The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-15

Mrs. DICK Calardin descended to the breakfast-room of the White Lodge at half-past eight the follow ing morning.
 From the slim third finger of her left hand she had-temporarily-re- moved her wedding ring.
 Eve Rochester and Julian Wanda Neer were in the room before her en- try So also was Mir Darlington Bel lairs and his majestic aunt,
 Il hope I'm not later" said Mary brightly.
 NO one is punctual in this house. remarked it's chatelains. They all sat down to breakfast.
 And then the telephone bell rang
 Shall answer it?" suggested Mary.
 I'd better go myself.' said Car rington Bellairs. I'm rather ex- pecung a phone call from town about this time"
 He went out to the hall.
 Three minutes later he returned, looking rather grave.
 Been foul play at the Barley Now the landlords just rung up," he said briefly They found young Dick Calardin lying on the floor un- conscious only half an hour ago. He's delirious-shouting for Miss Drew here He flung worried look at Mary.
 Mary-white-faced and trembling had risen to her feet
 "Oh, I must go at oncen she cried
 The aunt of Darlington Bellat,s cast glance of indignant reproof at the young girl.
 Miss Drew, you surely forget your self" said the good lady in a ring ing voice. "If anyone must go, then it's Eve, who is Mir. Calardin's af- fianced wife!"
 "oh. I couldn'tr Eve shrank back. I'm terrified of illness auntie. Don Il beg of you-dont insist upon my goingl"
 Mary was halfway across the room.
 Miss Drew, where are you going?" With raised and quizzical brows her employer started at the young girl. You've eaten no breakfast at all. Whatever is the matter?"
 IT have some slight knowledge of nursing" Mary faltered. and and you said-that he was calling for me--Dick---
 q don't think you'd better go." said Darlington Bellairs, He already was regretting that he'd given Mary any message. I'm going to tele- phone to town at once for a goo nurse I'm sorry for young Calardn The landlord of the Barley Now has informed the police of the occur renee. He thinks that the motive was robbery, for Calardin's sleeping apartment seems to have been thor oughly ransacked."
 ''He--he isn't going to die?" fal- tered poor Mary, the little bride of yesterday.
 q understand he's badly hurt" came the slow answer.
 Here Bellairs aunt once more cut in:
 Tt would be highly improper, Miss Drew. for you to visit the young man unchaporoned. Besides, the nursing you could do would be of very little usel No, don't argue--that affair is settledr
 Darlington Bellairs' became con. siderably nett1ed with his interfer- ing aunt. She was taking far too much upon herself.
 Miss Drew" he began, tentati- vely.
 It was then that Mary flung her bomb into the midst of the startled assembly.
 q am not Miss Drew any longer,f she cried I'm Mrs. Dick Calardin. Dick and 1 were married yesterday up in town. And-don't try to stop me-for I'm going to my husband!" She darted from the room.
 will he recover. doctor? Mary gazed with anxious eyes into the doctors face, The doctor and she, helped by the landlady of the Bar ley Now had worked beside Dick for an hour. He was still unconscious, and in pain.
 Hes had a bad blow to the head the doctor said. Tt would have killed any man with a less strong constitution than this young fellow. He looked at the unhappy, worried