The Washington herald., 1921-03-28
LxvH-THE CRISIS.

Lxyn-THE CRISIS.
Nancy stood staring in Amusement
At the paper in her hand.
what on earth does It mean
she gasped.
DR.. Langwell took 1t from her.
ard read IL IN a business-like way
His crisp. decisive. professional
manner had descended on him like
= CLOAK
WHO In Connie?' he asked.
Curtis stanley's wife, Many
answered absentiy.
she would be likely to have in
innate knowledge of your affairs?'
Nancy made a little helpless ges-
ture-
Connie would make it her busi-
ness to have"
The doctor smiled grimly.
mice person, Connie" he re-
marked.
but what could she mean by this
ridiculous message? Nancy per-
sisted. ''why tell me to be bravef
And why. above all else. come 70
CkieAgo7 Aren't there enough Of
my friends here already?
The doctor smiled.
Il should say there were too
damned many" he said softly; 80
softly that Edith. who had stopped
playing. and sat on the piano bench
watching Nancy distressedly, did
not hear.
y suppose said Nancy with a
sigh, that the wretched Lewis baby
has burned up my apartment play
ing with matches. Or else Sem
ranis has died Of shock after looR-
ing at his own portrait. You can't
be too careful of the nerves of a
Persian cat!-
Nancy" began Edith. hesitantly,
you don't think-you don't suppose
that anything has happened to your
husbandr
A little pang of fear shot through
Nancy, but with the doctors quiz
ziczs eyes directed on her, and
found in Fleurette's handbag, she
managed a careless shrug.
Hardly" she remarked flip
PANTY. Besides. why should Con-
ME be informed. and I his rightful
widow" she even essayed a little
laash. be left in the dark?"
Edith looked shocked, but the
doctor chuckled-
Tt would rather simplify matters
for you where our friend the major
Is concerned"
Nancy shrugged. and crushed the
telegram into a little ball.
oh. well. sha'n't let IT spoil my
dinner. I'll Just have to wait until
Connie shows up and deigns an ex-
PLANTATION"
Good girIr' said the doctor. ap-
provingly. That's the stuff. Didn't
i tell you you would make a good
nurse?"
One like Miss Dean? queried
Nancy demurely.
The doctor looked at her squarely.
Again he wore that inscrutable ex-
preston that reminded her so much
Of q the little image of Buddha on
a -teakwood tabouret in her sitting
room in New York.
Edith rose from the piano and
came over to Nancy. laying her slim
white hands on the latter's equally
white shoulders.
My dear. hope it's not bad
news" she said. anxiously. But 1
don't. like to hear you speak so
lightly about your husband He has
gone on q long and dangerous jour
ney. Something might happen to
him. you know"
AoOklns into 6OlIn 3 eyes, Nancy
saw there a terrible fear, the dread
that walked by Edith's side. that
somehow, somewhere, sometime,
Langwell might be taken from her.
ITO think of loving like that
how beautiful-how awful" thought
Nancy.
We'll, let's go in to dinner" sug-
gested the doctor. I'VE will be bet
er>fortifed to meet disaster"
Edith shivered and glanced about
for her scarf.
There seems to be an evil spell
on this house party. First, the ac-
cident yesterday. and now this"
As IL to emphasize her words,
Miss Dean, the nurse, appeared in
the doorway. Her maddening ef-
fcfency was temporarily absent.
think you'd better come, doc
tor. The patient-"
OCspyrtght. 1871. By wheelsr syndiests, Inc.)