Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-11
A LOUe Story
equal to *" quality Of drama
as powerful as "The Amazing In.
terlude.' these are the outstanding
features of Mary Roberts Rinehart's
new novel, n story that will stir the
readers imagination. Begin to read
THE Breaking Point
WEDNESDAY

y
Hes Doctor Warnings secretary,
but he's mighty worthwhile on his own
account. l say, may come to see
your
Thank you, no. I'm not receiving
callers-yet."
well. you will be soon-because
m coming. I say my aunt lives next
ds, door to Adams. May I bring her to
Not yet. please. I'm not settled"
"Soon's you say the word, then. NV
aunt is Mrs. Bates. and she's a love.
shes going 70 marry Doctor Wnrins-
so you see we're the right sort Of peo.
There are no right sort of people,"
away.
, Apparently Miss Austin's statement
that there were no right sort Of people
was her own belief, for she made no
.nis the fault of her fellow boa rders.
!hey were more than willing to be
friendly, but their overtures were In.
variably ignored.
Not rudely. for Miss Austin seemed
TO be II girl of culture and her manners
were correct, but. as one persistent
matron expressed It. you can't get
anywhere with her."
she was mystery--and mys.
teries provoke inquiry.
Inc house was not large one, and
the twoscore boarders. though they
would have denied an imputation OF
curiosity. were exceedingly interested
In learning the facts about Miss Mys.
tery. as they had come to call her.
Mrs. Adams was one Of the most
tn
did on rare occasions, Old Salt Adams
had set down his foot that the girl was
not to be annoyed.
And let alone she was--not so much
because of Adams dictum as because
''pestering" did little good.
The girl had disconcerting way Of
looking an inquisitor straight in the
eyes, and then, with monosyllabic
reply. turning and walking off as II
the other did not exist.
"Why," said Miss Bascom. aggriev-
cdly re ating her experience. II just
said, politely. Are you from New York
or where, Miss Austin?' and she turned
those big, black eyes on me. and said.
Where. Then she turned her back
and looked out of the window, MS IL
she had wiped me off the face of the
earth !"
She's too young to act like that"
opined Mrs. Welby.
"She's-Sort Of Sophisticated'
"Oh. she isn't so terribly young"
Miss Bascom returned. She's too ex.
perienced to be SO very young"
How do you know she's expert
enced? What makes you say that?'
"Why.' Miss Bascom hesitated for
words, she 's-sort of sophisticated
you can see that from her looks. I
mean when anything is discussed Mt the
table she doesn't say word. but you
can tell from her face that she knows
all about 1T mean a matter of gen.
eral interest. don't you know. I don't
mean local matters"
'She's an intelligent girl. know,
but that doesn't make her out cd. l
don't believe she's twenty"
"Oh. she is! Why, she's twenty five
or twenty seven
Never in the world I'm going to
ask her"
ASK her." Miss Bascom laughed.
you'll get we'll snubbed IL you do"
But this prophecy only served to egg
Mrs. Welby on. and she took the first
occasion to carry out her promise.
She met Anita in the hall. as the
girl was about to 60 out, and smilingly
detained her.
'Why so aloof. my dcar?" she said
playfully. "You rarely give us chance
to entertain you."
AS Mrs. Weby was between Anita
and the door. the girl was forced to
pause. She looked the older woman
over, with an appraising glance that
was not rude, but merely disinterested.
"No?' she said. with n curious ris.
ing infection. that somehow seemed
to close the incident.
NO" she repeated. smilingly. And
we want to know you better. You're
too young and too pretty not TO be a
general favorite among us. How old
are you, my dear child?'
! Just hundred" and Miss Aus
| tins dark eyes were so grave, and
seemed to hold such world of wis.
dom and experience. that Mrs. Welby
almost jumped.
Too amazed to reply, she even let
the girl get past her, and out of the
street door, before she recovered her
poise.
shes uncanny," Mrs. Welby de.
clared, when telling Miss Bascom of the
interview. Il give YOU my word, when
She said that, she looked hundred"
Looked hundred! What do you
mean?'
Just that. Her eyes seemed to
hold all there is of knowledge, yes-and
of evil--'
Evil! My goodness Miss Bas.
com rolled this suggestion like sweet
morscl under her tongue.
"Oh--I don't say. there's anything
wrong about the girl"
"Wel? II her eyes showed depths
of evil. | should say there was some
thing wrong"
The episode was repeated from ono
to another of the exclusive clientele
of the Adams house, until by exag-
geration and Imagination it grew into
quite n respectable arraignment OF
Miss Mystery, and branded her as a
doubtful character II not a dangerous
one.
The Adamses, between themselves, de-
cidcd that Miss Austin was more deeply
mysterious than was shown by her dis
inclination to make friends. They con-
cluded she was transacting important
business of some sort. and that her
sketching Of the winter scenery, which
she did every clear sky, was merely
blind.
Though Mrs. Adams resented this
md urged her husband to send the girl
packing, Od Salt demurred."
"She's done no harm as yet," he
said, shes mystery, but not a
wrong one, g fars can make out. Let
her alone, mother. I've got my eye
on her."
"Ive got my two eyes on her; and
can see mOre'n you can. why,
Salt. that girl don't hardly sleep at
all. Night after night, she sits up