Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-08-08
THE BLUE CIRCLE

| might have been. He was almost
tempted to speak to Morris about the
Thing and about the blue circle-aI-
most, but not quite He had not failed
/ to take in the full significance Of the
! physicians words during luncheon.
Campbell needed, above everything
else, perfect peace and quiet. To
/ suggest that, after all, this admirably
run establishment did not offer these
| things would seriously upset the
| physicians serene frame OF mind
even If be accepted the statements at
their face value, which probably he
would not do.
The two men chatted OF the patient
and Of the reports in the morning
newspapers, and parted In fifteen min
/ utes, Morris to make an afternoon
round Of his other patients, and Rem
shaw to mount to his room. He had
some vague notion OF asking jerks
TO escort him through the house. He
would most awfully Ike to know the
entire plan. AS he reached the upper
| hall, he met Verify at the head OF
the staircase. Her presence there
surprised him. The inmates Of the
| left wing generally used a side stair
way that led to the rear OF the main
hall. Probably Miss Campbell had
been on housewifely tour of inspec-
ton. She was evidently about to de-
scend; but she stopped now, facing
him, as II she had something to say.
We have been so confused since
you came, Mr.. Renshaw," she began.
that / haven't had a chance to ask
you II yon are comfortable in your
room. I hope you are"
Standing on the step below her, he
was on line with her eyes. He had
never before faced her so directly. or
looked SO steadily into those brown
depths The experience gave him an
odd sensation-as If he were a diver
going down, down In some clear. bot
tom!ess sea. Under the influence of
this emotion, he consciously
stammered his reply: "Why, yes,
thanks; I'm all right"
She moved as If to pass him. He
| did not want her either to move or to
pass. He wanted to keep her there.
He had conviction that now, fer the
first time, he was meeting and talk
Ing to the normal Verify Campbell
Last night she had been human
enough, but panic-s stricken. Today
she was simple, natural, and. IL not
friendly, at least cordial. She looked
] a q oh
nitely accepted him as a member OF
the household Under the urge of his
wish to proong the gracious moment
he caught at the trailing end Of his
half-formed resolution.
Il was thinking OF asking jerks TO
show me over the house" he went on,
almost diffidentIy. Perhaps you win
do 1t, If you have time"
She looked surprised, then seemed
to understand.
cor course I win, If you Ike she
told him. "But"-she hesitated-
there's no need OF It. II you are
thinking OF Madame Hvoeslefs af-
fairs. Now that all her papers are In
a safe place"
Can we assume that her enemies
know they are in safe place? Aren't
you taking II for granted that thew
know It because we know It? And
II they don't yet know it, won't they
still be prowling aroundf'
He was leaning his elbow on the
upper rail OF the staircase, speaking
with lightness that did not go with
his words. and looking at her with the
suggestion OF smile in his eyes. She
appeared rather taken aback.
why, l suppose so" she slowly
conceded. "All we had taken in was
the relief OF knowing that now they
can prowl around If they like. with.
out doing any harm"
Have they been prowllng?"
His eyes, with their half-smiIe. were
still on hers
'Leoni thinks so-Madame Hvoes-
LEI. ! mean. she corrected herself
"She thinks she has seen figures Iurk-
ing in the grounds. But | fancy she
imagined them She is very nervous
and high-strung and she has had
some horrible experiences on the 9th
er side"
You yourself have never seen OF
heard anything7"
She shook her head.
(TO BIZ CoNTINUEp)