Evening star., 1927-10-22
THE BLACK JOKER


agents Oh MIS- helA Anu IloSh0N "
down?
Covering in her chair. Janet held
her breath, praying that the intruder
would go away, but the knocking con-
tinued and realizing the futility of
putting off the evil moment, since
there was no means Of escape from
the little room, she took the revolver
from her belt and advanced to the
door.
"Who is it?" she asked in low.
tense tone.
"A message. miss" an aged. qua
vering feminine voice replied. please
open the door, miss, I've got to speak
to you.''
"You have made a mistake in the
room, perhaps" Janet suggested
evenly.
mo, haven't! If you'll just open
the door, miss, and talk to me! Maybe
you'll remember me, too, though l
doubt it; you was that young when
they sent you away! It's Letitia
Evans"
The name seemed to touch some
faint chord in Janet's memory, but it
was too vague to be grasped. She
away. Letitia Yes, there
please open the door. miss" the
old voice implored again. Il came all
alone, and live got to see you!
Please. Miss Janie!'
jamie! Only one of the servants of
long ago could know her by that
name! Still, it might be a trap!
Slipping the revolver back into her
belt, but with her hand upon it, Janet
opened the door.
A tall, STOPPING old woman stood
there in neat black, with an astonish.
ingly luxuriant mass of gray hair
drawn tightly back from her deeply
lined face. She held out trembling,
black-gloved hands.
"Oh, Miss jamie, don't you remem-
ber me, dear? 1 was the housemaid
at Daneholm for three years before
your dear mother died and they sent
you to foreign parts to school! l
didn't hardly expect you'd know me,
but there wasn't anybody else to
come"
Lefty, the housemaid! Janet re.
membered in flash that there had
been such person, but she could
call to mind no picture Of her. There
was something vaguely familiar about
the aged face, and she drew her In.
holm?" she asked gently. 'I recall
the name. but that is all. How did
you know I was here, and why have
you conner"
well, Miss JAMIE" the old woman
folded her hands in her lap, ''it's too
long story to tell now and little /
thought ever I'd lay eyes on you
again, but after you'd gone / opened
up shop with little money I'd put
by and your father helped me. When
l sold out and settled down I couldn't
stand being idle so got place as
housekeeper for very fine gentle
man, a Mr.. Wyckoff, and he turned
out to be friend Of your fathers,
SO I've seen him now and again
through the years. He told me about
going to see you at the convent and
what a fine big girl you was getting
to be-that's neither here nor there.
This afternoon your father turns up
unexpected :"
"Whatr' Janet exclaimed.
Eyes, miss, all the way from Eu-
rope. He-he seemed to be in trouble
and him and Mr.. Wyckoff talked
long while, and then man came to
see him who said he'd got his In.
structions by wireless and had trailed
tains down to fiat on Park avenue
He was waiting around to see would
you come out and you did, but by
the servants entrance, so he'd fol-
lowed you all over town in a taxicab
till you came here. Your father
banged the table at that and yelled,
Lefty and I walked right in, being
as was listening at the door any.
ways, and he says I must come right
down here and get you, that you'd
remember me and he'd trust nobody
else! He says he was in great trouble
and couldn't come himself but you'd
understand :"
Lefty paused out Of breath and
Janet cried:
"Oh, dol / do"
Turning to the wardrobe she seized
her hat and cape and, picking up her
gloves and bag, she fairly dragged the
old woman to the door and down the
stairs. She was going to daddy! At
last!
A limousine stood at the curb with
a chauffeur in smart livery holding
the door and Lefty said:
Back to Mr.. Wyckoff's, Henry, as
quick as you can. This is Mr.. Wyck.
offs own car, Miss jamie. You've
heard your father speak of him? But
you'd not recall, since it's five years
and more since you saw him, isn't
it?
The old woman chartered on gar.
rulously, but Janet paid little heed.
Her heart was beating so with joy
that 1t panied her and quick tears
sprang to her eyes. This unexpected
happiness after the long strain had
been almost too much to endure and
the moments Of their brief journey
Jagged as had none during her hours
Of greatest suspense.
At length they pulled up before a
stately, brownstone mansion of a past
era and Lefty opened the door herself
with her key.
Hes waiting in the library for
you, Miss JAMIE" She pushed the girl
gently before her down the richly ap-
pointed hall. "There, behind them
oak doorsr'
Janet needed no second bidding, but