Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-01-14

At about three, when Harriet and
Nina were iding on the shady ter.
race with the hound, the new maya
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, yelled white
hat and with a gorgeous wh,te-fUrrcd
wrap over her arm, came out. Ger
maine was with her. carrying two
shiny black suitcaseS. Isabelle. Hnr-
riet Thought, looked superbly hand
some, but Germaine had evidently
been Scolded, and had red eyes.
! Isabelle came over TO give her
daughter a farewell kiss.
Mrs. Webb has telephoncd for ne,
lucky oef~fstlter isn't e'nning home
tonight, hut have a happy time with
Miss Harriet, and I'll be back in a
day or two. Good-by, both Of you
All right. Hansen"
They swept away, leaving Harriet
with a strange sense of nervousness
and suspense The summer air seemed
charged with menace and the silence
that followed the noise Of the car odd
~ oininouS
Madame Carter was on the terrace
when they came back at five from an
idle trip 10 the club reporting that
her son had hiSt returned uncXpect-
cdly from the city and had gone in
to change for golf.
Nothing alarming here, yet Harriet
experienced a sick thrill of apprehen-
sion Something abnormal seemed to
be the matter with them all this after
noon!
"Did YOU call me. Mr.. Carter?" She
hardly knew her own voice, as he
came down the three broad steps from
the house. Her hands felt cold, and
she was trembling.
do you happen to know where
Hansen is Miss Field"
"Drivlng Mrs. Carter ia the Webbs'
lat Great Darlington" the girl an.
'.Swered; readily Mrs, Carter left in
"a hurry. She did not expect you to.
might Hansen Ought TO he back at
sahout seven. should think"
s He was not listening to her: alb
3ruptIs left her When Harriet went
into thn house size saw nothing OF
him. She made her usual little round.
spoke briefly to q maid about some
fallen daisy petals, consulted with the
housekeepcr as TO the new cretonne
covers. A man was to come and
measure those covers this very after
ynoon--ncrhapS this was he, modestly
waiting at the side door
5 But no. this man briefly and sim
ply asked to he shown to Mr.. Carter
sremarking that lie was expected lie
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 lie cane.
Richard brought the strange man
to the dinner table; but there was
I nothing in that to make the dinner
i so unGatmal. To be sure Richard ate
!, little, and spoke hardly at all; but
. this Mr.. Williams was quite entertain
p Ing. and the old lady in good spirits.
At eight Hansen was back, present.
! ing himself in his dusty road-coat:
I Mr.. Carter Immediately drew him with
/ Williams into the library. Nina
/ loitcred up to bed, but the old lady
T and Harriet remained downstairs
7 They did mot like but they some
times amused, each other. Sudden
/ lys came The summons. would Miss
Field please step into the library?
| Hansen was going out as she came
sin; Richard was at the big fiat
topped desk, the man Williams stand
ing somewhat in shadow. HarIiet'S
heart leaped; they were going to ask
her about Royal
Just moment, Miss Field Rich
ard said. "Will you sit down." And
Is HarrIst, looking. at him in fright
PDeU CURIOSITY. ulu Sn. ne npSdn 0uIef-