The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-13
VIII you Lydia? I do love you.

VIII you Lydia? do love you. .
Mia"
Dundee was silent for a minute
after he had finished reading the
strange note and had returned it
to the envelope, along with the will.
At last he broke in on the desolatc
sobbing Of Nitas maid:
Lydia, how old was your mis-
tress?"
You won't put it in the papers,
viii you?" Lydia pleaded. "She
she was-33. But not a soul knew
it except me"
And will you tell me how old
the royal blue velvet dress is?" he
continued. ALSO, how long since
girls dressed their hair in French
roll?"
The dress is twelve or thirteen
years DID, Lydia said, her voice dull
now with grief. Il know, because
used to do dressmaking during the
war And it was during the war that
that girls wore their hair that way
1 did mine in a Psyche knot, but
the French roll was more stylish"
Did your mistress ever tell you
about the one time she wore the
dress?"
Lydia shook her head. mo. She
wouldn't talk about it-just said I'd
know sometime why she kept it e.
Royal blue velvet, it is, the skirt
halfway to the ankles, and sleeves
with long pointed ends, lined with
gold tafeta, and finished off with
gold taSsels. It's in a dress bag,
hanging in her closet"
DO You thing it was her wedding
dress, Lydia?" Dundee suggested,
the idea suddenly flashing into his
mind
Il don't know I didn't ask her
that Lydia denied duly. Can
take it with me-and the switches
she had made out Of her curls?"
n
TILL have to get authority to re-
Il move anything from the house,
Lydia" Dundee told her. But
am sure you'll be permitted to fol-
low Mrs. Selim's instructions.
So, you're going to accept the Miles
offer Of Job as nUrse?"
yes, I'd rather work. Mr.. and
Mrs. Miles always have been special
~ nice TO me, and II could love
their children. They're not-afraid
o. me"
Perhaps you're wise" Dundee
agreed. BY the way, Lydia, did
Mrs. Selim have q pistol in her pos
session at any time during the last
week?'
The maid shook her head. mot
that 1 seen. And If she'd got one be-
cause she was afraid, she'd a-kept
it handy and Id a-been bound to
sec it."
Convinced of her sincerity, he
was about to let her go to pack her
bag when another belated question
occurred to him Lydia, will you
tell me what engagements Mrs. Sc
lin had this last week?"
The woman scowled, fanatically
Jealous, Dundee guessed, of her mis-
tress' reputation, but at last she
answered defiantly: Let me see.
p. Mr.. Sprague had Sunday din
ner here. and spent the afternoon,
but Sunday night it was young Mr..
Ralph Hammond. He come when
ever she'd let him.
"NfOi1da1. ,,iCIot9 nh VOC 7 She
had dinner at the Country Club
With the Mileses and the brakes
and the Dunlaps. Mr.. Miles brought
her home. because Mr.. Sprague
wasn't invited.
Tuesday night-let me think!
Yes. that's the night Judge
Marshall was here. Nita had sent
for him to talk about finishing up
the attic"
So that was the business en-
gagement" which Judge Marshall
had hummed and hawed over, Dun
dee reflected triumphantly.
and Wednesday night" Lydia
was continuing, "she was at din
ner party at the Dunlaps.'"
Did Mr.. Peter Dunlap ever call
on Mrs. alone?"
"Him?" Lydia was curiously re-
sentful. "He wasn't ever here. Nita
said to me she wished Mr.. Peter
liked her as we'll as Mis- Lois did
Thursday night?"
"Mr. Ralph Hammond took her
somewhere to dinner. to some other
town. I think. but I wasn't awake
when they got home. Nita never
would let me set up for her-said
I needed my rest. So always went
to bed early"
And yesterday ridAy?" Dun
dee demanded tensely. For Friday
she had been driven to making her
last will and testament.
She was home all day, but about
half-past four Mr.. Drake came"
Lydia said slowly, as if she, too,
we're wondering. "She was awfullv
restless, couldn't set still or eat.
ought to have suspicioned some