The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-05
CHAPTER FOUR


BURTON LED Betsy upstairs,
shortly after her narrow escape
from drowning.
A stout comfortable looking
woman In q neat black taffeta
dress, q narrow white collar but
toned beneath her plump chin, sat
at q small table playing solitaire.
She looked up and over her glasses
as Burton said, The lady's hap
pened to an accident. Martha The
master thought you might find her
something dry to wear while she's
having her dinner"
swell, of course I can. Come In.
ma am" said Mrs. Burton hospi-
tably and shooed Burton away.
Nov, you get those wet things
right on, while I see what / can
md for you. It's certain you can't
wear anything Of mine, isn't it,"
She laughed ch,erfully as she went
out
When she came back she was
carrying over her arm a velvet tea
gown sufficiently like the present.
day hostess gowns not to be too
quaint Its color was a deep rose.
and the wide sleeves were made Of
heavy silver lace; there was . sill
yer cord that could be knotted
about the waist, so that the gar
ment suggested that It might -
made to At; there were silver heo-
caded boudoir slippers as well, and
undertakings that were fragile as
cobwebs, soft and smelling family
of lavender.
zone Of Mr.. Markham's house
guests left 1t behind after a visit
some years ago." Mrs. Burton ex-
planned, as she helped Betsy to
change into the velvet garment
Betsy's eyes widened a little as
she caught a glimpse Of herself In
the mirror. With her sooty black
hair curling In damp ringlets about
her face, her slim body clad In the
very becoming rose velvet, she was
almost lovely! And the knowledge
lifted her spirits enormously.
Mrs. Burton led her back to the
library. saying cheerfully, ~And
while you're having dinner, miss,
I'll get your own clothes pressed
and fixed for you"
Tom stood up when Betsy came
IN, almost startled. And Mr.. Mark
ham, catching the look In Toms
eyes. nodded as though in satisfac-
ton But before anything more
than casual words could be ex-
changed. Burton had announced
dinner.
Betsy looked about the big room,
the small, round table set for three
In the middle of 1t, a great silver
bowl Of roses on the lace cloth.
delicate china, exquisite crystal
and silver shimmering In the light
from tall white candles. And little
more than an hour ago she had
been on the verge Of suicide, starv-
ing, friendless, sick with horror!
1t didn't seem possible that she
could be here now, In this beautiful
room surrounded by luxury and
comfort, wearing a velvet gown
and about to dine extravagantly
and beautifully!
Burton and an attendant foot
man served the delicious meal, and
1t was a most ceremonious affair.
At least 1t seemed ceremonious to
the wide-eyed, enchanted Betsy,
who listened hazily to Toms and
Mr.. Markham's conversation, de-
voted chiefly to politics, the foreign
s.tuation and such.
Nothing was said to Indicate the
nature Of the Job about which she
and Tom had come to see Mr..
Markham, until after dinner was
over and the three Of them were
back In the library.
Mr.. Markham had offered Betsy
q cigaret and Betsy had smiled
shyly and shook her head. -An ex-
pensive habit I've never been able
to AFFORD to acquire" she admitted
with q sturdy honesty that quick
ened his interest In her. He smiled
In approval
Tom accepted the cigar Mr..
Markham offered to him, and when
the two cigars were burning cheer