Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-08-29
Chapter XI
Uncertainties

/ uncertainties
Ten minutes later deferential tap
on Renshaw's door showed that jerks
/ had recalled himself to the high duties
Of his Office. He entered without wait
/ ing for a response, and, finding the
secretary in a big chair before the
unlit fire, set down the tray he car
ried and moved around the room for
d moment with Enthusiastically
noiseless activity. At the end Of the
brief interval a small table was at
the young mans elbow, and from the
decanter and slphon he had brought
jerks had poured a stiT and welcome
drink. He set this before the secre-
tary In silence, and, producing a box Of
cigars, maintained perfect pose of
respectful service till Renshaw had
selected one. jerks certainly knew
how to make a man comfortable. jerks
spoke:
"All right now, sirY His voice. as
always, was smoothly respectful.
"All right. thanks. Did Miss Camp
bell drink her sherryT'
"Yes. sir" jerks hesitated. Then,
Might l ask just how IL happened,
sirf" he mellowly inquired
Renshaw welcomed the question. He
desired the servants to know just how
1t had happened, If jerks intended to
discuss the matter below stairs.
Simplest thing In the world" be
said lightly Miss Campbell was
showing me through the house. When
we reached this hall, said something
about not having enough towels You
know. I've mentioned that to you, too.
She went into the closet to show me
where they were. / followed her
across the threshold, and the door sud-
denly slammed shut behind u.s."
jerks gazed at 4he floor.
"That was odd, sir, wasn't it?" he
asked gently.
Renshaw looked at him until the
buffers glance lifted from the floor to
his eyes.
1T was very odd" he then said,
holding the look. I'm fact, it was so
odd that it simply could not have hap
pened"
jerks seemed startled
~ don't quite fobow you, sir"
Il viii be clearer. What ! mean
is''-Renshaw spoke very slowly
that door did not shut by itself"
To this, at first, jerks made no re
ply. He seemed slightly disturbed and
| greatly puzzled
you mean, sir, that II didn't blow
snut2" he asked at last through the
mental mist that appeared to have set
tied over him.
"Of course It didn't blow shut. How
could II have blown shut2 There was
no draft What / mean is that some
one. or something. Intentionally shut It."
jerks now looked frankly incred-
ulous; but his reply, as always was
deferental:
THAT could hardly be, sir could TT
Why would anyone shut II? Who
would want TOT And even II anyone
wanted TO. how could 1t be done with
out you seeing. STRIP
That's what I'd like to know N.Y.
self" Renshaw spoke YEARLY. The
after strain of the episode was telling
on him. jerks nodded and took up
the tray.
1T vas a regrettable incident, sir"
he said quietly but firmly, "due to the
unfortunate condition of the knob l
have given orders to have the knob
repaired In the morning"
Renshaw did not answer. Every
word jerks had uttered had convinced
him that the butler knew all about
that door; but he was also aware that
jerks did not Intend to share his
knowledge. The solution that suggest
ed itself seemed preposterous His
. brief sense Of well-being departed IN.
der the mental Jolt of the conversation.
Tawno Ker was taking a lot out Of
him. He wondered what comments
jerks would make on other recent cpl
sodes that had occurred Probably
they. too. were 'regrettable Incidents"
jerks oozed from the room. carry
Ing his tray.
Renshaw's thoughts swung back 10
Verify. How pucky the girl had been.
She would actually have suiiiocated
rather than take what she considered
more than her share" of the diminish
ing air supplyi
re wondered how much longer she
could have held her setf-coTtroA and
what wUald have happened II jerks
had not heard HIN for, sag. another
hour That was not a rejection his
mind cured to owen upon. lie switched
from Il 70 the memory o. the buffers
genuine cccsternaion when he dis
covered that Miss Campbell. as vel
as Renshaw. had been a prisoner. Her
discomfort her possible danger. had
affected him. Renshaw was glad Of
that
CTo BE coNTINUEDl