The Glenwood post., 1923-03-29
CHAPTER XIX

Harriet went into the house and
toward her own rooms; q maid met
and stopped her on the stairs.
''Mr. Santoine sent word that he
wishes to see you as soon as you came
in, Miss Santoine."
Harriet went on toward her fathers
room. without stopping at her own
wet with the drive through the damp
night and shivering now with its chill
Her fathers voice answered her knock
with summons to come in.
"Where have you been, DaughterY'
he asked.
II have been driving with Mr.. Ea-
ton in motor" she said.
"Helping him to escaper' A spasm
crossed the blind mans face.
''He said not; he-he was following
the men who shot Cousin Wallace"
The blind man lay for an instant
still. "Tell me-" he commanded finally.
She told him, beginning with her dis
covery of Eaton in the garage and
ending with his leaving her and with
Donald Avery's finding her in the mo-
tor; and now she held back one word
only-his name which he had told her,
Hugh. Her father listened intently.
'You and Mr.. Eaton appear to have
become rather well acquainted, .Har-
riet," he said. "Has he told you moth
ing about himself which you have not
told me7 You have seen nothing con-
cerning him, which you have not
toldT
Her mind went quickly back to the
| polo game; she felt flush, which his
blind eyes could not see, dyeing her
cheeks and forehead.
The blind man waited for a mo-
ment; he put out his hand and pressed
the bell which called the steward.
! Neither spoke until the steward came.
Farley" Santoine said then. qui-
city, Miss Santoine and 1 have Just
agreed that for the present all reports
regarding the pursuit of the men who
entered the study last night are to
be made direct to me. not through
! Miss Santolne or Mr.. Avery"
Every we'll. sir"
She still sat silent after the steward
had gomez she thought for an instant
her father had forgotten her presence;
then he moved slightly.
"That is all, dear" he said quietly.
She got up and left him, and went
to her own rooms; she did not pretend
to herself that she could rest. She
bathed and dressed and went down
stairs The library had windows fac
Ing to the west; she went in there
and stood looking out.
Her mind was upon only one thing
even of that she could not think con-
nectedly. Some years ago, something
she did not know what-had hap
pened to Hugh; tonight, In some
strange way unknown to her, It had
eliminated in her fathers study. He
had fought someone; he had rushed
away to follow someone Whom?
Had he heard that someone in the
study and gone down? Had he been
fighting their battle-her fathers and
hers? She knew that was not SO.
Hugh had been fully dressed. What
did mean that he had said to her
that these events would either de-
stroy him or would send him back to
her as-as something differentf Her
thought supplied no answer.
But whatever he had done, whatever
he might be- she knew his fate was
hers now; for she had given herself
to him utterly. She had told that to
herself as she fed and pursued with
him that night; she had told 1t to him;
she later had told it-though she had
not meant to veto her father. She
could only pray now that out Of the
events Of this night might not come
a grief to her too great for her to
bear.
She went to the rooms that had
been Eaton's. The police, in stripping
them Of his possessions, had over.
looked his cap; she found the bit of
gray cloth and hugged 1t to her. She
whispered his name to herself
Hugh-that secret Of his name which
she had kept: she glorled that she had
that secret with him which she could
keep from them all. What wouldn't
they give just to share that with her
his name, Hugh!
She started suddenly, looking
] through the window. The east, above
the lake, was beginning to grow gray.
| The dawn was comingi 1t was be-
| ginning to be day!'
She hurried to the other side Of
the house. looking toward the west
| How could she have left him. hurt and
bleeding and alone in the night She
could not have done that but that his
asking her to go had told that 1t was
for his safety az well rs hers; she
could not help him any more then;
she would only have been in the way.
But now-she started to rush out, but
controlled herself; she had TO stay
In the house; that was where the first
word would come If they caught him
and then he would need her, how
much morei The reporters on the
lawn below her seeing her at the win
dow. called up to her to know fur
ther particulars Of what had hap
psnsd and what the murder meant;
she could see them plainly In the In
a AkA