, 1922-02-04

Aoo 80 zen or we've Gays s ]
wrote the family a more or less indls-
Greet letter. That Is I told then
something ] wanted them to be dis
erect about. and. Of course, when I got
to thinkirg II over. / knew obey
wouldn't You see. I wrote them
something ! wanted them to keep n
secret. but the more / thought ubout
II. the nor I saw I'd better hurry
back Yesterday It got into my hest
that I'd better hop on the next trrss
for home"
She paused. then added. $50 I didf
About ten or twelve Gays is long as
anybody has a right to expect the At
water FIRMLY connection to keep the
tcqdliest kind Of a secret. Isn't it,"
And as he did not respond, she ex-
planned. modestiy. "of course, II
wasn't q very deadly secret; II wns
really about something Of only the
least importance
This was 80 frlghtful an under
statement that the jar OF II restored
Mobiles voice 10 u startling loneliness.
only the least importance I" he
shouted. with a man named Crumf-
"whntf- she cried.
"Crunr" Noble insisted. That's
exactly what II said his name vast"
what said his name vast" asked
Julia. excitedly.
The North End Daily orole."
"what in heavens name il thatf-
"It's the chiidren's paper. Herbert's
and Florence's, your own niece snc
nephew. Juiiai You don't mean you
deny II. do you. Juiiaf"
She wns In great confusion: do l
deny what1"
THAT his name is Crumi" Noble
said passionntely. THAT his name Ia
Crum and that he's q widower AMI
he's been divorced and's got nobody
knows how many chIidrenr'
Julia sought { collect herself. -T
dent know what you're talking
about" she said. IF you mean that
happened to meet a very charming
man while l a away. and that his
name Happened to be Crum. l don't
know why l should 30 to the trouble
OF denying II. But IL Mr.. Crum has
had ths experiences you say he has.
1t Is certainly news to mel i think
someone told ne he was only twenty
Elk years old. Ee looked rather
younger"
"You think some one toie' you,"
Noble groaned. "Oh, Julia. Julia I
And here II is. n1i down In black and
white. In my pocketi"
If haven't the slightest idea wha.
you're talking about" Julia's tone
was cold. and she drew herself up
haughtily. though the gesture was In
effective. SO fer as Noble was con-
cerneJ. In the darkness Of the CULVER
ing interior. The quivering stopped
Just then. however, MS the taxicub
halted before her house.
"will you come In with me q mo-
ment. pieasef" Julia said as she got
out. There are some things ]
to ask you-ane I'm sure papa hasn't.
come home from downtown yet.
There's no light In the front part OF
the house."
There was no light In any other
part OF the house. either. as they dis
covered after abandoning tie bell for
nm excursion to the That's dis
henrtening to a hungry person." Julia
remarked and then remembered that
she had a key to the front door In
her purse. She opened the door. and
lighted a hail luster while Noble
brought In her bags from the steps
where the taxicab driver had left
them.
There's nobody at home ct an
Julia said. thoughtfully.
'"No. Nobody" her sad companion
agreed. shaking his head. Nobody at
ALL Julia. Nobody ut ALL" Rousing
himself. he went bnck for the golf
tools, and with a lingering g%entleness
set them in a corner Then, dumbly,
he turned to go.
"watt, please" said Julia II want
to ask you a few things-especinily
about what you've got all down in
black and white In your pocket. VIII
you shut the door. II you please, and
go into the library and turn on the
lights and wait there while I look
over the house and see II I can find
why It's nil closed up like this.
TITS chilly. The furnace seems to
be off,r she said. "T1l-" But instead
OF declaring her intentions, she enact
ed them; taking a match from the lit
tie white porcelain trough on the a
telpiece and striking It on the heel Of
her glittering shoe. Then she knelt
before the crate and set the flame to
excelsior beneath the kindling and
coal. You mustn't freze." she said.
with a thoughtful kindness that killed
him.
I'm Robinson Crusoe, Noble" she
said. when shescnme back. II suppose
I might as well take of my furs,
though" She did so, first unfasten-
ing the great bouquet she wore and
tossing it upon a table. Noble was
standing close to the table. but moved
away from It hurriediy. This revulslon
she failed to notice; and she went on
20 explain. as she dropped her cloak
and stole upon a chair. "Papa's gone
away for at least a week. He's taken
g- --r - 1gR