The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-04-20
CHAPTER vi.

A most opportune lull followed
when Harriet Field had time to collect
her thoughts, and get 4 true perspec-
tive upon the events Of the past week.
Nina was leaving for q visit to Amy
Hawkes., at the extremely dull and en-
tirely safe Hawkes. mansion, where
four unmarried daughters constituted
q c~haperonage beyond all criticism.
Isabelle Carter was giving and attend
her husband absorbed In al especially
important business deal that kept him
alternate nights in the city. The house
was quiet, the domestic machinery
running smoothly, the weather hot,
sulphurous and e~nervating.
She dined as usual alone, that eve
ming, and was surprised, at about eight
o'clock, to receive the ,demure notifica-
ton from Rosa that Mrs. Carter would
like to see her. With hardly an In
stant's delay she went downstairs.
( On the terrace outside the drawing
room windows they We're at a card ia
BILE: Richard, looking tired and hot in
rumpled white, Isabelle exquisite in
: silver, lace, and young Anthony Pope.
Near by, Madame Carter majestically
fingered some illustrated magazines
It appeared that they wanted bridge !:
! 1T a too hot to eat, too hot to dance
at the club, too hot--said Isabelle
pathetically-to live L. e.. =
Obligingly, Harriet took her place,
cut for the deal. But her eyes had not
Z fallen upon the group before she
sensed that something was wrong, and
she had a moments tiutter of the heart
for fear some n suspected her, that
she was under surveillance. Had
Royal-had Ward
She turned a card, took the deal,
found Anthony Pope her partner, and
entered into the game with spirit.
Richards first words to her were reas-
surfing ; IL there. was constraint here,
she was not involved In it. 20
mo trump-says little Miss Field.
Well, that doesn't seem to brighten me.
Two spades"
II think we might try three dia-
'monds, Miss Field" Anothony said,
gravely and pleasantly, and Harriet
felt herself acquitted of any apprehen'
sion Id that direction as well. It only
remained for Isabelle to show friend
! liness. e a5sIs8
"Du hast diampnten and perlen,
You two. / can see that You're
down, Harriet /" Mrs. Carter said
thoughtfully. Harriet began thorough
" to enjoy herself. II they were al
furious, at least 1t was not with her
She speculated, as she gathered u
her tricks. Was 1t conceivable thai
Richard did not enjoy the discovery
Of the tete-a-tete dinnerf But Isabelle
had often been equally indiscreet, and
he had never seemed to resent It be
fore. Harriet knew that Isabelle wal
III at $ she suspected that Tony
Was furious. The old lady was OBJ
Fiously quivering with bafied inter
est and curiosity.
After three rubbers the game sndes
suddenly !; Richard said he had som,
letters to write, and was keeping TO,
waiting in the library ; anthony serb
6led CHECK, said 6FIef anu uhfFi6nd
~ good-nights isabelle merely raises
passionate dark eyes 10 his. She wa
languidly gathering Id her spoil
when the lights Of his car flashed yel
low on the drive and he was gone.
Immediately afterward Richar,
Carter said goodnight to- his nothe
and wife, and went III to- his study
Madame Garter followed him in, mi
went upstairs, but Isabelle sat d
moodily stunning and reshnfIing I'll
cards, In the bright soft light of tn
terrace lamps.
VISIT d minute, Harriet, she said
briefly. and Harriet obediently ~Ioitered
But Isabelle seemed To have nothin
To ray. Her eyes were OH the cards
her beantifM breast, exposed in III
low-cnt silver gown, Il and s.
stormily, and HarriAf saw TINT she ~
bling ! faIl aIlder u angs