New Britain herald., 1929-07-11
CHAPTER XNNIII


 At o'clock on their wedding day, John Curtis Morgan telephoned his wife and law partner that important business connected with the Black hull case would keep him away fror.l the office until perhaps the middla of the afternoon
 I'm awfully sorry Nan dear" he apologized. If you hadn't in- sisted on my - l mean our talking this case, we should have been 1 lunching sumptuously on the diner this very minute. |. Oh, hes in l jail, of course. Preliminary hear ing tomorrow. There's no question 1 but that he will be remanded to jail without bail to await the ac ton of the grand jury. and no douht at all. I'm afraid, that the grand jury will indict him on charge of first degree murder. We've got a sticker in this case, honey. Bet ter get out your woman's intuition and polish it Up. We'll need it.
 Its already working - John" Nan answered shakily. With ali her heart she longed to make it John dear" but she could not trust | her voice. Later. when the time and place were proptious blush ran over her body. She was glad that he could not see.
 By the way. Nan" his deep voice went on, now with note Of | embarrassment in it, you'll call up the house. won't you, and tell E,stelle or Mrs. O'Brien that well be home this evening. Dinner, too. if Mrs. O'Brien can manage some thing a bit extra for us. We've got to celebrate somehow, or l doubt if the wedding will be legal'
 Very slowly. Nan hung up the ra- ceiver, her heart pounding. "Wel be home this evening"" Home. Why, it was her home now. Her home, with Iris Morgans ghost haunting every corner of it. She took off the receiver again. gave the number of the house that was now her home and for which she had been Tong distance house. keeper" ever since Iris Morgan had deserted her husband and child nine months and one week ago.
 Estelle the maid who was now almost fanatically devoted to Nan, answered the phone. The brid" gave her message crisply cutting short the amazed exclamations Of the maid.
 "I.isten, Miss Carrol-eXcuse me, mean Mrs Morgan" Estella begged earnestly. as Nan was about to hang up. ''I forgot to ask you when you was here Monday, but you want that picture taken down over the fireplace, don't you?"
 Mans heart almost stopped beat ing. AS clearly as if it had sudden ly been hung on the wall before her, Nan saw the portrait of beautiful, insolent Iris Morgan-every detail of the exquisite profile, the limpid blue green eye, it's strange color all most perfectly matched in the tur- quoise velvet of the evening gown which Haunted the perfcctons Of Iris tall, slender body, posed like a queens in a throne chair.
 "Yes. take it down, Estelle," she
 That's what I thought" Estelle agreed, pateutly relieved. The mister won't want 10 be reminded of her every time he comes into the drawing room"
 s Nan cut her short, giving rapid instructions as to the dinner menu and was again about to hang up the receiver when the maid eagerly thrust in another question:
 Are you and the mister going to sleep in the double guest room to- night, Miss-1 mean. Mrs. Morgan? Of course the decorators ain't had chance to do it over yet, and Mr. Morgan's things are still in the little guest room"
 Leave them there,-' Nan orIercd curtly, her face flaming. "I'll soc about everything when I-we-gct home. III have the express com pany get my trunk and take it out to the house this afternoon
 She felt no need of lunch, knew that she could not force herself 10 swallow a bite. Before settling down to the task of transcribing her shorthand notes Of David Black hull's story she leaned back in her swivel chair and let her eyes take in the office which her husband and law partner had furnished for her as one of his wedding gifts.
 The furniture was beautiful practical but Unmistakahly fcmi- nine. A graceful desk of softly cleaning walnut slightly smaller than would nave been appropriate for a man. Beside it and match. ing in wood and workmanship. small typewrite' table. with her own beloved machine ready for heT