Evening star., 1927-10-24
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Vanished.

i too. rose There was wearied
droop to his shoulders that was
more than physical weakness and
when he spoke his voice was dull and
lifeless.
'.Very well. You give me no alter
native. Miss Dane. | see that 1t
would be useless to prolong this inter
view and l am keeping you from your
rest"
He moved TO the wall and Janet
watched him in silence till he had
turned.
You really propose to keep me a
prisoner here in the heart OF the city
with my friends all about me and my
father coming tomorrow? She could
have bitten her tongue out for utter
inc that final phrase. hut Marriott APP
peared not tn have heard.
Your maid Will come and show you
TO your apartments and everything
will i've done To make YOU comtortahle
bit | must ask YOU to remain there
unless YOU will give me your word of
honor not TO attempt to escape nor to
communicate with any one by any
possible means. If you will give me
that word YOU may have the run of
the house. | shall he glad if YOU will
do me the honor of dining with me
each evening but. OF course, YOU Will
bt. served in YOUR private sitting-r room
if YOU choose"
Janet thought rapidly. If she were
shut up in some remote suite she
would know nothing of what went on
in the house and have no means OF
telling when any news might reach
him. II her father had vanished on
the morrow he would leave no stone
unturned to find her when once he
learned the particulars of what had
happened to her and until he came,
here was possibility of helping INN
and his cause.
Il think | should be rather lonely
all by myself" She smiled family
at would be rather good fun to dine
with YOU, Mr.. Marriott, and | will give
you my word not to attempt to escape
nor to communicate with any one"
Thank YOU" He bowed formally.
"You will find some interesting books
in the library and there is piano and
a pipe organ if you play. Please let
me know if there is anything l can
do TO add to your comfort"
You mentioned. my maid" Janet
remarked with delicate irony. DO
you mean my faithful Letty?'
mo. l doubt whether YOU will see
her again. Lucy" he added to the
rosy-cheeked young English girl who
had appeared in the doorway. this is
your new mistress, Miss Dane. Please
see that she has everything she re-
QuireS."
He stepped aside from the door with
another bow. but Janet approached
him and held out her hand.
Good night. Mr.. Marriott, and thank
you for your charming hospitality"
The irony was good-natured now
and he smiled as he took her hand.
Good night. Miss Dane"
Janet followed the little maid up
broad staircase and into a suite of
rooms furnished comfortably. but in
somewhat austere simplicity. 1t was
evidently a mans establishment, but
only a woman of rare taste and refine
ment could have chosen the exquisite
toilet articles and garments which
Lucy proceeded to lay out and Janet
wondered whom it might have been.
Surely not Lucy. nor the old woman
who had come to her that night, Mrs.
kerr's words, when old Mr.. Protheroe
had asked how many there were be-
sides Marriott returned to the girls
mind: It's certain that kingsmere
is among them and of course that in
trepid wife of his" Had it been the
intrepid wife who selected these
dainty appointments? Janet felt that
this enforced stay in the camp of the
enemy would not be without interest,
II only she did not long so for daddy.
Lucy was disposed to be friendly in
an abashed, shy fashion and Janet ac-
cepted her ninistratiOns. but watched
narrowly as the girl hung up her
attire and the moment she left the
room. sprang out of bed and bolted
the door on the inside. Her precious
packet of papers she had hidden in
the lining of her new gray cape. but
she removed them. shrewdly suspect
ing that her clothing would be
searched at the first opportunity.
Now she looked about for a fresh
place of concealment. but none pre-
scented itself until the curtains at the
window lifted with a sudden. fragrant
breeze laden with geranium. The
window boxes were filled with the
growing plants in bloom. and with a
shoehorn Janet dug industriously in
one of them and then. Wrapping the
pocket in the lining from her new
hat. she buried it carefully.
Her watch was in her handbag and
she placed it in plain view on the
dresser after winding and setting 1T in
accordance with the tall clock in the
corner and then went back to bed
once more. but not to sleep.
The previous night of terror on
board the yacht was forgotten and
for long time she lay planning her
campaign. She would keep her word,
of course, that went without saying,
and she had taken the right note with
Philip Marriott: absolute reliance on
his protection, half mischievous,
half malicious. teasing attitude and
perfect assurance that her father or
his friends would appear miraculously
and take her away
How glad she was that Nat had not
killed him. One shadow that had
hung over her for the past week was
lifted and until now she did not know
how deeply it had rested upon her.
She could never forgive him, of course.
for so deceitfully raising her hopes
that she was coming to meet her father
but 1t was comfort to know that he
would land tomorrow. even if she
could not see him. What had Mr..
Marriott meant when he said that if he
knew where her father was he would
declare truce and take her to him?
lie had known when he sent the old
woman to her with the story of her
fathers return that day
The thought puzzled her until she
1ell asleep, but in the morning il had
passed completely from her mind in
the novelty of her new surroundings
Her suspicious as to the probable
search Of her clothing proved to have
been we'll founded, for when she re.
turned to the dressing room after her
path she found that everything except
her watch and handbag had been re.
moved and an array of day frocks
end dinner gowns substituted, all of
delicate coloring and a studied sim
plicity that only the most expert OF
modlstes could produce. and here
again she saw the hand Of the woman
VINO had chosen the toilet accessories
for her. and her curiosity grew.
As on the night before. Lucy at.
tended her, but she was just finishinp
do x.t.. L....:. i E..4 l..