The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-02
CHAPTER ".
The Mysterious Offer.

| To go on seeing Alvin day after day
was an impossbilty, and Nancy real
lied this She must get away some.
where. but where could she go? To
visit relatives or friends who would
/ ask unnumbered questions was cut of
| the question. and to so away alone
and brook on what had happened
would be still worse. She didn't want
to think, she wanted to fill her days
with work 50 that at night she would
be too tired to lie awake. The last
/ few nights had been fun of horror.
, for she had not been able to sleep
Intil far into the night and then her
dreams had been troubled and her
sleep uneasy
She was in n had state of nerves
from lack of sleep and constant brood.
ing the morning she met Miss Hen.
derson
Nancy was not looking her best. for
/ il was raining and she wore sport
hat pulled down over her reddish hair
and raincoat. Her eyes had dark
rims around them and she had no
color. 1t wasn't surprising that in
the employment agency where Nancy
had gone to lock for cook that she
herself should be taken for some one
out of a job. but when the thin. de.
! termined-looking woman marched up
TO her and asked her if she wanted
a position, Nancy was surprised. TO
say the least.
I'm looking for a young woman
with sense" Miss Henderson went on
before Nancy could say anything.
Some one who can take care of a
child and not ask questions" She
looked at the girl searchingly as she
spoke, and Nancy with sudden thrill
of excitement suppressed a smile of
amusement and asked evenly:
Where is the place."
That's just it; it's not in the city.
and I'm going to have a hard time
finding girl for that reason"
But you thought / might do?"
The woman looked into Nancy's gray
eyes and her face softened. you look
as if you wanted to forget something
that had hurt YOU" she said kindly.
that's why | spoke" Then in more
matter-of-fact tone Of voice. "But I'm
willing to pay good money because
the place is so isolated. $25 week to
the right person, but she must have
certain requirements. no nerves. and
a good education"
Before Nancy left the agency she
had promised to 20 to Rock Haven
with Miss Henderson the next day.
Nancy was to have charge Of a little
girl of seven. she was to be with her
constantly, and sleep in the next room
with the door oDen. Miss Henderson
put great emphasis on this last. She
looked at Nancy steadily before they
parted. and as though she read some.
thing that gave her confidence in the
girls steady gray eyes, her features
relaxed and she breathed a little sigh
of relief.
II think you'll do" she said slowly.
and as Nancy was to discover after
ward, this was a great deal from
Miss Henderson.
The position as 1t was outlined han
an element Of mystery about j.. Nancy
knew that without trying to frighten
her Miss Henderson had intended 10
convey a warning of some kind that
she must not be surprised at anything
that might happen.
The emphasis laid upon the fact that
the child must never be left alone, the
house isolated as It was on n lonely
part of the coast Of Massachusetts,
the fact that Nancy must have strong
nerves and ask no questions, all these
things pointed to something myster.
ious. something that Miss Henderson
had not wished TO explain. Nancy
felt as though she were setting out
on an adventure OF some kind, and
she was thrilled and excited. but not
frightened at least--not yet.