Connecticut western news., 1922-09-07
CHAPTER III
Discussion of a Shadow

Discussion or Shadow
 Alan, as he looked confusedly and blankly at her, made no attempt to answer the question she had asked, or to explain. His silence and con- fusion, he knew, must seem to Con- stance Sherrin unwillingness to an- swer her; for she did not suspect that he was unable to answer her. : You would rather explain to father than to me-" she decided.
 He hesitated. What he wanted now was time to think, to learn who she was and who her father was, and to adjust himself to this strange reversal of his expectations.
 "Yes; would rather do that" he said. '.9 vgaNtsra ~ratengse ,stt. .Na4t s'. I
 She caught up her fur collar and muff from chair and spoke a word to the servant. AS she went out on to the porch, he followed her and stopped to pick up his suitcase.
 Simmons will bring that" she said, unless you'd rather have 1t with you. It is only short walk"
 They turned in at the entrance of a house in the middle of the block and went up the low, wide stone steps; the door opened to them without ring or knock a servant in the hall within took Alan's hat and coat, and he fol- lowed Constance past some great room upon his right to d smaller one farther down the hall @
 ''Will you wait here, please?' she asked. .. when her footsteps had died away, and he could hear no other sounds except the occasional soft tread of some servant. he twisted himself about in his chair and looked around. Who were these Sherrills? Who was Cor vet, and what was his relation to the Sherrills2 What, beyond all, was their and COrVet's relation to Alan Conrad to himself? The shock and confusion he had felt at the nature of his recep- ton In Corvet's house, and the strange ness of his transition from his little Kansas town to place and people such as this. had prevented him from inquiring directly L from @ Constance sherrtll as to that: and, on her part, be had assumed, plainly, that he already knew and need not be told. 5 He strengthened and looked about, then got up: as Oonstance Sherrill came back into the room. :
 Father is not here just now," she cn telegram exactly at what hour you would arrive, and that was why waited at MT. Corvet's to be sure we wouldn't miss you. I have telephoned father, and he's coming home at once" :"
 She hesitated an instant in the door way, then turned to go out again.
 Miss Sherrill-" he said.
 She halted. "Yes."
 You told me you had been waiting for me to come and explain my con- nection with MT. COrvet. We'll can't do that; that is what came here hoping to find out"
 She came back toward him slowly.
 "What do you mean7" she asked.
 He fought down and controlled resolutely the excitement in his voice, as he told her rapidly the little he knew about himself.
 He could not tell definitely how she was affected by what he said. She flushed slightly, following her first start of surprise after he had begun to speak; when he had finished, he saw that she was a little pale.
 'Then you don't know anything about Mir. Corvet at all," she said.
 "No; until I got hls letter sending for me here, I'd never seen or heard his name."
 She was thoughtful for a moment.
 'Thank you for telling me-" she said. "Tn tell my father when he comes"
 "Your father is-T he ventured.
 She understood now that the name of Sherriu had meant nothing to him. "Father Is MT. Corvet's closest friend and his business partner as we'll" she explained.
 He thought she was going to tell him something more about them; but she seemed to decide to leave that for her father to do. She crossed to the big chair beside the grate and seated herself. As she sat looking at him. hands clasped beneath her chin, and her elbows resting on the arm of the chair, there was speculation and in- terest in her gaze; but she did not ask him anything more about himself
 She. he saY.-Mas listening. like him: