Evening star., 1928-05-25

| An express van called, ana the Pal-
mer closed car was waiting. The girl
made her good-bys and was whirlcd
away from Mrs Rogers boarding house
forever.
Once alone in the car she found
herself beSet with vague m!S9ivingS,
She went hurrieoly into the great hall
of the Castle. and, after a quick qGeS-
tion to Peacock. uncercmoniouSly en-
| tered the morning room.
Dan and his mother were there; the
man jumped TO hiS< feet with an eX-
clamation of relief rs she came in.
II was afraid you'd forgotten that
so trainl" he said.
"In run up and change" Patricia
smiled MY bag is packed. Did you
have Peacock put it in the car?"
And they're to give us something
to eat before we go" he said, with an
affirmative nod; Beatrice going?"
No" replied the mother. shes
| having lunch with the Ingersoll girls
| They're going TO play cards. I'm Just
| as well pleased, with all this storm
coming up And shes going to be
| at MIR. Eyre's house for dinner"
"Mr Hutchinson is to be at Mr..
| Eyre's," Patricia said seriously, And
the three looked gravely at one an
other
Il guess that's an engagement. all
| right" Dan SAID presently, with great
| sigh.
| Patricia hesitated no longer Mrs
Palmer--Dan." she said in distress.
she can't marry him, He is-he is
married already!'
Mother and son stared at her in
stnpefaction. Patricia saw the dark
blood rush to Dams face For a mo-
ment there was no sound in the room
( iNy1f iAa r1a 10 nf he irp
the man standing by the mantel laid
his arm across it and dropped his face
on his arm.
so that's it, he said bitterly
You're his wife!"
"I?" she repeated in sharp surprise.
mo. it's Helena. It's hiS-the woman
We thought was his sister!"
Again Dan stared at her blanSly.
but the mothers voice broke the
silence.
This will kill Pansy. Dan" she said.
her lips trembling And suddenly
firing. she added: What kind of man
is he. anyway. to hurt little girl that
way? What right has he---
He may have told her" Patricia
suggested.
But Dan shook his head. Shed
drop him like hot brick!" he asserted.
And with a darkening scowl he went
on: Well. this ends it. She mustn't
see him again"
lie had gone to seat himself on the
arm of his mothers chair, and mad
his arm about her shoulder; she was
trembling and pale.
I'm have to get hold of her. that's
the first thing" he decided, glancing
at his watch. when Patricia had hur-
riedly repeated her whole talk with
Helena. We'll have to cut the house
party, I'm afraid"
Call my cousin, Harry Eyre,
Patricia directed. ''and explain that
YOU are taking Beatrice with you to
go get her at the Ingersolls, and she
won't see Sidney tonight"
Dan had reached for the telephone
while she spoke. A moment later he
put it down, and fear as well as be-
wilderment was in all their faces now.
One of the Eyre servants had answered
it with the information that Marse
Harry and Miss Emily had left yester-
day TO spend New Year day with his
sister in Denver.
Then she'll be back here, Danny.
She doesn't know It'll" said Beatrice's
mother agitatedly.
Beatrice's Message.
II don't understand thisl he said,
turning to Patricia. Before she could
speak, Peacock came in with a mes
sage
Miss Beatrice had telephoned from
Mrs Ingersolls', Mrs. Palmer, to say
that after Mr.. EyreS dinner she was
going home with Miss Cheney and
would telephone in the morning. Miss
Beatrice had been playing bridge and
was in too much of hurry TO have
her mother called to the telephone.
There was the silence of utter con-
sternation in the room when the man
was gone again. Then Mrs. Palmer
began TO cry. Dan and Patricia, both
on their feet. spoke together:
There's something up. They're
awav together!"
His sister leaves at 2. Perhaps
they're going with her. Patricia added
as rapid aftertnought
"She wouldn't do that, Danny,
Pansy isn't like that" faltered his
mother, catching at his sleeve. "You
go now to the Ingersolis', Dan. Bring
her home. Tell her mammals Ill: It's
truel"
"Yes. get her" Patricia added de-
cidedly. The thing is TO get her here
ard tell her The whole story Don't
frighten her, Dan. and don't anger her.
Just bring her home" |
With one quick nod he was gone
They could hear the deep drumming
OF his engine a moment later. Then
there was only waiting.
Mrs. Palmer's luncheon tray came IN,