The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-12-14

Servants in these times" she In
formed him, fare not what servants
were in my young days
Unfortunately, that Is, So" Hlr
ley agreed.
The old lady tossed her head. Il
do my best she continued, 'bui
that girl would not have stayed in
the house for one week if ! had had
my way. Miss Phil is altogether t)J
soft-hearted. Thank goodness she
| goes tomorrow, though.
Il mean Jones, the new parlor
! maid. Four hours off has that girl
had today, although she was out on
/ Wednesday. Then she has the impu-
| dence TO allow someone to ring her
| up here at the house; and finally
| 1 discover her upsettins the table
| after Benson had laid it and after !
had rearranged it
Wondering from side to side of the
library, Harley presently found him
self standing still before the mantel-
piece and studying a photograph in
q silver frame which occupied the
center of the shelf. 1t was the
/ photograph Of an unusually pretty
| girl.
Presumably Miss PHIL he said
aloud.
He removed his gaze with reluc-
tanoe from the fascinating picture.
and dropping into the big lounge
1 chair, he lighted a cigaret. He had
| Just placed the match in an ash tray
/ when he heard Sir Charles voice in
| the lobby, and a moment later Sir
| Charles himself came hurrying into
the library.
II was called ten minutes ago by
someone purporting to be the serv-
! ant Of Mr.. Chester Wilson. that
friend and neighbor whom I have
been attending"
$50 your butler informed me-"
| My dear sir" cried Sir Charles.
and the expression in his eyes grew
almost wild. mo one in Wilson'S
house knew anything about the
matter!"
Sir Charles was staring at Harley
in that curiously pathetic way which
he had observed at their earlier in
terview in Chancery Lane. "In any
event" said his host, let us dine;
for already I have kept you wait
ing"
Benson attended at table, assisted
by a darls-faced and very surly-loOk-
ing maid in whom Harley thought
he recognized the housekeeper's bette
noire.t
When presently both servants had
temporarily retired. You see. Mr.
Harley" began Sir Charles, CHANGING
about his own room in a manner al
most furtive, L realized today at
your Office that the history Of this
dread which has come upon me per
haps went back so far that it was
almost impossible to acquaint you
With it under the circumstances"
L quite understand"
L think perhaps I should inform
you in the first place that / have a
! daughter. Her mother has been dead
| for many years. and perhaps 1 have
not given her the attention which a
motherless girl is entitled TO expect
from her father. don't mean" he
said, hastily. that we are in anv
sense out Of sympathy, but latterly in
some way I must confess that we
have got a little out of touch" He
glanced anxiously at his guest, in
deed almost alphabetically.
! Pray tell the story in your own
/ way. Sir Charles" said Harley with
7 sympathy. 4 am all attention, and
I shall only interrupt You in the event
Of any point not being quite clear"
Thank you" said Sir Charles. II
/ find IL so much easier to explain the
/ matter now To continue. there is
a certain distinguished Oriental gen
| tleman-"
/ He paused as Benson appeared to
/ remove the soup plates
The butler. an eXcellently trained
/ servant, went about his work with
4 quiet efficiency. and once Harley
/ heard him mutter rapid instructions
/ 10 the sTly parlor maid, who lowered
disdainfully in the background. When
I again host and guest found themselves
/ alone: Il don't in any way distrust
| the servants" explained Sir Charles.
] but one cannot hope to prevent Cos
/ sip" He raised his serviette to his
/ lips and almost Immediately resumed:
Il was about to tell you. Mr. Hurley.
about my daughters"
He paused and cleared his throat.
then, hastily pouring sout a glass of
water, he drank a sip or two and
Paul Harley noticed that his hand
was shaking nervOusly.
No longer able to conceal his CON
Germ. Harley stood up. IF the story
distresses you so keenly, Sir Charles, .
he said. 81 beg"
| He ceased abruptly, and ran to his
hosts assistance, for the latter, evil
IDENTIFY enough. was in the throes of
some sudden Hines or seizure.
"Bensons" cried Harley, loudly.
Quick, Your master is illr'
There came a sound of swift foot
steps and the door was thrown open.
TOO late" whispered Sir Charles
in a choking voice. He began to
clutch his throat as Benson hurried
into the room.
''F1re-Tongue," he said "Nicol
Brinn"
A stified shrek sounded from the
doorway, and in tottered Mrs. How
EFT, the old housekeeper, with other
servants peering over her shoulder
into that warmly lighted dining room
where Sir Charles Abingdon lay mud
died in his own chair-dead 81
CHAPTER III
Shadows