The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-14


trust you and Sally Hender-
son''-f1er smile was apparently
quite enforced - mot to cheat
us. If there are any errors in
my list, Sally can notify me. ~
She handed Clancy the paper
and keyring. AS she did so, the
doorbell rang.
Almost simultaneously the door
to the dining-room could be heard
opening. A moment later, Carey
called.
"Ragan's here" he shouted.
His voice was surly, like that of
q petulant child forced to do
something undesirable Clancy
though that there was more ,thal
that in it, that there was the
quaver that indicates panic. But
Mrs. Carey, who should have been
sensitive to any voval discords
in her husbands voice, showed
no signs of such sensitiveness.
Ready in a moment. Send
him up" she called.
Ragan was a burly, good
natured Irishman. He grirned
at. Mrs. Carey's greeting. Here
was a servant who adored his
mistress, Clancy felt.
Ready to go to the country,
Rangan?''. asked Mrs. Carey.
? The big mans grin was suf-
ficient answer.
Raglan, said Mrs. Carey to
Clancy, els the most remarkable
man in the world. He can
drive car along Riverside Drive
at forty-five miles an Nhour
without being arrested, and he
can wait on table like no one
else in the world. How's Maria?''
she asked him.
Sure. she's fine" said Ragan.
She's at the station now.
Where wen be in ten
minutes" said his mistress. She
indicated several bags, already
packed. Raglan shouidered them.
He started downstairs. Mrs.
Carey turned to Clancy. ''Hope
an empty house doesn't make
You nervous" she smiled.
Clancy shook her head. en-
not be here long, anyway. Ard
isn't yeurl maid here?"
ct think she's gone by now"
said Mrs. Carey. But she II
sleep each night here-until
you've found me tenant. For
that matter, she'll be back eorIy
this afternoon-to wash dishes
and, such matters She was not
a person to linger over de-
partures. Her husband had
sullily donned hat and coat and
was standing, in the hall down.
stairs, waiting for her.
So Mrs. Carey held out her
hand to Clancy.
wish I could ask you TO week
end with us sometime, but / don't
suppose that the country, In
winter-time, means anything in
your young life She seemed to
put the statement as a question,
almost -pleadingly. ImpuIsiyc1v,
Clancy answered her.
ASK me sometime, and find
out if it does
'I'll do that said Mrs. Carey.
Coming, Don,'' she called.
Her hand clasped Clancy's
moment, and then she trotted
down the stairs. The door banged
behind them.
A thought came to Clancy.
She raised her voice and called
But the door was thick. The
Careys could not hear. Frightened,
she raced downstairs. AS she
passed the dining room door, she
glanced through the opening.
Then fear died from her. She
had been afraid that the elevator.
man from the Heberworth Build
ing still remained in. the house.
But, when she had seen him
talking to Don Carey, his lat
and coat were lying on a chair.
They were gone now.
Still Sudden anger swept
over her. This lying, blackmail.
ing thing TO frighten Clancy
Deane? Anger made her brave
to rashness. From the fire.
place in the dining-room she
picked up short heavy
poker. If he were lurking any
where in this house, if Don
Carey, fearful lest his wife note
the sort of person who paid him
morning visits, had hidden the
man away, she, Clancy Deane,
would rout him out. Shed make
him tell the truth!
Through the dining-room, into
the buffers pantry beyond,
through the kitchen, to the head
OF the cellar stairs she marched,
holding the poker before her. Her
fingers found a switch; the Gel
lar was flooded with light. With
out the least timidity, Clancy de-
acended.