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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1922)
TI1K SUNDAY BEE: OMAHA, JULY 9, 1922. SowceMllfonMdrs Jy ELIZABETH DEJEANS The Story Thus Far. Dunbarlon-Keul'a million ara held la truet by hie widow for two nephewa. Brack and Waal, and a alecs. Delia. They ara to dlvlda I ha fortune, provided none contmlla a crime and Brack haa been rear ad a Ihlefl Mrs. lir.nl Ulwin'a Jewela ara atolen and $100,0)0 and oma gema disappear from beneath Mrs. Uunbarlon-Kent'e pillow. Brack and a mysterious "Mrs. Smith" ara suspected, but ha denlea all. Mra. Dunbarton-Kent centara her efforts la recovering tba (ma and prolactins' tha family name. In to thla atmoaphero of myetery and tueplcloa walks lovabla Maria An- -toulsms to become chauffeuae for Mra. Dunbartoa Kent. (Iradually Mario learna lha family sererla and la attracted despite heraelf toward tha deiplaed Brack. She dlacovera a lovo affair between -Bella and Allen Colfax, a third neVbew; her le!f recolvee a propoaal from West, and la Invited by Mra. Dunbarton Kent to become a member of tba family. Mra. Duabarton-Kent re veala aha haa offered Breck $400.. 00 for tha return of her Jewela. After a aharp encounter with Bella, Maria visits West's workshop, which also has been Brack's, and which adjoins Mra Smith's "spits house." Sha flnda a hair from a sablo fur and concludes Brcok has been meeting" Mrs. Smith la tha workshop. Sha betrays her lovs -when sha confronts blm with the evidence and flees as ha taunta West. West renews his proposal. Servants' eroeslp Indicates tha mys tery Is Hearing Ita climax. INSTALLMENT XII. The Woman of Mystery Again. ( CittHERE is Marie tonight?" yy Mrs. Granveston ask - - ed. "I'd like to see her." '"Upstairs with 'a headache," Mrs Dunbarton-Kent answered, and proceeded to angle for an invitation to tea. Urged by curfosity, Mrs. Gran veston said finally, "If you're out driving tomorrow afternoon, stop in for tea, both of you." Then she added with caution, "There'll be just three of us." Mrs. Granveston did not take people up except after due consideration. Then Mrs. Granveston and Gibbs heard more about Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's call upon Mrs. Brant-Olwin. Mrs. Granveston had received with such frigid silence Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's announce ment, that she intended to give a dinner dance for Mrs. Brant-Olwin that Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent had turned to the subject of Marie An gouleme. That matter satisfactori ly settled, she took up Mrs. Brant Olwin again. "I like her," she said decidedly. "I haven't entertained her before simply because I'd never troubled to discover what a good sort she is. You know that most of the younger set like her and go to her house." "They'll go almost anywhere where they're given a good time, but that's not the way you and I were reared," Mrs. Granveston re torted severely. 'Tve never had any desire to know Mrs. Brant Olwin. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent proceeded.' "Well, I had a delightful call on her. She told me all about her life at the Nevada mines, and it was interesting. She makes no pretenses and I like her for it." "I've never talked to her, but I've heard her talk," Mrs. Gran veston said. "Most women of her sort get the roughness smoothed off before they attempt society." "The bighcartedness and honesty taken out of, them, you mean, Lu cille. Her grammar doesn't dis turb me. I haven't given a big party for a long time, Kent House is growing dull, so I'm going to stir stings up a bit, a party for young and old, the sort of thing we used to have at Kent House in my dear husband's time. West has always liked the little widow and he's pleased over it he telephoned me from town this evening that Mr. Haslett and Ward Wakefield and half a dozen other men are . coming. I have Marjorie and Bess Caswell on my list why don't you have' them out 'for the week-end and some of the fun that's sure to follow the party?" This was bringing .pressure to bear upon Mrs. Granveston, for Marjorie and Bess were grand daughters. Mrs. Granveston's daughter had married a Caswell, who afterward lost his money, and the two girls had few opportuni ties of meeting eligible men. Then, too, Mrs. Granveston was intrigued by the possibility that there might be something between West and Mrs. Brant-Olwin that would be be a good reason for Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent giving the party. West was regarded as noncaptur able, but Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent was a healthy 60, and, though well off, West might not object to the Brant-Olwin millions as a stop gap. When he came into his for tune the combination of fortunes would be stupendous. Engaged to a Dunbarton-Kent, there was not a north shoreite who would not pay court to Mrs. Brant-Olwin. Later on, seated beside Marie's bed, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent told her about it and chuckled. "I'll make them swallow her whole. Mrs. Brant-Olwin is a good sort, Marie she has that big house near the Country club, you know. She's not our kind, but she's genuine, and I want her for a friend. I think you'll like her and I know she'll like you." Marie slipped her band into Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's and clung to it. "I have not seen Mrs. - Brant Olwin, but if you like her, madam, I know that I shall also," she said softly. