Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-20
CHAPTER vll-cOntlnued.

At four o'clock Richard came home,
and the instant Harriet saw his face
she realized, with a shock even sharp
er than the original moment Of In
credulity, that he had had no success
in his search. He was alone. His
face was drawn and gray, he looked
hot and rumpled and utterly weary;
more, he who had always been the
pink of well-groomed perfection
looked old. He asked BOttomley
briefly If Madame Carter was in her
room, and, being informed that she
was, went hastil9 upstairs.
1t was to the old lady's beautiful
sitting room that Harriet was sum-
moned a few minutes later. She knew
at once that he had told his mother
all he knew and feared.
Madame Carter was shOckingly agi-
tated She had a deep sense Of the
dramatic, but she was not entirely act
ing now Her face was pale under its
rouge, and the painful tears Of age
stood in her eyes.
''AIiss Field" said Madame Carter,
1--WE have just had most terrible-a
most unexpected-bloww
Harriet simulated expectancy.
"There is every reason to believe"
pursued Madame Carter, majestically,
''that my unfortunate daughter-in-law,
Mr.. Carriers wife, Isabelle, has yield
ed to the passion of her lover!~ No.
let me talk, Richard" she interrupted
herself, as the man raised haggard
eyes to watch her impersonally, "far
better to face the facts, my dear My
son tells me, Miss Field the-the
weIl-nigh incredible statement that
forgetting the honor Of womanhood,
and the tender claims Of maternity"
"Miss Field" Richard did not have
the manner of interruption, but his
quiet voice dominated the other voice
none the less. Madame Carter fell ST.
lent, and watched him with mournful
pride. Miss Field" he said, 1--WE
want your help. The facts are these F.:
Williams had all the roads watched /;
they did not go by motor. Mrs Car
ter reached New London at five o'clock
yesterday; Pope's boat, the Geisha,
pulled out at half-pOst six. From
what Williams men picked up, at the
dock, Pope did not expect her, was to
have sailed this morning. She ar
rived, and evidently he thought 1t wise
to hurry their start. The pier had a
dozen boxes for the Geisha on it, gro
ceries and what not, that they left
behind! They win probably skirt the
coast for a few days, and put in
somewhere for supplies. But that
he passed his hand YEARLY across his
forehead-"that doesn't concern us
now. We got there at ten last night
hours too late, Of course" His voice
fell he unused, with a knitted brow
"Well!" he said, suddenly recalling
himself. "Now, Miss Field, want
you to get hold Of Ward. I want the
boy home at onceI He must know
But there is of course a chance that
Mrs. Carter isis planning to return
There may be a woman friend with
her-it's not probable, but it's posi-.
BILE. don't want any one in the
house, or out Of 1t, to suspect, and II
YOU think 1t is possible, I should like
Nina prOtectedp
"I understand" Harriet said, quiet
". She crossed the hall, and for the
first time in four years entered lisa
bellies suite unannounced. It was in
exquisite order; streams Of late after
noon light were falling on the gay
walls and the bright chintzes. The
novels Isabelle had been szimming
the gold service Of her dressing table
the great four-poster with its deeps o.
transparent white embrOideries oyel
white, all spoke Of the beautiful WON
an who had spent so many hours here
On the dressing table, with its splen