The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-12
The Step on the Stairs
By Isabel Ostrandcr

took pity on Irene. Ircno came
from Wheatfleld. and guess her
guardian sent her 60 finishing school
as a iaat resort TO get her in with
rich folks and marry her orr. Any.
way. Ada Johnson brought the girl
homo and tho trouble started"
DO YOU know anything about this
guardian OF lreno narrowa. slr?" tho
detective asked. "pid YOU ever meet
hims"
Yes. he eamo on for tho wedding.
but somehow can't recall his name.
remember tho man himself. though.
because I've met so many OF his
type; hard.fisted. hypocritlcai presi.
dent OF 4 small country bank Ito
died soon after understand"
Please, Mr.. Scully. II 10 timo for
your dropa now" A nurse np.
preached tho invalid. III the gentle.
man VIII excuse you, I'm sure you
havc talked enough"
Tho invalid took the medicine and
reused himself TO peer at tho small
car chugging mp tho driveway.
who's comlngf''
III ~ Mrs, Tyrrell," tho nurse re,
piled and turned 10 meet tho stout
lady who had descended from the
runahout and was crossing the lawn
toward them.
Ada on one OF her duty caIlse'
tho old man grumhied. "She may he
able 10 give you moro Information
than !. however. for Hhe was tho
gifl I told you about who brought,
Irene 70 Cleveland In the first place. ("
Barry rose and tho old man
cackled an no extended his hand.
My dear Adar' ne responded
You were never more welcome than
at this momentF'
CHAPTER NJ
Tot me present Mr.. Barry, Mrs
Tyrreil. said tho invalid. .Mr. Barry
thinks he knows relative OF dead
friend of ours. waa Just telling
him that you were the one person
who could give him tho information
he desires
This has been a most fortunate
meeting II you cnn spare me n few
minutes. Mrs. Tyrrell." smiled Barry.
''for must catch the mex, train hack
to New York.
II was about 20 suggest that I
give you a lit IN my carr she
bcamed upon him. we mus, not
tire my dear old friend here and I
confess that my curiosity has been
aroused, Goodbye. Mr.. scully."
Barry escorted the lady 10 her run.
about.
Who was this old friend OF mine
whose relative you know asked
Mrs. Tyrrell.
II believe when you knew her first
that her name was Irene Enrrows.
aftcrward Mrs Matt venner.~ Barry
replied steadily.
All tho color vanished from hin
companions facc and the little car
swervcd a. she Erippcd tho wheel.
Irene she gasped "oh. don't
remind me Of herl DO you know tho
whole wretehed story. Mr.. BarryT'
"Ail except the details Of your
friendship with her and what you
may know OF her family"
When she was II and a year
older brought her homo here TO
give her real good time. and she
met Matt. I'm not going TO say any.
thing about him Tor he's gone. too.
but the whole thing turned out to
he Il mistake In n month they were
married and two years later his
father took on that miserable sneak
Of a clerk. aud OF course HIS wife
came 20 Cleveland. too"
Her lips frightened.
'Airs. Griswold. sou mcan7 The
ono who rnn away with Matt Ven.
ner7" Barry asked.
Yea. She was fascinating. IN say
that FOR her, even tho I never liked
her.
"curiousiy enough. Irene did. and
that makes what happened all the
worse. She was brilliant aud differ.
ent. somehow. and. beside her, poor
delicate little frena was like dull.
gray moth 10 most people"