The Washington times., 1930-09-11
CHAPTER "a

noise, Whatever ~ Wdo uOWAF
stairs, had stopped.
She sighed with relief, and
closed and bolted the door
again. Just as she was closing
the door Cathie heard the
Westminster chimes on the sec
ond floor, striking two. 1t
made her think Of the nursery
rhyme about the grandfather
clock that never ran any more,
after the old man died. j.
But Mr.. FarnSworth'S clock
was running right along. /.
Marguerite sat back on her
heels, shook the dangling red
hair out Of her eyes. ''I can't
40 It," she said hopelessly.
I'm just making it worse.
You'll have to take 1t off.
-. give it to me 49,. the
nightgown too lift up your
arms I'll slip it off :. :.
here!" She flung a red woolen
robe about Cathie's shoulders.
and began pulling open bureau
drawers, searching frantically
for something. Therel She
had it. A white crepe night
gown, heavily trimmed with
real Valenciennes lace. =.
Put that on. It's handsome
enough. Nobody would ever
know' but what it was your
own"
"It smells Of perfume"
Cathie objected weakly. THAT
perfume I don't like"
Household AStir
For a minute Cathie thought
that Marguerite was going to
slap her. Then she dropped
her hand, and said gently,
Don't! Oh, don't bring up
things like that, at a time like
this when when :"
Noise downstairs. The whole
house was awake now. Chinese
voices calling to each other
Shrilly. Pattering feet.
Comet" Marguerite COM
manded.
She began pushing Cathie
toward the J.. door. Where's
your other slipper9"
Cathie looked down. Saw
for the first time that one foot
was bare. One turquoise Slip
per was gone.
"Oh, my God. No, don't
wait. Come. never mind the
slipper!"
They heard running up the
uncarpeted stairs. A slim
young Chinaman, his face i'm
passive, said, "Cheong said tell
you we find boss. Telephone
morgue wagon. Too late for
doctor now, he say"
Cathie FaintS
Cathie opened her mouth to
speak, but no words came.
She found herself sinking, sink
Once she thought she heard
some one say, shes tainted"
but she didn't know whether
they were talking about her or
somebody else. She was sink
ing into blackness, into obliv-
ion, where words could not
come.
Marguerite's knees gave un-
der her She said, Now Tn
going to faint too and
her clothes still on the floor
The young Chinese boy. had
caught Catherine as she
crumpled and would have fall
en-. He stood, tottering against
Cathie's dead weight, staring at
the larger woman, uncertain
Of just what to do.
Marguerite closed her eyes.
When she opened them again
the old Chinaman, Cheong, was
there. Without a word he took
Cathie from the boy, hoisted
her In his arms and carried her
to her room. Marguerite
watched for a moment. Then
slipped back into her room and
hid the blood-Stained garments
deep in the bottom Of an old
trunk. Locked it, pocketed the
key.
Cheong, on the stairs, called
her. Stay with your mis-
treSS," he said. Remember,
only fools talk"
Hold your own tongue!"
she snapped back.
Chester Arrives
She saw him smiling slight
ly, as he waddled on down
stairs, q grossly fat Chinaman,
in a black silk coat.
That smile had q strange ef-
feet on Marguerite. Tt sick
ened her. Several moments
passed before she could pull
herself together enough to go
to Catherine. She said in a
wheedling voice, Mrs. Farms
worth, darling, you won't be
keeping all the servants now,
will you? They'll leave
now-the ChineSe-now that
the old one is dead? Cheong
will go away, won't hep"
"I don't know" Cathie said,
duly.
They sat in silence, Cathie
huddled under the satin quilt,
her teeth chattering, her whole
body shaking uncontrollably,
the maid watching her, stu
pidity and cunning and de-
spair written on her pallid,
haggad face.
Downstairs dnnrs were hang.