Evening star., 1931-12-13
First Publication of This Unusual
Tale of the Brother, Who Were Ri0aIs
and Woman Who WIore Her Wealth in
Precious Stones s-7r0ube Mas Utmost
Certain to FolIo7v--and 1t Did.

"All right Peter" said Katharine. IF you
want to open that heavy front door and break
the ice, as it were, come along There's not a
thing in the world to be afraid Of however.
You know I've slept in that house night after
night with the maids two floors above and
quite beyond the sound of my voice"
few minuUes later Peter turned the knob
of Katharine's door and by the illumination
from match, we stepped into the long, cold
hall musty smell smote our nostrils and as
I gazed into the black stretch beyond, and up
the walnut stairway, suddenly and fervently
wished we had gone to hotel Katharine was
fumbling for the electric light button in the
hall, however, and talking gayly to Peter. I
feared she would consider me cowardly should
now suggest a change.
A feeble light at last shining in one bulb Of
the chandelier we started up the steps, Peter
Elkins leading the procession. What room are
you going to sleep in, Katharine?" he inquired.
The one at the top of the steps, there, Peter,
and to the right" katharine replied. eye
gods! This house is cold" she added with a
Shiver mo one would know from this temper
ature that it was August. Here. Peter, let me
go in first. The light button is over there by
the bed"
l looked about the bed room as the light went
on and again an unconquerable desire to run
possessed me. 1t was the typical od-time New
York master bed room, square, high ceilinged,
and with long narrow windows bereft Of drap-
cries; at one side hideous marble fireplace, at
the other a four-post walnut bed. All the fur
niture was of heavy walnut Of impossible pat
tern with the exception of an exquisite and
most convenient dressing table, which I sur
missed had been demanded by Katharine's very
necessity. A lamp which consisted of bulb
under lady dolls pink taffeta skirt graced the
right chifferobe of the dressing table and when
Katharine turned on the light 1t cast cheerful
reflection about the big, cold room, and for an
instant made me feel a bit happier.
Everything all right?" asked Peter. Sure
you're not afraid?"
"Of course everythings all right" Katharine
returned with touch of asperity, and began 70
remove the counterpart from the bed. Peter,
will you snap off the hall light on your way
out? The front door locks as it closes"
DETER loitered in the doorway to the haI,
I and for second had a wild desire to fol-
low him from the house He must have sus-
pected the turmoil il my mind for he turned
and smiled at me. You perfectly safe here,
Mrs. Kelly. Well, guess I'll run along" His
eyes fingered longest on Katharine with that
same daring recklessness. Then he said hastily,
Good night. Pleasant dreams"
Great heavens!" I thought. Pleasant
dreams In this torpb?"
He ran down the steps and second later we
saw the hall light extinguished and heard the
front door pulled to with a nightly slam-a
slam that to me sounded like death knell. 1t
seemed to be this signal by which Katharine
and were cut off from the world and all that
was living and safe and happy.
I undressed and got into bed as hastily as
possible. Covers seemed to add an element of
safety. pulled them up to my chin and lay
watching Katharine disrobe. She had found
nightgowns and negliges for us both and now
resurrected a brush from the depths of a
drawer Seating herself before her dressing
table, she began leisurely to give her glossy hair
the prescribed number of strokes
What do you think of Peter Elkins?" she
suddenly inquired, and looked at her suspi-
ciously. The question and the tone in which
she asked If it were like those of young girl
who derives satisfaction from the mere mention
of some one she admires.
why he's all right" I replied hesftantly.
"Very good looking, even better looking than his
brother George and with an adventurous slant
to his nature"
HE is considered enormously attractive" :"
Katharine remarked reminiscently He distin-
guished himself in the war, and, poor boy, got
wounded in the right arm. George didn't even
go; had broken leg or something which pre-
vented it, AS result, Peer has been the fam
lily favorite ever since, the younger brother,
good looking and a war veteran"
silence followed, silence which, I could
have sworn was consumed, as far as Katharine
was concerned, with thoughts of the Elkins
men. Was it possible, asked myself, that
had been mistaken that while both of them
adored her, she preferred Peter? Or was 1t
George?
The room seemed to be getting colder and
began to wish that she would come to bed and
we could get settled for the night. katharine,
I said uneasly at last, "is the door into the
hall locked?"
"No, it isn't" Katharine replied, continuing
to brush, II haven't cleaned my teeth yet ard
the bath room is across the hall
"Oh, dear" exclaimed, must you clean your
teeth?"
We'll, well, well, was it a little coward?" she