Judsonia weekly advance. (Judsonia, Ark.) 1???-1922, 1922-04-27
CHAPTER Vll-continued.
s.

At four o'clock Richard came home,
and the instant Harriet saw his face
she realized, with a shock even sharp
er than the original moment of in
credulity, that he had had no success
In his search. He was alone. His
face was drawn and gray, he looked
hot and rumpled and utterly weary ;
pink of well-groomed perfection
looked old. He asked Bottomley
briefly If Madame Carter was in her
room, and, being informed that she
was. went hastily upstairs.
1t was to the old lady's beautiful
Sitting room that Harriet was sum
moned a few minutes later. She knew
at once that he had told his mother
all he knew and feared
Madame Garter s sho, Eingly agi-
tated. She had q dee zeAse of the
dramatic, but she W not entirely act
ing now Her face las pale under its
rouge, and the painful tears of age
stood in her eyes.
'Miss Field ~ said Madame Carter,
1--WE have just had a most terrible--a
most unexpected-blowt !"
Harriet simulated expectancy.
"There is every reason to believe"
pursued Madame Carter, Enthusiastically
"that my unfortunate daughter-ln-law
Mr.. Carriers wife, Isabelle, has yield
ed to the passion of her lover! No.
let me talk, Richard" she interrupted
herself, as the man raised haggard
eyes to watch her impersonally, far
better to face the facts, my dear! My
son tells me, Miss Field the-the
well-nigh incredible statement that
forgetting the honor of womanhood,
and the tender claims of maternity"
"Mlss Field" Richard did not have
the manner of interruption, but his
quiet voice dominated the other voice
none the less. Madame Carter fell 81
lent, and watched him with mournful
pride. Miss Field" he said, I'VE
want your help. The facts are these:
Williams had all the roads watched !;
they did not go by motor. Mrs. Car
yesterday; Pope's boat, the Geisha,
pulled out at half-past six. From
what Williams men picked up, at the
dock, Pope did not expect her, was TO
have sailed this morning. She ar
rived, and evidently he thought it wise
to hurry their start. The pier had
dozen boxes for the Geisha on it, gro
ceries and what not, that they left
behind They will probably skirt the
coast for few days, and put in
somewhere for supplies But that
he passed his hand YEARLY across his
forehead-"that doesn't concern us
now. We got there at ten last night
hours too late, of course" His voice
fell he unused, with knitted brow
"Wellw he said suddenly recalling
himself. Now, Miss Field, l want
you to get hold of Ward. / want the
boy home at once! He must know.
But there is Of course a chance that
Mrs. Carter isis planning to return.
There may be a woman friend with
her-it's not probable, but it's posi-
OiC. NOb want any OUc III Tie
house, or out of 1t, to suspect, and if
you think 1t is possible, I should like
Nina protected"
II understand" Harriet said, quiet
ly. She crossed the hall, and for the
first time in four years entered Isa-
bellies suite unannounced. 1t was in
exquisite order; streams of late after
noon light were falling on the gay
walls and the bright chintzes. The
novels Isabelle had been Swimming.
the gold service of her dressing table
the great four-poster with its deeps OF
transparent white embrolderies over
white. all spike of the beautiful WON
IN who had spent so many hours here
On Tie dressing tab.e, "itla .ss ap,ei.