The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-13
"'Sit DOWN. he commanded.
Dorothy's face went pale-she
hesitated for just the fraction of
a second, poised on one FOOT -
like a frightened bird.
And then

the telephone bell sounded a Soc
ond time he squared his broad
shoulders and started toward the
table on which the instrument
stood.
He put the receiver clumsily to
his ear, and the next instant drew
a LONG breath of relief. It was
only a dressmaker's girl calling to
ask about an appointment Doroiny
hid made. In tones that sounded
far way and strangely unlike ais
own voice Frayne explained hat
his wife had been unexpectedly
called out of the city.
The successful termination OF
Thu brief conversation brought him
a singular feeling Of citation. he
had dreaded answering the tele-
phone, fearing that he might hear
some accusing voice, some voice
that would sternly demand to know
how Dorothy Frayne came to BE
lying dead In the welter Of her
own blood. Now he saw how alb
surd these approximations had bean.
OF course the bright, sunlit world
outside could not possibly have any
inkling OF the horrid tragedy which
lay there in the shadow OF The
breakfast table. Instead Of point
ing fingers Of suspicion at him peo-
pie were going about their business
quite as usual. utterly unmindful
OF how Dorothy's life had been
snufYed out
Filled with new courage he took
the receiver from the hook again
and called his office. With an ef
fort that taxed his nerves to the
utmost and brought the beads fI
perspiration to his forehead Fray'ie
managed to simulate his usual cool,
crisp tones as he gave his secre-
tary directions about his mail and
the messages she was to give Ger.
tain callers 81 shall not be down
to-day" he said 81 have-a bal
neuralgia headache"
He walked into the library and
threw himself down on a couch. de-
termined to try to straighten oIt
his tangled memories of the morn
ing's surprising events The clock
on the mantel chimed eleven
Could 1t be that only two short
hours had passed since he faced
his wife with a smile in the dining
room and found che stage ALL set
for tragedy?
On reaching the city at seven
that morning after q long hard
ride In the sleeper he had taken
a taxicab home He let himself
in with his latchkey for, as he
knew, the servants were all gone
in anticipation Of closing the house
for the Summer. AS he climbed
the stairs he saw that the door to
Dorothy's room was closed and.
thinking her still asleep, he went
softly on to his own room to battle,
shave and change his clothes.
During the half hour that FL
lowed he saw or heard no sign CT
her, md when he came out into
the Nall again he was mildly sur.
prised {, see her door standing
wide open and the room empty 1t
was strange that Dorothy had MT
taken notice Of his arrival aud
come hurrying to greet him with
ono OF her impulsive little kisses.
Perhaps, he thought. she had not
heard him come in and would I've
pleasantly surprised to see him
join her for breakfast.
As he had often told Velma by
way of excuse for his delay IN
breaking the triangle Dorothy was
not the sort of woman q man could
cease being fond of or wish a',v-
thing but the greatest happiness
even when his love for her had
crow. entirely cold.
Certainly Dorothy had done
nothing wrong 1t was not her
fault that ne had made the mis-
take Of marrying her years before
ne knew OF the existence OF the
alluring creature who had undoubt-
eddy been intended from the ve.y
Continued on Nepf PdDe.)