Evening star., 1927-10-03
fcontinued from Yesterdays Star9

"Oh. no. please, | am used to doing
things for myself and l am sure /
shall find everything l need. Mrs.
Madison. l haven't thanked you yet
for all YOU have done for me. II
don't know what it would have been
like to have come home and found
father away, without YOU being here"
There. there. my dear The elder.
" woman patted her shoulder. Il
owe your father more than l can
ever repay, but it has been real JOY
90 me to welcome YOU
When she had gone Janet discarded
The garments which had seen such
trying wear, luxuriating in her marble
hath and ivory toilet articles, and ar
rayed herself in the simplest gown her
elaborate if limited wardrobe con.
tanned To her conventbred eyes they
seemed garish and even outre, but she
chided herself for ingratitude, and
then, too. this was America: il the
girls of her own country dressed III
this fashion. so must she.
A delicious luncheon was served in
the large, sunny morning room and,
true to her promise, Mrs. Madison did
not once refer to the ordeal through
which the girl had passed, but. when
later they strolled around the rose
garden with it's wilderness of softly
green bushes, heavy with bursting
buds. it was Janet herself who
broached the subject. The plan that
had occurred To her as they drove up
to the house had fully matured now
and she glanced down at her watch,
which she had clasped about her wrist
again before descending for lunch.
The elderly woman's eyes followed her
Glance and she eXcia imp0.
''Oh, how pretty! / didn't know the
sisters permitted even So useful an
ornament. A gift from your father,
] presumed"
Janet glanced at her, but her face
expressed only polite interest, and
she replied guardedly:
Yes, on his last visit. I was not to
wear it, OF course, until / left the con.
vent
What a pity it has stopped:' Mrs.
Madison observed. However. there
is an excellent matchmaker in the vii
lage."
The girl drew deep breath. Mrs.
Madison did not know! She was not,
then, fully in Daddy's confidence about
his own private affairs,
Mrs. Madison, You naturally want
20 know all that has happened since
] ran away from the convent and why
1 didn't come straight home when
the steamer docked. Id love to tell
you, but [ can't until Daddy returns"
But. dear child, YOU must trust me
as he does. as he would want yol to
do. There was hurt amazement in
her gentle tones and Janet went on
hurrfedly:
"Yeu don't understand and can't
explain. I'm awfuily sorry. and |
; hope you will try TO forgive me: yo,,
see ii doesn't concern me alone and I
couldn't speak of it to a soul except
some one who knew all about not only
Iladdys personal and business affairs.
nut those that he holds i'm trust for
others. The girl was distressed AT
the look on her kind friends face bnt
she realized now more than ever that
she must not involve her in the
mysteries of her adventure. She told
OF running away and that American
TOURISTS had helped her to reach Mar.
Seiile. adding: Il was quite all right
Oh the steamer, and met a friend OF
iather's as | told you. but when T
landed lit became necessary for me
to take hurried trip West. | am
sorry that daddy is not here not only
on my own account, but because of
some one else who needs his-his ad.
yice. and help Very badly, and he
o--~=NS @AsfNAs%~ stft4dl IL g
important to daddy himself,"
Ihen you must see Mr.. Burt with
out delay. Mrs. Madison turned
promptly toward the house You are
right, or course, not to tell me any.
thing OF private nature YOU NAV
have learned concerning your fathers
business associates, but Mr. Burt is a
sort Of combination manager and pri.
yate secretary and has enjoyed your
fathers absolute confidence in the
most intimate way for years. There
Is nothing you can tell him which
your father would not want him to
know, especially il it is. as you say.
matter that should be attended to
at once. Wait in the library here,
Janet, and will send for him to
come immediately.
They had reached the terrace and
she indicated glass door opening
upon 1t, then hurried away, and Janet
entered the dim, lofty room with its
walls lined with books and few
photographs scattered about. The girl