Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-01-25

AOOuI ten UT lnCtNt ud1S ~ lux HS
anybody has a right TO expect the At
water femiiy come ction to keep the
deadIiest kind Of a secret, isn't IT."
And as he did not respond, she ex-
planned, modestly, "0f course, 1t
wasn't very deadly secret: II was
really about something OF only the
least importance"
This was so frightful an under
statement that the jar OF 1t restored
Mobiles voice TO startling loudness.
"only the least importance he
shouted. with a man named Crum I"
"WhatP she cried.
"Crumf' Noble insisted. That's
exactly what It said his name wasi"
what said his name wasp asked
Julia. excitedIy.
1.-THE North End Daily Orlole."
what in heavens name is that7"
ats the children's paper. Herbert's
and Florence's. your own niece and
nephew. Juliai You don't mean you
deny II. DO you, Juliaf''
She was In great confusion: 'Do I
deny wbat?"
THAT his name is Crum |" Noble
said passionately. "That his name Is
Crum and that he's a widower aud
he's been divorced and's got nobody
knows how many childrenP'
Julia sought to collect herself. II
dent know what you're talking
about" she said. IF you mean that
| happened to meet very charming
man while I was away, and that his
name Happened to be Crum, I don't
know why | should go to the trouble
Of denying It. But If Mr.. Crum has
had the experiences you say he has,
II is certainly news to mel I think
someone told me he was only twenty
six years old. He looked rather
younger"
"You think some one told YOU"
Noble groaned. "oh, Julia, Julia
And here II is, all down In black and
white. in my pocketp
Il haven't the slightest idea wha.
you're talking about" Julia's tone
was cold, and she drew herself up
haughtily, though the gesture was In
effective, so far as Noble was c)n-
cerned. 10 the darkness Of the CULVER
ing interior. The quivering stopped
just then, however, as the taxicab
halted before her house.
"Will you come IN with me mo
ment, pIeasef" Julia said as she got
out '"There are some things want
to ask you--and I'm sure papa hasn't
come home from downtown yet.
There's no light In the front part Of
the house"
There was no light IN any other
part of the house. either, as they dis.
covered after abandoning the bell for
an excursion TO the rear That's dis.
heartening TO hungry person" Julia
remarked: and then remembered thai
she had a key to the froul door in
her purse. She opened the door. and
lighted haTI luster while Noble
brought In her bags from the steps
where the taxicab driver had left
them.
There's nobody at home at all"
Juiis said. thoughtfnily.
"No. Nobody" her sad companion
agreed, shaking his head. Nobody al
all. Julia. Nobody at ALL" Rousing
himself. he went back for the golf
tools, and with lingering gentleness
set them in corner. Then, dumbly.
he turned to go.
"Wnit, please said Julia. Il want
to ask you a few things-especially
about what you've got ALI down In
black and white in your pocket win
you shut the door. IL You please, and
90 into the library and turn on the
lights and wait there while ! look
over the house and see II ! can find
why It's all closed up like this.
Its chilly. The furnace seems TO
be off" she said. "T'll--" But instead
OF declaring her intentions. she enact
ed them; taking a match from the lit
tie white porcelain trough on the man
telpiece and striking it on the heel OF
her glittering shoe. Then she knelt
before the crate and get the fame to
excelsior beneath the kindling and
coal You mustn't freze." she said,
with a thoughtful kindness that killed
him.
"Tm Robinson Crusoe, Noble" she
said. when she came back. II suppose
might as well take of my furs,
though" She did so. first unfasten-
ing the great bouquet she wore and
tossing II upon a table. Noble was
standing close to the table, but moved
away from II hurrIedly. This revulsion
she failed TO notice; and she went on
to explain. as she dropped her cloak
and stole upon q chair. "Papa's gone
away for at least week. He's taken
hts ulster. II doesn't make any diff
ferences what the weather is. he never
wears his ulster In this town. but
when he's going away for a week. or
longer, he always takes II with him,
except IN summer"
II suppose" said Noble huskily. Il
suppose you'll go TO some Of yoCr
aunts or brothers or cousins or some
thing"
"No," she said. "My trunk may
come up from the station almost any
] time, and If close the house they1l
take II back. The servants are hav-
ing holiday. not expecting me
back"
"You needn't bother about that
Julia. IN look after t."
"HowT