Gunnison news-champion., 1923-03-02
CHAPTER XXI
Ne. Eztoa-O.errco-

gl'lng H. hL> messenger returned
Sauf1iH- saE the man alone and
vL.u he had dismissed him. he sent
fDr hIs daughter,
Harriet went up 20 him f-arruiIy.
Th" hind man seemed calm and quiet :
a thin. square packet lay on the bed
beside him: h- held Il out TO her
without spesking
Size suatch"si II in drs.d; the shane
81 the racket and the manner IN
which 10 was fastened told her 4,
must be a photograph. open IT. her
father directed
what B., il you want TO know. Ia
Ib.r77 she asked.
That Is the picture of EatonY-
Yes
i thought sn.-
She tried to assure herself ., IN.
shade % the meaning In her fathers
tone. but she could not. She under.
stood that her recognition ~ the Die.
ture had satisfied him In regard 10
something over which he had seen In
doubt: but whether this was TO work
in favor of Hugh and herseIf--h.
thought Of herself now lns.parnbl,
with Hugh-or whether IL Threatened
them. she could not tell
Father, what does this meanr- she
cried 10 him
What. dearf''
Your haring the picture. Where
did you get iiT'
7 knew where II might be. I sent
for H."
her now that her father must know
who Hugh was. WHO"
Il know who he is now her IN.
rher sald calmly. IL will t.lI' you when
can"
when you canT
Yes" he said Where Is Ayervy-
as though his mind had gone to an.
other subject instantly.
He has not been in, l believe, since
noon"
He is overseeing the search for
Eaton?'
Yes"
Send for him. Tell him l wish TO
see him here a. .he house: he Is &c
rvnaln within the house until l have
seen him"
Something In her fathers tone
startled and perplexed her: she
thought OF Donald now only as the
most eager and most vindic,iye Of
Eaton's pursuers Was her father
removing Donald from among those
seeking Ea,on1 Was he sending for
him because what he had Just learned
was something which would make
more rigorous and desperate the
searchf The blind mans look and
manner told her nothing.
you mean Donald is TO walt here
until you send for him. FatherY"
THAT is H."
II was the blind mans tone Of dis.
missal. He seemed TO have forgotten
the picture; NJ lcast, as his daughter
moved toward the door. ne gave no
direction concerning IL. She halted.
looking back at him. She would not
carry the picture away. secretly, like
this. She was not ashamed of her
love for-Eatnn whatever might be said
or thought Of him. she trusted him;
she was proud OF her love for him.
May take the pIcturs?' she asked
steadily.
do whatever you want with It."
her father answered quietly.
And so she took II with her. She
found servant of whom she inquired
for Avery: he had not returned so
she sent for him. She went down to
the deserted library and waited there
with the picture Of Hugh in her hand.
The day had drawn to dusk. She
could no longer see the picture In the
fhding light: she could only recall IL:
and now. rs she recalled II, the pic.
fure itself-not her memory of her
fathers manner In relation to IT.
gave her vague discomfort. She got
up suddenly. switched on the light
and. holding the picture close to II,
studied It. What II was In the pic
ture that gave her this strange I'M.
easiness quite separate and distinct
from all that she had felt when she
hrst looked at 1t. she could not tell:
but the more she studied II, the more
troubled and frightened she grew.
The picture was n plain, unre-
touched print pasted upon common
square cardboard without photogra-
piers emboss or signature; and
printed with the picture. were four
plain, distinct numerals]S25S. She
did not know what they meant or II
they had any real significance, but
somehow now she was more afraid
for Hugh than she had been. She
trembled as she held the picture again
to her cheek and then to her lips.
She turned; some one had come In
from the hall; 1t was Donald. She
saw at her first glance at him that his
search had not yet succeeded and she
threw her head back In relief. See
ing the light, he had looked into the
library Idly; but when he saw her,
he approached her quickly.
-what have you thereY' he demand.