The Holly chieftain., 1921-12-08

and Florence's. your own niece anc
nephew. Julia! You don't mean you
deny it. do you, Juiia2"
She was In great confusion: do
deny what?"
That his name is Crum!" Noble
said passionately. THAT his name Il
Csum and that he's widower ant
he's been divorced and's got nobody
knows how many childrenw
Julia sought to collect herself. II
dent know what you're talking
about" she said. "If you mean that
happened to meet very charming
man while was away, and that his
name happened to be Crum, don't
know why should go to the trouble
of denying 1t. But II Mr.. Crum has
had the experiences you say he has,
1t is certainly news to me! I think
someone told me he was only twenty
SIX years old. He looked rather
younger
"You think some one told you:"
Noble gfoaned. "Oh, Julia, Julia !
And here 1t Is, all down in black and
white. in my pocket!"
Il haven't the slightest idea wha.
you're talking about" Julia's tone
was cold, and she drew herself up
haughtily. though the gesture wast In
effective, so far as Noble wan c1n-
cerned, in the darkness Of the quiver-
ing interior. The quivering stopped
just then, however. as the taxicah
halted before her house.
"Win you come in with me mo-
ment. please7' Julia said as she got
out. "There are some things 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 key to the front door in
her purse. She opened the door, and
lighted 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.
mo. Nobody" her sad companion
agreed, shaking his head. Nobody at
afl, Julia. Nobody at ALL" Rousing
himself, he went back for the golf
tools, and with lingering gentleness
set them in corner. Then, dumbly,
he turned to 60.
wait, please" said Julia. II want
to ask you few things especially
about what you've got all down In
black and white In your pocket. Will
you shut the door. IL you please. and
go into the library and turn on the
lights and wait there while 1 look
over the house and see If l can find
why it's all closed up like this.
TITS chilly. The furnace seems to
be off, she said. "I'll-" But instead
of declaring her intentions. she enact
ed them; taking a match from the lit
tie white porcelain trough on the man
telpiece and striking 1t 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 thoughtful kindness that killed
him.
"I'm Robinson Crusoe, Noble" she
said, when she came back. II suppose
might as well take Off my furs,
though" She did so, first unfasten-
Ing the great bouquet she wore and
tossing it upon table. Noble was
standing close to the table. but moved
away from 1t hurriedly. This revulslon
she failed to notice; and she went on
to explain, as she dropped her cloak
and stole upon chair. "Papa's 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 1t with him,
except in summer"
~ suppose" said Noble huskily. Il
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 close the house they'll
take 1t back. The servants are hav-
ing holiday, not expecting me
back" III
CToBE CONTINUED.)
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