The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-04-13
CHAPTER vi.

most opportune lNll followed,
when Harriet Field had tine to collect
her thoughts. and get a true pgrspec-
tive upon the events of the past week.
Nina was leaving for a visit TO .Auy
Hawkes., at the extremely dull and en-.
tirely safe Hawkes. mansion, where
four unmarried daughters constituted
a chaperonage beyond all criticism
Isabelle Carter was giving and atteEd.
ing the usual luncheons and dinners
her husband absorbed in an especially
alternate nights in the city. The house
was quiet, the domestic machinery
running smoothly, the weather hot
sulphurous and enervating.
She dined as usual alone, that eve
ming, and was surprised, at about eight
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 were at card ta-
BILE: Richard, looking tired and hot In
silver lace, and young Anthony Pope.
Near by, Madame Carter majestically
fingered some illustrated ma gaines.
Ut appeared that they wanted bridge I;
1t was too hot to eat, too hot to dance
at the club, too hot-said Isabelle
pathetically-to live
Obligingly Harriet took her place,
cut for the deal. But her eyes had not
fallen upon the group before she
sensed that something was wrong, and
she had a moments tlutter of the heart
for fear some one 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 rvas-
surfing; II there was constraint here,
she was not involved In IL.
mo trump-says little Miss Fss'd.
Well that doesn't seer1 to frightea me.
Two spades"
II think we might trT three die
monds, Miss Field" Anothony said
gravely and pleasantly, and Harriet
felt herself acquitted of any apprehen-
sion IN that direction as well. II only
remained for Isabelle TO show friend.
illness.
'Du hast diamOnten and perlen
you two. / can see that You're
down, Harriet !" Mrs. Carter said
thoughtfully. Harriet began thorough.
ly to enjoy herself. If they were all
furious, at least 1t was not with her
She speculated, as she gathered in
her tricks. Was it conceivable that
Richard did not enjoy the discovery
of the tete-a-tete dinner? But Isabelle
had often been equally indiscreet, and
he had never seemed TO resent ii be
fore. Harriet knew that Isabelle was
i'll at ease; she suspected that Tony
was furious. The old lady was oh
viously quivering with batfled inter
est and curiosity.
After three rubbers the game ended
suddenly; Richard said he had some
letters TO write, and was keeping Fox
waiting IN the library; Anthony scrib.
bled a check. said brief and unfriend
| ly good-nights: Isabelle merely raised
passionate dark eyes To his She was
| languidly gathering in her sDoils
when the lights of his car flashed vel.
low on the drive and he was gone.
Immediately afterward Richard
Carter said goodnight to his mother
and wife. and went in to his study
Madame Carter followed him in. and
went upstairs. but Isabelle sat on
moodly shuf1lng and reshuflling the
cards. in the bright soft light OF the
! terrace lamps.
'Wait minute. Harriet" she said
briefly, and Harriet obedlently loitered
But Isabelle seemed to have nothing
70 say. Her eyes were on the cards
her beautiful brees.. exposed in the
low-cut silver gown, rose and fell
stormily, and Harriet saw that she was
biting her full under lip. as IL anger