Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-25
CHAPTER XVI
In the Darl.uss.

with word of headache, While the
message was being delivered to the in
attentive ears Of Mrs. stetheril, Evelyn
herself was going swiftly through the
dusk toward the further summer house.
And, from the depths of her wisdom re-
garding the. genus man, she was
prompted to take with her not only
various choice delicscies from the cooks
larder, but certain thick sandwiches
and a bottle Of beer. To Bond she ap-
peared as new sort OF angel created
for mans delectation here In an earthly
paradise.
Haddon, returning about 8 O'Clock
that evening, did not see them, though
he passed quite close to their trysting
place. But they saw him and were
silent until he had closed the door after
MN. Then Bond. seeing that Evelyn
was shivering suddenly, put his arm
about her. SO great was the emotion
which Haddon's passing had awakened
In her tumultuous breast that she wus
| quite unconscious OF Bonds eloquently
testified sympathy. When finally she
was aware Of 1t the bankers other arm
had gone about the same business as
the first. and Evelyn said softly, as
though she could not believe it ut oil :
| "0h Arnold"
In the hallway, Carter, on guard,
came forward to meet Haddon, saying
Mrs. Stetheril wishes a word with
! you, SIR"
what does she want?''N asked Had.
don quickly.
Carter involuntarily lifted his thin
eyebrows.
why, sir as to that really couldn't
say
of course not. meant to ask,
where ia she?'
II don't know, sir. Perhaps in her
room, Shall inquirer"
irritably.
He went down the hall to Rachel
Stetherifs study. Before the closed
door he paused moment. Then, shrug-
ging his shoulders, he went in. 1t
was dark: the room was unoccupied.
He switched on the lights. His eyes
went swiftly to the corner where the
steel safe stood. He stood looking at it
steadily for several moments. 1t seemed
to fascinate him. II was with a second
shrug that he dragged his eyes away.
And. sir, said Carter from the door
behind him, 81 was to say from Miss
DAILY that she'd like to speak with
you toO,' SIR
Where is she?'
Not being positive. I'd say that l
rather think in her room, sir. Having
complained of n headache - 80
"You may tell Mrs. Stetheril that |
have come in. / am entirely at her
service"
Carter bowed and departed. Haddon
| tn tho ,x,inInxry .l lonE;u .
out, his fingers tugg;ng at his lower
lip. He had turned half n dozen times
expectantly before Mrs. Stetheril came
in.
You wished TO SEQ me?' he asked.
She glared at him from the threshold
where she had stopped a moment. Then
she came on, passed him, turned and
glared at him again.
II want to see you, yes, she snap
ped.
Haddon waited. She stood there
looking at him strangely, her gaze in =
tent. the. old probing look so charac-
terlstic of her.
Haddon's eyes shifted from her once
then, with an obvious effort. he brought
| them back and held them steadily meet
ing her look. For perhaps ten long
seconds they stood thus, confronting
each other, 1t was a brief battle OF
minds. Not a spoken word until her
sought to read what lay hidden in his
soul he had sought to show nothing
Of 1t. Her old, wrinkled face had been
that OF an inscrutable sphinx, never a
muscle moving. His lips had twitched,
slight bulging at the corners Of his
jaws had shown how the teeth were
| ftUht nla SuddanIc ha ccal ~,
again and went out, muttering to her
self. ~~
Fifteen minutes later for he
had waited that long, wondering IL she
was going to come back 80" Haddon
went upstairs. Ashe nodded at him
pleasantly.
"Well?" demanded the lawyer crisply.
but none the less guardedly, "are you
ready|'
| 81 have shaved and combed my hair, ="
Ashe laughed at him ~ have my
toothbrush in, my pocket and my pipe is
filed. As soon as you say the word l
am ready" =
Then we needn't do any more talk
ing about it. You'd better get busy
about hnlf-past II.
''The house will be quiet then. You
are sure you can open the safe?"
"as you could tell lie or double cross
a pal"
what do you mean by that?"
That I may be what I may, but
that you are damned crook of the
dirtiest brand it has ever been my pleas
ure to meet. I've been thief and pick.
pocket and a good many other things
for q good many years, but you've been
a skunk since you were born. mean
| aIl that and n great deal more You