Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-05-16

ubLeQ, u Seemed 10 tlLL Nun anu pear
him on It to another world. a world
Of love and passion and beauty. The
girl was slnging-and the girls sing
ing was unlike any he had heard be-
fore. What she vas singing was q
Russian foIksong. whose accompani-
ment was Ike swiftly flowing water.
When she had finished. David Camp
bell was asleep: but the plaintive Voice
Of Mrs. Pardee broke the momentary
Stiffness:
Il do wish Verify that you'd learn
some cheerful songs such as other
girls sing gay snd bright you know
from the musical comedies there must
be cheerful music In the world though
We never hear any"
Renshaw rose abruptly and went to
the piano.
THANK you very much" he said
"And- goodnight"
For an instant her deep eyes met
his. their expression as remote as his
own.
Goodnight, Mr. Renshaw," she said
casually.
Renshaw crossed back TO the little
old lady by the FIRE.
I'm slipping of 10 my room" he
explained. IF Mr. Campbell should
want me"
"He won't he'll sleep TIL ten and
then James will come In and take him
10 bed how he can sleep so much AT
his age don't know I myself don't
average five hours night last night
I lay awake from twelve to five that's
how happened to hear those servants
come in"
In some way Renshaw stemmed the
verbal tide and made his escape As
he approached the door Of his room. It
opened and two persons came out
jerks and woman The woman was
immaculate In a white gown. white
cap, and white apron. hut she was
not the trim housemaid of ones
dreams. She was past middle age and
inclined to stoutness. and the express
sion Of her plain face was rather dour
'This is Annie sir. the chamber
maid We've been airing your room
and putting in fresh linen"
jerks spoke SO quickly that Rem
shaw. who In his abstraction would
have passed the pair almost without
noticing them, looked at them with
closer attention. II then occurred to
him that the enterprise Of changing
the linen in his room hardly called for
the efforts OF tgo servants, hut he did
not dwell ~ the thought Also, Annie
was contributing her modest share to
the verbal report.
You will always find extra towels
on the shelf Of this closet, sir" she
said primly. 81 leave the extra sup
ply for the floor there, because there's
no place in the bathroom but the one
rack"
"And-and excuse me, sir, but
/ there's another thing"
jerks was speaking again, and
Annie with fitting humility In the
presence Of her superior, moved
little to one side
"Mlght | speak frankly, sir?" jerks
was almost humble
"Of course" Renshaw waited with
his detached air The man wet his
/ lips
''There's-there's some queer things
! going on in the old house. sir n you
hear odd noises during the night. it's
hest to pay no attention to them"
Renshaw frowned odd noises2@ he
repeated "What kind OF noisesY
That's all can say. sir And I'm
exceeding my duty, sir. in saying that
much. But us well meant"
Renshaw nodded his hali-formed In
terest relaxing under a memory Of
certain sentences in his interview with
/ Campbell 70 which he had attached
no great Importance at the time.
"All right, jerks. Thank you. he
said, and passed on. As he closed his
door lie glanced back. Both jerks
and Annie were standing where he had
left them, staring after him. Caught
In the act, they started down the cor
riGor and parted at its end, Jerks de-
Scendng the staircase. the woman dis.
appearing around distant corner.
The flutter OF her skirt as She went
stirred Renshaw's memory. Surely
twice before today he had seen the
final whlsk Of that skirt
He entered his room. still slightly
frownlng Everything was in order.
II was an reassurlngly natural and
yet-what the deuce was there about
jerks manner that got on ones lmag-
nation and made one exaggerate the
Importance % the simplest triaes7
He uudreSSed slowly. bur Instead Of
going 10 bed he slipped on his dressing
gown and. after turning of the lights
sat down in the chair before the FIRE.
4 There, claspIng his hands behind his
head he leaned back and grimaced at
himself, The simple truth was that
! he did not quite dare 10 go to bed
/ Under the surface atmosphere Of com
fort and normaHty that lay over the
house, something had been injected,
something intangible. or course his
imagination was playing trie with
him Al the back Of his head as the
thought Of mystery at which both
/ Stanley and Campbell had hlntad snd