The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-04-27
CHAPTER VIl-Continued.

At four o'clock Richard came home
and the instant Harriet saw his face
she realized, with 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 !;
more, he who had always been the
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.
II 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 Carter was shockingly agi-
tated. She had deep sense Of the
dramatic, hut she was not entirely act
ing now. Her face was pale under its
rouge, and the painful tears of age
stood in her eyes.
"Miss Field I" said Madame Carter,
eve have just had a most terrible-a
most nexpected-blow !"
Harriet simulated expectancy.
"There is every reason to believe"
pursued Madame Carter, majestically,
"that my unfortunate daughter-in-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"
"Miss Field" Richard did not have
the manner Of interruption. but his
quiet voice dominated the other voice
none the less. Madame Carter fell ST.
lent. and watched him with mournfu
pride. Miss Field" he said, we
want your help. The facts are these :
williams had all the roads watched;
they did not go by motor. Mrs. Car
Ter reached New London at five o'clock
yesterday; Pope's boat, the Geisha,
pulled out nj 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 1t wise
10 hurry their start. The pier had a
dozen boxes for the Geisha on IL, gro
ceries and what not, that they left
behind They will probably skirt the
coast for few days, and put in
somewhere Zor supplies But that
he passed his hand YEARLY across his
forenegi-"that doesn't concern us
now. We got there at ten last night
bours too late, of course" His voice
fell. he unused, with knitted brow.
WELL" he said. suddenly recalling
himself. snow Miss Field. / want
you to get hold of Ward. l want the
boy home Mt once! He must know.
But there is of course chance that
Mrs. Carter isis planning TO return.
There may be woman friend with
her-it's not probable, but it's posi-
ole. / don't want any one In the
house, or out of II, to suspect, and If
you think II is possible, should like
Nina protected"
"I understand" Harriet said, quiet
ly. She crossed the hall, and for the
first time in four years entered Isa-
bellies suite unannounced, II was In
exquisite order streams of late after
noon light were falling on the gay
walls and the bright chlntzes. The
novels Isabelle had been Swimming.
the gold service Of her dressing table,
the great four-poster with its deeps OF
transparent white embroideries over
white. all spoke Of the beautiful wom-
an who had spent so many hours here.
o. the dressing table, with Its splen-