The Washington times., 1922-08-27
CHAPTER VII.
fIT row could you thrust him
" down with your foot?"
- - aSked Halop aWouIdn't

III tnc paSSdSS anu oHe was Idiklng
to somebody, then:
"Come in sir-I didn't hear you
knocking, it is a good thing I came
to the front door or you would
have been kept waiting"
at is the lodger," whispered
George. "Helen-your cammiesw
Helen made q dart at the chair
where eggs and underclothes lay,
and, snatching a cushion, laid it on
top of the whole with the rarest
presence of mind.
"You are Mr.. Jones?" said
Josephine sweetly.
Cicero nodded. He could not
speak. He could only stare tcsci-
mated at the girl who had discov-
cred so drastic q method Of saving
the family honor. She was pretty
in her less homicidal moments, he
thought; her mouth was sensitive,
her skin flawless.
"You would like to see your
rcom?" said Josephine.
"Er-yes-but can 60 up my
self. Just tell me where it is. I
-I'll find it," he said hastily.
"But III take you"
"No-oh no. It is not neces-
sary, assure you."
II see, you wish to 60 alone?"
He nodded.
eyes, that was my idea"
Josephine was making conversa-
tion and her elder sister wondered
why. It was not. like Josephine to
take so much trouble.
They're very nice rooms" she
said. "From your sitting-room
you have q lovely view Of the
lake"
Cicero Jones suppressed a cry.
"The lake! Oh, yes. Are there
any-any keys?" he demanded
urgently.
"For your room-I don't think
there are. But, as I was saying,
you'll find the view lovely--to-
morrow if you wish I'll take you
out to the lake."
"Oh-yes, you will-thank you,
but don't drink. ! mean, ! don't
Observation-Disclosures, that's
the wordw
The suspicion born in Jose
phine's mind was already taking
definite shape. , u..
"Will you be staying long?" she
asked, watching him intently.
'No-a night, yes, until to-mor-
row." said Cicero. He was hoping
that tomorrow would dawn for
him.
"Only a night?" For a moment
a sens. of CONSERVATION overcame
her doubt.
"Yes-I-er-took the rooms
for a month and-of course, I'll
pay-I'd better pay in advance,
hadn't II"
In her mind Josephine most fer
vently agreed, but she said:
"It is not at all important"
'T'd better"
Her refusal did not seem con-
vincing, even to Cicero Jones in
his agitation. He counted the
money and his fingers were shak-
ing.
said.
Now she was certain! She made
some excuse about getting q re-
ceipt and hurried off to find
Georgina, who had slipped from
the room and was in the garden.
George" she gasped;, "It Is
him-he I mean. Where Is
Helen?"
"He-who?"
"Come hereby the window
now peep through. Pretend not
to look. You see, dark hair, long
face, talks like a gentleman. Look
how he fingers his chin" =.
"You don't mean that he's "
"John Franklin-the bank rob-
berw Josephine whispered fiercely.
"Merciful heavens"
"And the trunk in the passage
Is full of stolen property-we've
never had so much money in the
house before! Look! What did
the Hue and Cry say? Pretends
to be nervous-why he's shivering
Woofw
She had seen Helen enter the
room. .
"Stop her. Come in George"
Her heart humping painfully,
she dragged Georgina into the
house, but Helen had already
taken the guest under her wing.
As they went in Helen was talk
inr-Mr. Jones seated on the edge
of chair.
"Papa said that you have had
nervous breakdown, Mr.. Jones"
He nodded.
eve often had such cases a,
SCHOOL, was head girl at st. Mar
garet's," she explained, "and from
what one learnt, q nervous attack
leaves you with such an awful
sensation-it has been described
as making you feel like a hunted
criminal"
The frantic signs Josephine wa,
making were lost on Helen. Cicero
saw her warning grimaee and near
ly tainted. It was a house of ter.
ror-a house Of strange sights anc
strange noises. He could hear {
queer strangled sound coming from