New Britain herald., 1921-07-29

Lear aunt1e mustn't be diSturDe a.
ne said; TN go upstairs in my stock
ing feet" He reached out his hand /
to pick up his shoes and touched L
something soft and smooth as velvet
but cold-cold with a clammy hor-
ror that chilled the very marrow of |
his bones. What did it mean?
Thoroughly sobered now, he
CROPPED for the light switch beside the
settee, but could not find it. He took
a paper of matches from his pocket |
and lighted one. Slowly the truth |,
forced itself through his numbed fac |
ultles: He was in the wrong house. |
The house was very STILL The steal |
thy whispering of a clock, somewhere |
in the shadows, Jared on every nerve. |
With a conscious bracing of his
muscles he knelt down upon the floor
and moved the tiny flame slowly for
ward.
There it was, the face he had
touched. He remembered well the
last time he had seen tat the
opera-fashing and glowing with
health. He rose slowly to his feet
and stood rigid considering
''She is dead, quite dead" he
thought, 'tof that there can be no
shadow of doubt. If I were to call
for help it could do her no good
poor thing! And how to explain nv
being here"
| He turned aside, picked up his
shoes, whose position he had noted
close in front of the settee took his
hat from the wall and stepped softly
down the hall to the door. He opened
and closed it quietly and put on his
i pumps.
1t was long time that night before
Richard Schuyler slept. At last he
fell into a troubled, dream-haunted
slumber. The sun was shining
brightly in his windows when he
awoke, for he had neglected to draw
the blinds. With a start he turned
over and looked at his watch.
I "Half-past seven!' he exclaimed;
the $40 for Meadow Bay! He said
I'd never do it, but I'll show him."
The household, used to the young
masters erratic ways, responded
nobly and with time and to spare
Richard Schuyler, suit case and golf
bag in hand, opened his door and
II stepped out into the morning sun
hight
"Mr Schuyler M. Schuyler"
II On the steps of the house he had
just passed stood the girl he had
seen in the park on the previous day.
Can you come here for moment ?"
the girl called softly. I'm in great
trouble and I don't know what to
do. Oh, please comet"
He ran quickly up the steps. The
girl had stepped back into the YES
thule and now stood holding the
handle of the inner door.
You'll think it very strange" she
said TREMENDOUSLY, 'but there are only
women in the house and something
awful has happened! I don't know
what to do. I saw you through the
door," She pointed to the glass
panel.
Eyes, yes" Dick said soothingly, IT
understand. What is it, and how can
be of service to your
There has been a murder commit
ted here" she cried in a voice that
shook with fear.
What" he exclaimed, with every
appearance of shocked establishment.
"a murder? In this house? Who
Mrs. Rutledge has been killed, and
Mr.. Rutledge is away from home at
Tuexado. There is no one here but
a few of the servants, and they would
be Of no use in an emergency. I
want to do the right thing and I
don't know what it is
"I'll be glad to help you in any
: way in my power he said gravely,
putting his hand on the door.
The hall was dim after the brilliant
light of the street, but the figure on
: the floor was easily discernible. Dick
set down his luggage just inside the
door and dropped his bat beside It..
He knelt beside the still form and
, gently touched the wrist, which had
lost it's fexibility. Rising, he shook
his head.
mo hope at ALL" he said. "she
must have been dead for hours. When
, did you discover"
IL II was a little late and I ran down
the stairs and was in the hall before
} IL saw She stopped an instant to
steady her voice and went on. For
; second I thought she had tainted.
Then I went nearer and saw the
. blood" She put her hands together
: and clasped them so tightly that the
, knuckles showed pearly white. Il
was stunned! Then I thought of poor
; old Miss Macleod, the housekeeper,
and what shock it would be to her.
II knew the cook would be of no use
and there was no one else In the
house. I looked into the street and
saw you passing. I knew you could
be kind and helpfuP'-there was
, faint, elusive Tightening of the grav-
ity of the pale face for an instant
so instinctively I called to you
u I'm very glad to be of service,
Miss
With a slight start she looked
down at her dress "My name is
Nora" she said slowly. r.
Nora gave him tho telephone num-
Der of the Rutledge house at Tuxedo
and Dick called up to learn that Mr.
Rutledge had not yet arrived there.
When he had finished telephoning the
gril-who had left the room-re-
turned. Dick also telephoned for a