The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-12-09

and F1orence's, your own niece and
nephew, Julial You don't mean you
deny it, dc you, Juiia?"
She was in great confusion: DO
deny what?"
"That his name is Cruml" Noble
said passionately. '"That his name Is
Crum ana that he's widower and
he's been divorced and's got nobody
knows how many children"
Julia sought to collect herself. 81
dent know what you're talking
about" she said. eff you mean that
happened to meet very charming
man while / was away, and that his
name happened to be Crum, I don't
know why 1 should go to the trouble
Of denying it. But If Mr.. Crum has
had the experiences you say he has,
1t is certainly news to me! ] think
someone told me he was only twenty
SIX years old. He looked rather
younger"
"You think some one told you y
Noble groaned. "Oh, Julia, Julia
And here it is, all down in black and
white. in my pocket!"
II haven't the slightest idea what
you're talking about" Julia's tone
was cold, and she drew herself up
haughtily, though the gesture was in
effective, so far as Noble was con-
cerned, in the darkness Of the CULVER
ing interior. The quivering- stopped
just then, however, as the ta1cab
halted before her house.
"Will you come in with me a mo-
ment, please?" Julia said as she got
out. "There are some things 1 want
to ask you-and I'm sure papa hasn't
come home from downtown yet.
There's no light in the front part Of
the house."
There was no light in any other
part of the house, either, as they dis
covered after abandoning the bell for
an excursion to the rear. THAT'S dis
heartening to hungry person." Julia
remarked; and then remembered that
she had a key to the front door in
her purse. She opened the door, and
lighted a hall luster while Noble
brought in her bags from the steps
where the taxicab driver had left
them.
There's nobody at home at ALL"
Julia said, thoughtfully.
"No. Nobody" her sad companion
agreed, shaking his head. Nobody at
all, Julia. Nobody at ALL" Rousing
himself, he went back for the golf
tools, and with lingering gentleness
set them in a corner. Then, dumbly,
he turned to go.
"Wait, please said Julia. 81 want
to ask you few things-especially
about what you've got fall down in
black and white in your pocket. Will
you shut the door, if you please, and
go into the library and turn on the
lights and wait there while look
over the house and see if I can find
why it's all closed up like this.
'It's chilly. The furnace seems to
be off," she said. "I'll-" But instead
of declaring her intentions, she enact
ed them; taking match from the lit
tie white porcelain trough on the man.
telpiece and striking it on the heel Of
her glittering shoe. Then she knelt
before the CRATE and set the flame to
excelsior beneath the kindling and
coal. "You mustn't freze," she said,
with a thoughtful kindness that killed
him.
"I'm Robinson Crusoe, Noble" she
said, when she came back. 81 suppose
I might as well take off my furs,
though" She did So first unfasten-
ing the great bouquet she wore and
tossing it upon a table. Noble was
standing close to the table, but moved
away from it hurriedly. This revulsion
she failed to notice; and she went on
to explain, as she dropped her cloak
and stole upon a chair. "Papas gone
away for at least week. He's taken
his ulster. 1t doesn't make any diff
ferences what the weather is, he never
wears his ulster in this town, but
when he's going away for week, or
longer, he always takes it with him,
except in summer"
81 suppose" said Noble huskily, 81
suppose you'll go to some of your
aunts or brothers or cousins or some
thing"
NO. she said. "My trunk may
come up from the station almost any
time, and if l close the house they'll
take it back. The servants are hav-
ing holiday, not expecting me
back"
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)