The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-01-05
ELIZA
g
By JOHN C. HAYWOOD
Mcclure syndicate-wNU Service

-
down stairs for the new
boarder. First with suit case, then
with hot water and finally with
matches, which the woman seized
almost rudely Eliza watched while
she Lit cigarette, laid her head
with its chalk-white face back in the
cushions of the chair, and inhaled
vigorously. Eliza was fascinated.
She had mumbled, THAT be all,
mann" and was glad to receive no
answer. The woman swallowed all
the smoke, then with her eyes closed
she very, very slowly let it out
through her nostrils, after which she
gave long, shuddering sigh and
opened her eyes.
You still there? What's your
name?" she asked in a husky voice.
ELIZA, nam. You look sick. l
was wondering"
Don't wonder. Where's your mis-
tress?"
"Out, nam. / expect as she'll be
in any minute. y
Whats she like"
Different folks has different ideas
she's my mistress, nam, and
good one amt talking about her !"
Eliza spoke with as much dignity
as her freckled face and mop of
bronze-colored hair could assume.
She was beginning to hate the
woman with her painted face, strawy
hair, natty figure and bold gray eyes
behind double lens glasses.
She looked what Eliza termed "a
bad 'un'' and Eliza was church
goer of strong views.
The woman, Mrs. Agnes Hart she
called herself, had answered Mrs.
Small's advertisement for boarders
from Albany, said she was a widow
out of health and wanted a quiet
room with meals served in it, for
which she was prepared to pay ade-
quately.
AS she was then travelling with
friends she would not write again
but might arrive any time. So she
had come.
Mrs. Small was marketing and
Eliza was quite sure her mistress
would not have taken the woman
had she seen her first
This Mrs. Small confirmed later
but said she had paid well and in
advance, and Eliza did not grumble
at the liberal tips which came later
It was on the second day that
Mrs. Hart asked if there were no
other boarders.
Yes, mann. We got man room
err. He don't eat here He's away
mostly. He's policeman, though
he don't wear no uniform as l ever
see."
"A policeman! What sort of po-
liceman?"
Mrs. Hart looked startled.
II dunno what sort. He's very
nice mani"
well, don't bring him near me-
1t was through policeman my-my
troubles began. hate 'em!"
She watched Eliza narrowly and
seemed satisfied that she had inn
pressed her and accounted for the
agitation that had overtaken her,
which the girl must have noticed.
In the middle of the afternoon
Mrs. Small called Eliza.
''Mr. Lang has returned from his
trip. He's lying down in the front
room all nervous and broke up. I
just got word Mrs. Bates is took
sick and I'm going round for a min
ute. You keep handy in case he
wants anything"
Eyes, man,"
The front door had scarcely closed
when Mr. Lang called Eliza went
in.
The detective was on the sofa; in
the shadow Eliza saw that his gray
hair was tousled, his eyes bright
Come in, Eliza" he said in his
soft voice "Sit down and talk to
me. I'm all I'M"
''Where you been, Mr.. Lang?"
Boston. Picking out the threads
sewn into case by woman. Queer
dick she must be somehow
''I'd love to hear about it."
Eliza clasped her hands.
In her spare hours she read de-
tective stories and had always sus-
pected Mr.. Lang was detective.
But she never asked him. She
kept him surrounded by a halo of
romantic adventure.
There amt much to it," Mr..
Lang commenced in a slow drawl,
watching Eliza with interest
Seems there was dentist named
Mount who sort of tired of his wife,
50 he took up with another woman
and the other woman took up with
him % as TO set him plumb crazy.
The wife wouldn't stand for no di-
vorce but pretty soon she took sick,
died, and was buried.
so he could marry the other
woman" Eliza said.
That's what he thought. The 9TH