED.
He looked mp at Nancy with mar
owed ey1s.
How did you pay for the gowns
,ou bought from Freurette the othei
tayE
It paid cash. WHY Nancy
yes were open wide.
pof assver he laid the bundl,
Z cancelled checks In her hand.
The uppermost cheque. dated q
reek before, was made out to "Fleu-
cite, ct Gle" for three hundred dol.
srs. land signed Gerald Burrard'
n, Ctrryss inimitable handwriting