Evening star., 1935-10-27
INSTALLMENT XIV.

Old fashioned ruff1ed curtains waved
at windows brilliantly lined with flow-
er boxes.
One end of the room was banked
with house plants against tall French
windows. The other was almost alto
gether taken up by an old fireplace,
handmade of rough hewn stone. The
furniture was all in what even he knew
was priceless antique. Early Amer
ican.
He took it in at glance when Miss
Friddle held out her hand.
sit down, young man." Mother
Friddle planted herself in her favorite
armchair. her knitting in her lap
Miss James announced you as Mr..
O'Reilly from New York. What are
you doing SO far from home?"
Scoop wriggled little uncomforta-
bly,. He was there to deceive the good
Miss Friddle. And there was some
thing about her that made him think
the job might be little difficult. The
long, large-featured face of the old
lady had kindness and grace in every
line. But by no means did she look
stupid
| Mr.. O'Reilly crossed his legs.
! I'm here on rather personal mis-
Sion," he began in crisp busineSSlike
tone. In the interest of some one
else"
Very good" Mother inclined her
head. You may speak freely. Does
it concern one of my boys or girls?"
Yes" Scoop sat back and prepared
to plunge. 1T does. One of whom
you are very fond. understand The
girl you had here for II years under
the name of Sugar Friddle"
The old lady's hands frightened on
the arms of her chair. Scoop watched
her closely.
Sugar." she asked slowly. What
about Sugar? Is-there something
wrong?"
mot a thing" Scoop assured her,
and she showed her relief. She
quite all right. But my Client a
wealthy woman whose name am not
at liberty to divulge at this moment, is
much interested in her
| NllC lluo IlCI Will MIS. LG
Masters little boy, and talked with
her. Miss Friddle seems like brilliant
girl, deserving of better home than
the one in which she is living as a
servant. It's quite possible. if we can
confirm what we have learned secretly
concerning her ancestry that some
thing might be done which would
mean real future for the young
lady"
1t was several seconds before the old
lady spoke. Scoop saw her stiffen. Her
face turned chalk white. She wet her
lips.
"1-don't quite understand you" she
said then with an effort. Are you
meaning to infer that you know who
Sugar Friddle's family was
Scoop evaded the question.
I'VE seem to be on the trail. I
thought perhaps you could help us.
Naturally. my client would like to
learn all you know concerning the
girl"
Mother seemed to shrink in her
chair. Scoop was alarmed at the pal
lor of her face. His first impulse was
! to offer to get a glass of water But on
second thought he decided against It..
There must be good reason for her
obvious alarm. 1t might, of course,
be her great love for Sugar.
do you know anything about the
ancestry of Miss Friddle?" he pressed
on.
When mother answered her vo>s
was hollow.
There wasn't a thing about the
baby to identify her when DR.. Slemp
found her in the basket All my life I
have hoped some one would come to
me with information. If you have
any-give it to me, Mr.. OReilly. I
must know"
Scoop became the business man
again.
Il came to you for information, Miss
F'riddle. My clue is only lukewarm.
All can tell you is that we find the
| girl has very likely come from one of
! the better Southern families The in
formation came about in a way that
I cannot divulge without getting some
one else into trouble
Mother took up her knitting in an
effort to pull herself together. Scoop
could see her hands tremble
There is nothing I can tell you"
she replied stiffly. Nothing. You
must believe me. And if you truly
have the interest of Sugar Friddle at
heart. you must make sacred prom
Use to me-
Il can't do that until know what
the promise is? What is it?"
"You must leave Sugar where she
is" The old ladys face seemed to
grow even whittier. 1t was ghastly
against the snow-white of her hair.
Promise me you will watt
But why?" The newspaper man
leaned forward in his chair. "She
can't be happy working as servant,
earning only dollar a week If you
love her why don't you want her to
have advantages? A college educa-
tion, pretty clothes, friends.
Il had hoped" Mother looked UP,
her eyes filled with tears, Il had
hoped your client might be Mrs. LIE
Masters. You are sure it is not?"
On my word of honor" Scoop as
sured her emphatically. But why
should you hope my client was Mrs.
LIE Masters? What particular rea-
son have you for wishing the girl to
stay where she is?"
Il feel she will be happier there"
The old lady took a handkerchief
from her pocket and wiped her eyes.
Scoop decided to be honest in one
thing.
But she isn't. That I know. Mrs.
LIE Masters treats her worse than she
treats the colored servants. When
Miss Fiddle went there to live she
put her down in the ratty old cellar in
little room by herself. Through Mr..
LIE Masters efforts, and much against
his wife's wishes, she was finally al
lowed to sleep in the nursery. Mrs.
LIE Masters seems to hate her"
mo" Mother covered her eyes
again "nnn't COW that T,,,, c,,ro