Evening star., 1941-07-03

let an idle rumor scare me away
from so = week."
Il feel as If I'm losing you again
too soon," he said wistfully.
Don't you believe it. I'll be run
ming into town for lunch with you
almost any day, and certainly on
payday"
She kissed him good-by and
watched the old car chug away,
leaving her standing there at the
foot of the steps with her suitcase.
A queer little feeling of apprehen-
sion stole over her as she saw the
tail light disappear, but she
shrugged it away and walked
quickly up the steps.
Graves, the solemn-faced butler,
admitted her. "Ill show you to your
room, miss. And then Mrs. Sinclair
would like to see you in her suite"
The room assigned to her was On
the third floor, but 1t was pleasant
and spacious, with q small bath
adjoining. The bed was enormous,
walnut affair intricately carved,
with cretonne valances matching
the window drapes.
This bed looks like q genuine
antique, Graves"
"Yes, miss. But It's comfortable,
too" he assured her, thawing un-
expectedly. rs everything quite all
right?"
Mn. Sinclair Explains.
When he had gone Nancy pulled
of her hat and ran q comb through
her thick, dark hair. She changed
her street frock for q sleeveless ap-
pie green silk with q wide. pleated
skirt. Then she ran lightly down
the steps and tapped at the door Of
Mrs. Sinclair's sitting room.
Mrs. Sinclair's voice bade her en-
ter and then something happened
which made Nancy feel that she was
going to earn every cent Of her so
a week. As she closed the door be-
hind her, Mrs. Sinclair looked up
from her knitting and her glance
swept over the figure clad in apple
green silk. Her mouth hardened.
Good evening, Miss Duvan," she
said coldly. Perhaps you will try
to be punctual hereafter"
Nancy was 50 taken aback that
she stood speechless, . slow red
mounting to her cheeks. Then she
glanced at her wrist watch and saw
that 1t was five minutes past 8.
I'm very sorry" she said quietly.
II hardly thought five minutes
would matter" Well, DR.. Cornell
had warned her of the vagaries of
the rich!
Mrs. Sinclair threw her knitting
down. Suddenly she looked ashamed
| and sorry.
Forgive me-" she said sadly. I'm
q horrid old woman. OF course, it's
not because you are five minutes
late, but because you are young,
lovely and-alive-while Beatrice
- Her voice broke and two difn-
cult tears streamed slowly down her
cheeks.
Nancy Il Startled.
II understand" Nancy said softly.
Perhaps it would be better II you
employed an older person. I can't
be OF much use to you if I'm con-
stantly bringing up unhappy memo
ries."
Nonsense" Mrs. Sinclair brushed
the tears away. But If I'm ever
sharp and irritable with you, my
dear, hope you will try to under
stand. And I can talk with you
about Beatrice; that will be . great
happiness for me. I have never
mentioned her name to others since
since her death. But this morning
when you came felt that I could
talk Of her to you"
I'm very glad"
Mrs. Sinclair did not refer to her
daughter again that evening. In
stead, she talked of her own life,
where she'd been born and various
places where she had lived, and the
time passed swiftly.
At 10 she dismissed Nancy. "Dr.
Cornell insists that I get to bed by
TO-" she explained, smiling wryly.
Nancy went upstairs to her pleas
ant room, and disrobed thought
fully. She was sorry for Mrs. Sim
clair, but 1t looked as If her position
at Fairfield Hall was going to be
rather dificult. Still, she thought,
with q mental shrug, she could
always leave. She climbed into the
high walnut four-poster and almost
Immediately fell asleep. 1t had been
q long day.
Some time later she walked sud-
denly, her heart pounding.
An old woman was bending over
her. plainly revealed by the bright
moonlight which flooded the room
An old woman with streaming
white hair and wide, peering eyes.
(Copyright, 1941. Chicago Daily News. Ins.)
Continued tomorrow
Nancy discovers the truth behind