Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04

thsy had seen her talking with Breck and
Afterwards with colfax. and Mrs, DdAbarton-
Kent meant 10 question her7 But she would
tail her nothing-not word. She had prom
sed. besidcs Il would kfo her 10 have 10 talk
about Breck. II would be best not 10 explain
at all. simply say that she wished to leave
Kant House.
fhsn Marie remembered the spaniel. car
he'd her up TO her room. and shut her In.
After seeing Mrs. Dunbarton, Kent she would
bring the dos something TO eat She thought
desoiateiy that she would like to take the
little animal with her when she left Kent
House.
She went DOWN into tho garage, and the
spaniel began to yelp and whine with all the
misery Of . lonely puppy. Then Willetts
startled her: hs cams out from behind one Of
the cars and instantly. Marie was certain
that he was ono OF the detectives. not merely
night watchman. Quito likely he knew that
shs had talked with Breck that afternoon
ct 10 my little dog" she said confusedly.
. She u hungry. yet Mrs Dunbarton.Kent
has sent for me and must Co."
Il was looking at that car wnietts sx.
piained In his turn. He smiled at Marie. " 80
some one wished tho dog on you. did hef
thought you were going to lie down this
aftsrnoonf"
He did know, then. Marie was frightened
yst determined not to tell what either Breck
= colfax had said to her. II lay down untn
I was tired. monsieur. then walked The
DOG u hungry. 40 she cries"
Che looked like an Ill and distressed child.
V1ds eyed and white. her black curls loose
and tumbled about her face.
"Dont you be scar ed about Colfax." VII
lstts said soothingly. IL was looking about
for you. afraid you might have gotten into
some trouble. ! saw Colfax talking to you
on the high road. and I saw you bring the
dog away with you. Colfax Is mischievous-
he'd like to have you get into trouble with
Mrs. DunbartonKent over the dog. ! guess
be wished some Of his troubles on you AZ
we'll. didn't he? Told you he was broke and
"a treated by Mrs Dunbarton-Kent7" S..
It was evident to Marie that Willetts did
not know about her meeting with Breck. and
that was a relief. And she could answer his
question without breaking her promise to
Colfax. yes" she confessed.
II thought so. There's not Dunbarton-
Kent will speak to Colfax. They have no
use for him He doesn't know anything
about their affairs. but he's curious. sup
pose he worried you sick trying to quiz you
about the fa-niy?"
Marie was not too frightened to use her
Wits; evidently Willetts knew nothing about
Colfax's affair with Bella: evidently he did
not guess that Colfax knew all about the
state of affairs at Kent House. It w4- Bella,
Of course, who had told Colfax about the
theft Of the hundred thousand dolars and
Just what Mrs. Dunbarton- -Kert v,A- doing
and what she wanted to do.
II would not answer ouch questions, mon
sieur," Marie declared. Besides. myself
like Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent too well to be
affected by anything Monsieur Colfax might
say against her. He seems to me reckless
man. I did not wish to talk with him, but
It happened 90 that could not help It."
Il don't doubt that" Willetts said kind
". Hes always nosing around Kent House
and he's a good person to avoid. He had no
business frightening you with his talk. You
look pretty sck-does your head hurt your
Willetts had come completely to Mrs. Dun
barton-Kent's view Of Marie. plus natural
appreciation Of velvety eyes and a soft voice.
Did her head hurt? Both Marie's head
and her heart ached. And she wanted des
perately to escape. am troubled about
the little dog-I wish she did not cry. And
also my head hurts SO feel almost that
must cry, too. But must go Immediately
to Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent, for she waits for
mo-" Like most women, Marie could be willy
when It was necessary; it was quite evident
that Willetts admired her.
I'll look after the dog-you go on to the
house. Tell Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent your head
hurts and get her to do something for it."
he advised concernedly. II haven't told her
about Colfax's having waylaid you, 80 you
needn't be afraid she'll scold you. Don't
worry about It. and. If anything else comes
up to bother you, tell me about It and III
help you the best can"
Thank you, monsieur will remember"
Marie promised. She felt additionally wretch \
ID at having misled Willetts but It could
not be helped The important thing was to
keep her secret and get away from Kent
House as soon as she could.
Gibbs with his downcast eyes and bow was
waiting for her at the entrance to the back
hall Marie remembered how hopefully she
had followed Breck through the hall that
first day. She had never been farther than
the servants dining room since, but she re-
membered well the wide front hall into which
Gibbs now preceded her. They passed the
library, and Marie felt poignantly ashamed
when she saw West sitting before the frs
and reading. She had not thought Of him
once since Colfax had talked to her. She
nd0 IuOueuL Oh breCk, only breck- \ Sno
wanted to hurry away from Kent House be-
cause she could not bear to see Breck again,
and she had not thought once Of the man
who in an open and manly way had told her
that he loved her and that he meant to make
her love him.
have been thinking and acting wildly"
Marie said to herself. She was ashamed.
She walked past the library door. West had
been so honest with her and perversely she
had wanted to win the man who had never
shown her particle of kindness: even the
little dog he had given her he had called
The Little Detective" coolly making fun
Of her Ignorance. Marie's white cheeks grew
hot.
Then, when they reached the upper han,
Marie felt a clutch at her heart. for, in the,
room which they passed, sitting at the writ
Ing desk and with her back to the open door.
was Bella, gowned in something cinging and
shimmering, her splendid shoulders, slim
waist, and long lines so exact a reminder Of
Mrs. Smith as she had sat at her piano that
Marie experienced much the same shock
which had caused her to stand and stare
through Colfax's window that afternoon.
And, with much tho same feeling Of gazing
ut an unreality, Marie noticed Bella's halo
of Qaxen yellow hair.
Bella turned her head and looked 1t her,
but instantly Marie forgot her. for a door
at the end Of the hall had opened and Breck,
dressed for dinner, came out and towards
her. Gibbs had paused to knock on Mrs