The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-04-06

night Hansen ought 70 he back at
about seven. ! should think"
He was not listening ~ her; abb
ruptlv left her When Harriet went
into the house she saw nothing OF
him She made her usual little round.
spoke briefly to a maid about some
fallen daisy petals, consulted with the
houSeEeeper as 10 the new cretonne
covers 4 man was 10 come and
measure those covers This very after
uoon-perhaps this was he, modestiy
waiting at the side door.
Bur no, this man briefly and sim
ply asked 10 he shown to Mr.. Carter
remarking that he was expected. He
disappeared into the library; Harriet
SAW no more Of him for AN hour. when
he silently appeared beside her. an6
asked 20 see the chauffeur Hanse'.
rs soon ~ he came.
Richard brought the strange man
TO the dinner table: hut there was
nothing in that TO make the dinner
so unnatural. To he sure Richard ate
little. and spoke hardly at ALL but
this Mr.. Williams was quite entertain
ing, and the old lady in good spirits.
AZ eight Hansen was back, present
ing himself Ia his dusty road-coat;
Mr. Carter Immediately drew him with
Williams into the library. Nina
loitered mp 70 bed. bur the old lady
and Harriet remained downstairs.
They did not like. hut they some
times amused. each other. Sudden
/ ly came the summons: would Miss
| Field please step into the library?
Hansen was going out as she came
| in; Richard was AT the big fiat
| topped desk. the man Williams stand
| ing somewhat in shadow Harriets
heart leaped they were going to ask
| her about Royal
| "Just moment. Miss Field" Rich
ard said. "Will you sit DOWN." And
rs Harriet. looking at him in fright
ened curiosity. did so. he began quiet
| ly: I'VE are In some trouble here,
Miss Field. I hardly know how to
tell Won what we fear. Did you no
tice anything strange about-Mrs.
| Carter's-manner today?"
| 81 thought | did Harriet admitted.
did you think of any reason for
| it,"
| Harriet gave the stranger a glance
that made him an eavesdropper.
II fancied that ii was connected
with-with what distressed her last
night, Mr. Carter"
You may speak before Mr.. VIII
liams." Richard said. He looked
down; was silent. II asked him to
help me- he added, slowly. "Was
young Mr.. Pope here today?"
This morning. / don't know how
long" Harriet said. with a great light
or darkness, breaking in upon her
mind, 'he was leaving when Nina and
| I came home"
do you know who took the tele-
phone call from Mrs. Webb?"
mo. because nobody did. No per-
son named Webb called from Great
harrington. or anywhere else, today"
said Williams, breaking In decidedly.
| his voice contrast to Richards hest
tating tones. "As matter of fact.
Hansen didn't drive to Great Barring
ton Two miles from your gate here,
Mrs. Carter gave him other direc-
lions"
What directions?' Harriet asked
antagonizcd by his manner, and feel
:. ing her checks get red. The man EVIL
IDENTIFY had small respect for woman
| hood
He drove To New London" Richard
supplied. "Pope's yacht is there"
i His manner was very quiet, he spoke
almost YEARLY. but Harriet felt as II
i cannon had exploded in the study.
I've had New London on the WIRE"
~aiG Mr.. Williams. Mr. Pope had been
getting ready for cruise. The
,hSuce, are that they have already
weighed anchor"
, "On the other hand" Richard said,
gIancing at his watch, I'VE have an ex-
cellent prospect of finding them there.
; | | was not supposed to come home until
: tomorrow night. 1 found Mrs Carter's
1 message at five, twenty-four hours
J earlier than she expected me to. VIII
liams may be mistaken, Of course" he
2 | finished, with glance at the detec-
tive.
? Not Iikely," said Williams, with Q
: modest shrug.
, However even II Ne Is right" Rich
- ard resumed 1.-THE chances are that
they are still there, and IL they are,
will bring-my wife back with me to
8 night Meanwhile. leave the house In
your care, Miss Field. / needn't tell
you that my mother and Nina must be
kept absolutely ignorant of what we
suspect. You'll know what to tell them
in case / should be longer away. II
our calculations are wrong, there's NJ
Y telling where / may follow Mrs. Carter
r 1 leave this end of things to you"
I'm sorrier than 1 can say" she
said, huskily.
II know you are! It's" Richard
passed his hand over his forehead
= Its utter madness, Of course. But
please God, we can keep 1t all hushet
up. She has Germaine with her; Han
sen 1 can trust. We're of now, Mis-
Field. I'll keep you informed If can
Harriet went back to the drawing
room with her heart big with pride
= He had mentioned Hansen and Ger
- maine, but he knew that he could trus