The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-02-14

d
Never mind" Judith told her.
"I'll be through in a few minutes
and then I'll stop for it. Thank you,
Harriet"
Yes, ma'am."
There were several reasons why
Judith Knight did not wish to ap-
pear concerned over news that a
letter had arrived for her. There
fore she was particularly casual, lin
gered for several minutes to COM
plete the marketing list and then
left the kitchen.
She went directly to the living
room. On the reading table IN a
colorful Italian basket lay several
letters.
Judith searched through them.
Mrs. Arthur Knight, Arthur
Knight, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur
Knight Ga wedding announcement,
Miss Antoinette Knight, MIR. A. S.
Knight-and that was all!
Judith fingered the pile through
again hastily. There was no letter
in the basket addressed to her.
She stepped away from the table,
glanced under it on the floor. Har-
riet must have dropped the letter.
But there was nothing on the
floor.
Some newspapers and larger en-
velopeS lay beside the basket. Jul
dith turned these through hastily.
She searched the basket again.
Then she went into the hall,
opened the door and looked in the
mailboX.
She rang bell and the maid ap-
peared.
Harriet, did you say there was a
letter for me? I don't find it,"
Harriet bobbed her head aff1rma-
lively.
Eyes, ma'am. There was letter.
A gray envelope and your name in
big, plain writing. put it here
with the rest"
Now it was the maid who picked
up the collection of letters and
went through them.
well, but 1 know 1t was here,
maaml Where's it gone to?"
You're sure you saw the letter."
Emphatically Harriet answered,
Eyes, ma'am! And I know I put it
right here with the rest"
Two little burrows appeared on
Judith'S forehead. 1T certainly
does seem strange" she muir
INJURED.
Yes, ma'am. 1t certainly does"
Together they searched again.
This time, quite ridiculously, Jul
dith looked in drawers, picked up
BOOKS, shook out magazines. 1t was
all unavailing.
But I saw It'll" Harriet insisted
stubbornly. Honestly, Miss Knight,
had that letter right in my hand
and put it in this basket"
"All right, Harriet. I'll believe
you Perhaps the house is haunted
anyhow We have a local mystery
to solve. I suppose it will turn up
some time"
JUDITH was trying to conceal her
u agitation. She went up the stairs
to her own room and closed the
door. Then she sat down at her
writing desk and pulled out the
lower drawer. There was small
metal box there. She turned the
key and drew the lid back.
There lay a dozen pale gray en-
velopeS. All of them were Identical.
The letter on top bore, in large,
lowing inscription, Mrs. Arthur
Knight
Judith drew the pages from the
envelope. There were several close
written sheets. The date on the
drst page was March Is. That was
three weeks ago.
Slowly the girl re-read the mis-
Sive, folded it and replaced it back
in the box. She turned the lock and
put the box in its hiding place
again.
Then she sat. staring through the
window.
AT luncheon Judith appeared pre-
occupied. Tony and Arthur did
most of the talking. Tony through
out her fathers illness had GER
tainly changed in manner.
Whenever she was in the same
room with Knight-and she spent
much time with him-the girl was
tenderly attentive. Even her vo-
cabulary was new. Flip, slargy
phrases and sophisticated patter
we're gone.
The one mannerism which die
remain was Tony's habit of max
ing every one else turn their at
tention toward her. Now that she