The Holbrook news., 1922-01-27

with himself and his life Harriet started for the Hawkes. with philo- sophie reflection or two as to the ephemeral quality of married quar- rels.
 She brought Nina back at noon, a garrulous and complacent Nina, who could pity the elder Hawkes. as girls who ''never c. had admirers" When they reached the driveway of Crown lands, Harriet recognized the car that was already there. and said to her self that Anthony Pope would join them for luncheon. But just as she and Nina were about to enter the cool, wide. dark doorway, Anthony himself passed them. He was al most running. and apparently did not see them. He ran down the shallow steps and sprang into his car, which scattered a spray of gravel as he jerked 1t madly about, and was gone before she and Nina had ended their look of surprise. Harriet went slowly upstairs. with dim fOreboding far back in her heart
 At about three, when Harriet and Nina were idling on the shady ter race, with the hound, the new maga- zines, and their books. Hansen brought one of the small closed cars to the side door. Five minutes later Isabelle. In a thin white coat, a yelled white hat, and with a gorgeous white-furred wrap over her arm, came out. Ger maine was with her, carrying two shiny black suitcaSes. Isabelle, Har- riet thought, looked superbly hand some. but Germaine had evidently been scolded, and had red eyes
 Isabelle came over to give her daughter farewell kiss.
 Mrs. Webb has telephOned for me ducky Your father isn't coming home tonight. hut have happy time with Miss Harriet, and I'll be back in day or two. GOod-by. both of you All right. Hansen!"
 They swept away, leaving Harriet with a strange sense of nervousness
  charged with menace, and the silence that followed the noise of the car odd ly ominOus.
 Madame Carter was on the terrace when they came back at five from an idle trip to the club, reporting that her son had just returned unexpect- edly from the city, and had gone in to change for golf.
 Nothing alarming here, yet Harriet experienced sick thrill of apprehen- sion. Something abnormal seemed to be the matter with them all this after noon
 "Did you call me, MT. Carter?" She hardly knew her own voice, as he came down the three broad steps from the house. Her hands felt ccld, and she was trembling.
 "Do you happen to know where Hansen Is. Miss FieldT
 "Driving Mrs. Carter to the Webbs' at Great Harrington" the girl an- swered, readily. "Nfrs. Carter left in hurry. She did not expect you to- night. Hansen ought to be back at about seven. I should think"
 He was not listening to her; ab- ruptly left her. When Harriet went into the house she saw nothing of him. She made her usual little round. spoke briefly to a maid about some fallen daisy petals, consulted with the ta covers. A man was to come and measure those covers this very after noOn-perhaps this was he, modestly waiting at the side door,
 But no, this man briefly and sim ply asked to be shown to Mir Carter. remarking that he was expected. He disappeared into the library; Harriet saw no more of him for an hour, when he silently appeared beside her, and asked to see the chauffeur Hansen as soon as he came.
 Richard brought the strange man to the dinner table; but there was in that to make the dinner so unnatural. To be sure Richard ate little, and spoke hardly at all; but this MT. Williams was quite entertain ing, and the old lady in good spirits.
 At eight Hansen was back, present ing himself in his dusty rOad-cOat; MT. Carter immediately drew him with Williams into the library. Nina lOltered up to bed, but the old lady and Harriet remained downstairs They did not like, but they some times amused, each other. Sudden ly came the summons: would Miss Field please step into the library?
 Hansen was going out as she came in; Richard was at the big flat topped desk, the man Williams stand ing somewhat in shadow. Harriet's heart leaped; they were going to ask her about Royal.
 "Jbst a moment, Miss Field" Rich ard said. "Will you sit down?' And as Harriet, looking at him in fright ened curiosity, did so, he began quiet ly: "We are in some trouble here, Miss Field. I hardly know how to tell you what we fear. Did you mo- tice anything strange abOut-MrS. today?'
 q thought I did," Harriet admitted. !
 Did you think of any reason for it?
 Harriet gave the stranger glance that made him an eaveSdropper.
 "I fancied that it was connected | what distressed her last night, Mir. Carter
 You may speak before Mir. Will liams." Richard said He looked |