Evening star., 1935-11-06
INSTALLMENT XIV.


M Scoop in front of the LIE
vl Masters House. ~ .,o+
4 This is matter that
must be handled in private. Mr:
O'Reilly." She put shaking haflo
on mis- arm. You wait at the notei'
and when it's all over I'll send Tor
YOU. 1 promise one thing. Sugar
will be out of that dirty old jail IN
few minutes.
"The mystery deepens. But I'll try
tn keep from dying with curiosity.
IF you've ever prayed in your life"
the old maid looked into his face be-
seechingly, go down to that hotei
and get down on your knees and ask
Cod to help me- This will be the
hardest task 1 have ever performed.
Il will" Scoop promised solemnly
All the way back to the hotel ne
nraved reverently He hadn't prayed
50 sincerely since he was a little boy
He dropped on his knees by his peo
and buried his face in his hands.
Iinev let Mother Friddle into the
reception hall and went in search OF
her mistress. But she came bacK
with the message that Mrs. LIE Mas
ters was not in.
Mother settled herself into a cnair
and spread her skirts.
Tell her I will wait all day and
all night-until next year, II neces-
sarv. l won't leave this house until
she has seen me-"
lane Lee was furious. But she was
afraid the old maid meant what sne
said. So she sent Liney back 10 teil
her to come to her room.
The sullen blond was propped up
on numberless pillows, resplendenI III
lemon-colored negligee. But she was
not her usual pale self. Two SpoIs
of color burned in her hollow cheeks'
She motioned Miss Friddle to chair
with a nod. The old lady sat down
and clinched her hands in her lap.
say what you have to say, MISS
Friddle," Jane Lee began lmpatlently
.and get it over with. But 1t won
do Won any good. l believe sugar
took that money. She must be pun
ished for it. At least she knows Where
her boy friend Johnny is and she
won't tell.
Mothers face was the color OF chalk.
For several seconds she measured Jane
Lee with studied deliberation and the
blond souirmed uncomfortably. Finally
mother shook her head sadly.
Jane Lee lie Masters" she SAID
SLOWLY. Il wouldn't be in your place
right this minute for all the money
In the world. And when I tell you
what I came here to tell you, you are
going to wish you were dead
Something in the somber tones OF
The old maid sent a sudden fear 70
Jane Lees heart, but she laughed
nervously.
Let's not be dramatic now, Miss
Friddle. l know you are fond OF the
girl. But after all I have my inter-
ests to look after, too
Mother nodded pityingly.
You are going to hear me through.
And you are going to answer every
question 1 put to you. II you 90,
YOU may learn something that Will
be the greatest shock you have ever
had. I beg of you not to take me
lightly or you'll be sorry to the long
est day you live on this earth.
For a few seconds Jane Lee stared
back at Mother Friddle as though she
thought her mind might be rambling.
Then she settled back on the cush-
ions and nodded curtly.
IF YOU wish to ask me some ques-
tions. do so. If I think they are any
of your affair I'll answer. If not. you
must excuse me. I'm very tired and
upset"
Mother sat forward in her chair and
put her thin old hands on the arms
for support. She began with painful
klowness.
ON September 4, 1916. you were
married to Dale Peters, whom I had
taken in at the orphanage when he
was a baby"
"I-how did you know" All the
color left Jane Lees face. And
what has this to do with anything
that concerns me noW?"
"Evervthing.' Miss Friddle wet her
lips and went on. You eloped and
were married in Roanoke. Dale was
l8 and you were II. There was only
one person in the world you felt you
could trust with your story. Your
uncle Zeb You knew your father
would disinherit you and send you
away from his home forever If he
found out.
You went to your uncle Zeb and
he gave your husband a job in his
bank After that you saw Dale Sc
cretely whenever you got chance.
On June II, 1917. you gave birth
to a little daughter"
Jane Lee let out a cry and covered
her face with her hands
"Don't-please, don't tell me any
more How did you know"
Il know a great deal more than
that. And you must listen. 1t was
just a few weeks before the birth of
your child that your father and
mother learned your secret. 1t was
when you came back from visit to
Virginia Beach.
There was a dreadful scene when
your father found out you had mar
ried penniless orphan. And he sent
you out to his tobacco farm in the
hills under the guard of a practical
nurse by the name of Hazel Simms." :"
Il know, know" Jane Lee broke
in. You don't have to tell me about
it."