Evening star., 1937-04-25


dent, but for the first time tonight
they were ready for anything in Uncle
Val's, and that gave him some of the
heart he prayed for.
Lift that bell, sir" Uncle Val
shouted, bring me what's under it.
The delayed significance of that
order put almost uncomfortable laugh
ter in Ned's middle. Lift the bell was
what he had to do: he stood we'll aside,
put two hands to the top-piece, and
pushed up. The long clapper touched
the rim and its cool, old note cleared
out the last of the invisible thickness
in the room. He saw every thread IN
the bare ring of brocade there in the
lamplght. and then he let the bell
sink exactly on it again. And as turn
ing, he saw Uncle Nal's hot certainty
broken. he said, 'Nothing's there"
Under his ruddiness, Uncle Val
seemed to flush, and neither his lips
nor his eyes were comfortable in their
smile as he made his slight bow to
Aunt Constance Very prettily stage
managed. my dear" he said. You've
had the old man very nicely - this
time. But there are other times?'
Pm afraid there are" Aunt Con-
stance said DULY.
Nov you may take our nephew to
his ROOM" SAID Uncle Val, as if he
were suddenly tired ITS late" He
seemed unconscious of them in the
room; Aunt Constance had to move
round him to hold her hand out to
Ned And Ned wanted nightly to
take it and drag her out the doorway,
running.
They went to Ned's room. and Aunt
Constance turned the key behind
them. She stood moment looking at
him, sad for him.
Tin so sorry this happened to you,'
she said softly. Ned, dear. you can't
stay here any longer. God knows what
YOU would have seen if there'd been
anything under the bell. Your Uncle
: Val can be cruel He's madman
sometimes. You'd come to harm here.
You must have nothing to do with
him: you must be beholden to him for
nothing - not even for SO fine thing
as your School. You must 60 home in
the morning. III help you pack now
and take you to the first train there is.
Some day you'll know I'm night, even
if you don't feel it now"
You oughtn't stay here either,
Aunt Connie" Ned SAID, touching the
envelope inside his shirt. He might
hurt you. Couldn't you go home too.
or - or go away with MIR. Rlchmond?'
She smiled little and shook her
head, not afraid. even though she
knew what there was to be afraid OF.
"If | left" she said quietly, your
uncle would make trouble - serious
trouble - for Stephen. | shall be all
right. It's so much easier when you're
protecting someone you're very fond
of. You know that, don't you?'
Ned didn't want to be theatrical.
bringing out the note. But 1t might
comfort Aunt Connie in her bravely
managed trouble, and it was mean 10
wait. He withdrew the battered en-
velope sheepishly. Here he SAID.
1T it was under the bell
She looked at him with depth of
awe in her lovely face that made HIM
wonder for frightened instant whether
he'd done something dreadful. Then,
still looking at him. she took the note.
She glanced down turned 1t over. and
slowly opened it; but her eyes moved
along tho lines with swift hunger and
then swiftly inside the leaf. The hand
with the note dropped to her side she
moved to chair and sank down upon
it; when she looked at Ned, holding
out her arm for him to come to her. he
saw her eyes we're brlmmlng. He went
to her and she put her arm round him,
put her soft cheek against his. and
held up the note Read it, my dar-
ling" she said.
The bold writing ran; This pro-