Evening star., 1923-05-29
Continued from Yesterdays star.l
.xnops1s or pREy1ous 1NsrAL1MENT.


John waring, gentleman and scholar. mas
tust won the hotly contested election to the
presidency of Corinth College, venerable New
England seat of learning. Before his inang-
uration. he plans to marry Emily Rates. a
charming and cultured widow. With his lifes
bepe s yet a nstnnt before he
answers in the Affirmative her question: Are
Into this quiet college town comes miss
Mystery"
The passenger who was unlike the
others stepped down from the car
platform, and holding her small suit
case firmly. crossed the track and
entered the station waiting room:
She went to the ticket window. but
found there no attendant. 1mpa-
tiently she tapped her little foot on
the old board floor, but no one ap-
peared.
Undecided as to her next move, she
opened the station door just In time
to see an old man with long white
beard jump into his sleigh and be-
gin to tuck fur robes about him.
He sprang to his sieigh-to ms
to herself, and then cried out: Hey,
there, Santa Claus. give me lift?
You engaged for our house?' the
man called back. and as she shook
her head. he gathered up his reins. =.
Cant take any one not engaged
IA
"wait-wait! l command you" The
sharp. clear young voice rang out
through the cold winter air. and Old
Saltonstall Adams paused to listen
"Ho, no." he chuckled. you com.
mand me. do you? Now. I haven't
heen commanded for something like
"oh. don't stop to fuss" the girl
exclaimed, angrily. Don't You see
I'm cold. hungry and very uncom-
hnn n
Il want board-now, you take me IN.
DO you hear?"
Sure | hear. but. miss, we've only
so many rooms and they're all oc-
cupied or engaged.
Some are engaged. but as yet un-
occupiedo" The dark eyes challenged
him. and Adams mumbled-"Well,
that's about it
Very well. will occupy one until
the engager comes along.
The wind blew hercely. 1t was
showing little, and the drifts sent
feathery clouds through the air. The
trees, coated with ice from a recent
sleet storm, broke off cracking bits
of ice as they passed. The girl looked
about. at first curiously. and then
timidly, as if frightened by what she
saw.
1t was not a long ride, and they
stopped before a large house, snow
ing comfortably lighted windows and
broad front door that swung open
even as the girl was getting uo"h
from the sleigh.
For the land sake" exclaimed a
hrisk feminine voice. this amt Let
". Who in the earth have you got
here?"
nIied truthfuliy Take her along.
mother and give her nights lodg-
ing"
but where is Lefty? Didn't she
Gomez"
Now can't you see she didn't come?
DO YOU s'pose I left her at the sta
ton? Or dumped her out along the
road? No-since you will have 1t, she
didn't come. She didn't come"
Old Salt drove on toward the barns,
and Mrs Adams bade the girl go into
the house.
The landlady followed. and as she
saw the strange guest she gazed at
her in frank curiosity.
You want room. I s'pose," she
began. But, I'm sorry to say we
"Oh, I'll take Letty's. She didn't
come, you see. go 1 can take her
room for tonight"
Lefty wouldn't like that"
But I would. And I'm here and
Lefty isn't Shall we go right, up?"
Picking up her small suit case. the
girl started and then stepped back
for the woman to lead the way.
Not quite so faSt-if you please.
What is your name"
As the landlady's tone changed to
sterner infection, the girl likewise
grew dignified.
My name is Anita Austin" she
said. ooIdly.
where are you FROM"
New York city"
What address?'
"PlaZa Hotel"
BY this time the strange dark eyes
had done their work. A steady glance
from Anita Austin seemed to compel
all the world to do her bidding. At
any rate, Mrs. Adams took the suit
case, and without further word con-
Quoted the stranger upstairs.
She took her into an attractive bed
room. presumably made ready for the
absent Lefty.
''This will do" Miss Austin said,
calmly will you send me up a tray
of supper? 1 don't want much. and 1
prefer not to come down to dinner"
Land sake, dinners over long ago.
You want some tea. n bread. m but
ter, n preserves, n cake?'
Yes, thank you, that sounds good.
Send it in half an hour"
To her guest Mrs. Adams showed
once outside the door, and released
from the spell of those eerie eyes,
she remarked to herself. For the
land sake with great emphasis.
We'll. what do you know about
that" Old Salt. Adams cried. when.
after she had started him on his sup
per. his wife related the episode.
IT can't make her out" Mrs Adams
said, thoughtfully. But ] don't like
. her. And I won't keep her. Tomor-
row. YOU take her over to Belton's."
Just as you say. But ] thought her
kinda interesting locking. You can't
say she isn't that
Maybe so. to some folks. Not to
me. And Letty'll come tomorrow, so
that grill have to get out of the
Meanwhile that girl was eagerly
peering out of her window.
She tried to discern which were the
lights of the college buildings, but
through the still lightly falling snow
she could see but little.
"Corinth. she whispered "Oh.
Corinth. what do YOU hold for me?
What fortune or misfortune will you
bring me? What fortune or misfor-
tune shall l bring to others? Oh,
Justice, Justice. what crimes are
committed in thy name.'
Miss Mystery Bames Speculation.
The next morning Anita appeared in
the dining room at the breakfast hour.
Mrs. Adams scanned her sharply.
and looked a little disapprovingly at
the short, scant skirt and slim, silken
legs of her new boarder.
Anita, her dark eyes scanning her
hostess with equal sharpness, seemed
to express an equal disapproval of
the country-cut gingham and huge
white apron.
Not at all obtuse, Mrs. Adams
sensed this and her tone was a little
more deferential than she had at first