The Washington times., 1922-02-28
Silvette Was Right.
A S l started toward the door

~
~ bound 10 get my hat and
coat and start off with
Lyons on the mission which would
result in causing Dick Vests ar
rest and in involving Dad Lee and
my own right to hold up my head
in the world, the doorbell rang
mistakenly.
Virginia! How she'll sneer when
it comes out that Dad Lee is my
father-and the intimate friend OF
the man who is trying to ruin
Jim. Jim! How he must be
ashamed at the revelation OF what
a mesalliance he made. jim
Nirginia-SoCiety- Jim. For my
self social ruin. ostracism, per
haps.
My throat ached. My eyes
smarted, and i felt very sorry
for myself. Then | did a little
thinking. / was doing what l
knew TO be right. 1t was only
Just TO society to stop q madman
like Dick West from pursuing mis-
career. 1t was necessary for Jim
that I arrest his enemy. My
tragedy came In the fact that
1890 wv "SuAb " 6O uONll
TO destruction with DiCk-and
that when he went down. there
was small chance that his daugh-
ter could accept the shame of II.
L slipped into my room, found n
small, dark turban and a heavily
scrolled veil. Then, slipping into
long coat of oxford gray, / went
toward the top of the stairs.
AT the ton nf hn pfafr,
met me. Her face was wide-eyed,
dull with pain. Years of skulking
in fear of the next moment have
left her in constant terror of the
unusual.
There's a man downstairs who
says he's to See you at once. 4
funny-looiing little chap, who
scared me out of my senses, 50
crazy-like he looks and acts" she
whispered in sibilant, far-reaCh-
ing attempt 10 do better than speak
low. II took him into the library
and called Lyons back from put
tcring with the car. | didn't want
you should face any Chattcring,
crazy man without there was an
other man in the house"
I'll come at once" ! replied in
a voice which l just managed To
keep level.
Then, mechanically and without
thought, | slipped out of my coat.
pulled off my turban and handed
these garments to Bertha with the
request that she place them in my
room, where | could slip lack into
them quickly when | was ready to
go out. The next moment I was
hurTying down the stairs, family
conscious that some one was fol-
lowing.
At tho foot of the stairway n
hand slipped out and caught mine
in a firm pressure l recognized as
Carlotta's.
"If you want me, Anne, I'll he
here-right here in the little sun
ROOM" she whispered.
At the door of the library I
hcsitated for moment-almost
sure of whom I should see here,
yet dreaming to go In and have
my eyes prove the actual truth OF
what as yet I merely suspected.
| think ] never aChCd more ter
ribly with the need of Jim than in
that moment. But the very ache
in my heart gave back my COur-
age. Whatever passed tonight
must bring Jim n little nearer.
And with that thought found
myself ready. So ! walked into
the room with every expectation
in the world Of finding Dad Ice.
Instead, there stood the queer,
impudent little clerk from the
hotel where once Dad Lee had
lived. ] stared at the youngster
in amazcment. All his CoCkiness
was gone. Somehow he had wilted.
Good evening, Miss Harrison"
he said. You didn't think when
you gave me your forwarding ad.
dress that I'd use it to come call
on you, did you?"
81 didn't expect you--to trou-
blc," I replied, struggling to adj
just myself TO the fact OF his
presence.
Remember the time you give
me SIS for reading you n telegram
I'd copied off into my date.book?"
he asked. Then and there de-
cides that you were a real swell
the kind OF n LADY n young chan
like me can't afford to double
cross. And, although ! misunder.
stood II ut first, I got TO liking
YOU when I saw how cut.up you
was about that father OF yours"
II saw how devoted you were 10
that father OF yours" repeated the
'nv md 7 wondered WHY his lips
.H. 'ff..f . sFf rim .H pap,nr,,.