Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-02-11

I
"Oh, surely" The companions
voice was light and cheerful; she
went upstairs only pleasantly excited
and thrilled. And at the breakfast
table next morning Harriet could show
| the head of the house the same bright
assurance. Richard had come down.
stairs early, and they had their coffee
| alone.
"Nina?" asked her father.
"She comes back today" Harriet
said. "Mrs. Carter is going to have
her masseuse, so she won't be down.
| She asked you to remember that you
are dining at the Jays tomorrow.
There's to be tennis at about four"
Finals" he said, nodding. and went
out to his car apparently well pleased
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,
garrulous and complacent Nina, who
could pity the elder Hawkes. as girls
who never 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
Qn6 Nina N IN tho
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 n 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 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 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 a farewell kiss.
Mrs. Webb has telephoned for me,
ducky. Your father isn't coming home
tonight, but have a happy time with
Miss Harriet, and TIL 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
and suspense. The summer air seemed
charged with menace. and the silence
that followed the noise of the car odd
ly Omlnous.
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
he the matter with them all this after
noon!
ibid you call me- Mr.. CarterT 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 Fieldf"
"Driving Mrs. Carter to the Webbs'
at Great harrington" the girl an
swered, readily. Mrs. Carter left In
a hurry. She did not expect you to-
night. Hansen ought TO be back at |
about seven, should think"
He was not listening to her; alb
ruptly left her. When Harriet went
into the house she saw nothing of |
him. She made her usual little round.
spoke briefly to maid about some
fallen daisy petals, consulted with the
as to the new cretonne
covers. A man was to come and |
measure those covers this very after
this was he. modestly
waiting Mt the side door.
But no, this man briefly and sim
ply asked to be shown to Mr.. Carter,
that he was expected He
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
nothing In that to make the dinner
80 unnatural. To be sure Richard ate
little, and spoke hardly at all; but
this Mr.. Williams was quite entertain
ing, and the old lady In god spirits.
At eight Hansen was back, present
ing himself In his dusty road-coat;
Mr.. Carter Immediately drew him with
Williams into the library. Nina
Offered up to bed, but the old lady
md Harriet remained downstairs.
They did not like, but they some
lines amused, each other. Sudden
Y came the summons: would Miss
Field please step into the library?
Hansen was going out as she came