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent did not tell Marie that when she had told Mrs. Brant-Olwin that afternoon about Marie the same history which she had imparted to Mrs. 111 y 1?V " s . . "v " '' i r.av West drew an audible breath. Granveston Mrs. Brant-Olwin had shown no telltale self-con-sciouness, even when Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent had said, "Some woman she met casually in Bur ton Haslctt's office building tofd her that I wanted a chauffeur, but wouldn't give her name, so Marie's as ignorant as I am of who did us a kindness. I suppose it was meant as a joke, but it has turned out a blessing." Mrs. Brant-Olwin had listened interestedly, but all she had said was, "She sounds good to me. I call her a lucky kid." "I'm going to have them all here, the little set that's held out against Mrs. Brant-Olwin," Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent told Marie. "They're go ing to meet you, too. Between us we're going to bring them around." ' I will help you all I can, madam." "Tomorrow morning we'll have breakfast in my room, then set to on the invitations," Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent said vigorously. "We'll have two of the disaffected in for lunch, and when they're gone we'll go for a ride and stop for tea with Mrs. Granveston she wants to meet you. I'll have some one for dinner, too. Breck has his meals in his room whenever there's com pany, so we won't see much of him," she added. "Yes, madam," Marie said, with as little expression as possible, though she was immensely re lieved. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent knew that Marie had had an unhappy morn ing. West had not looked cheerful when he had bidden her a hasty good-by, and, when she had gone into Marie's room afterward and nwttom) fV ftD0 J had found her asleep she had seen that she had been crying. She had covered her up, reflecting as she did so that, in matters of the heart, men were "perfect fools!" But she asked no questions. She kissed Marie good night and told her to' go to sleep and sleep soundly. When she had gone Marie wrote to West: "Dear Monsieur West: I have thought, and I must tell you that I cannot leave Kent House. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent I love too dearly to do it, and this seems my home. I beg of you not to feel In twos or fours, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's guests came to lunch or dinner and left converted. Marie saw the big woman at a different angle, as an entertaining and skillful hostess and justly a leader in her set. Marie admired "I wish we could rid the neighborhood of pearls or not," he said. her. She was so interested in the way in which Mrs. Dunbarton Kent was making "the disaffected swallow Mrs. Brant-Olwin" that it did not occur to her .that she herself was a success. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent did not need t repeat Marie's history; Mrs. Granveston had done it for her, for, at her cautious tea for three, Mrs. Granveston had taken frightened about me. I shall be careful and be only with Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent until you return. This I promise. It is only a short letter I write, but one which is full of gratitude to you for all your kindness to me. Affectionately, "MARIE ANGOULEME." She had been thinking about it all evening and had decided: She could not leave Kent House. If she left, she would go mad with anxiety that would be worse than the shame she would feel when ever Breck looked at her. Danger to herself was nothing; if disgrace fell upon the family, perhaps she could be of some comfort to them. Not once during that week of helping to launch Mrs. Brant Olwin and quite unconscious of any effort in her own behalf of helping to launch herself, not once did Marie see Breck. She did not even hear him pass through the hall, though often she listened in tently. He was at Kent House, for every night she saw the line of light beneath his door. But he moved so noiselessly; Marie shivered .when the thought of the way in which he went in and out of a door. "Speaking with you in French has given me great pleasure, madam. I hope we may speak to gcthcr often," Marie had laid with such a genuine dmire to please that Mrs. Granveiton became her advocate. "She's a wonderfully sweet, pretty girl," Mrs. Granveston de clared to her friend. "Such an in teresting history, too, and authen tic. I hope llulah will adopt her, if she hasn't done so already. She needs a devoted companion." By no means all of Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's friend took Mrs. Gran veston's view of the matter, but those who came to Kent House (luring that week were first sur prised, then charmed, by Marie's quaint courtey, soft accent, ant her unassuming wish to please. Without her realizing it, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent drew out of her vivid descriptions of the Hudson bay country and of ambulance work in France, tender recollec tions of her childhood in St. Felix, a fancy to Marie. Attempting conversation in rather bad French was a fad of Mrs. Granveston's. and of the good aunt and the dear father who had gone. She chuckled over her successful campaign, but the chuckle was always followed that woman whether we get the by a sigh. When the telephone rang she jumped and she scanned' her letters as if under a life sen tence and looking for a reprieve. Several times Gibbs brought Wil letts to Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's room and Marie knew that they talked earnestly together. Fre quently it was West who tele phoned and then Mrs. Dunbarton Kent would send for her and the usual questions would follow: "How are you, little Marie?" "Very well, thank -you, monsieur. I find myself busy and happy. with Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent." "That's right. Nothing has hap pened to frighten you?" "O, no, monsieur! Please do not be so anxious about me." Marie could hear him sigh. "I think about you night and day. Take good care .of yourself per haps better days are coming. I hope so." 11 "He is waiting also," Marie thought to herself. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent had long Alks with West over the telephone. "I am consulting constantly with Haslett," was the gist of what he told her. "We're doing everything we can to locate that person. We have agents in all the cities. We have decided on the limit sum we thought you shtJuld offer for the property you want in case we can approach the owned. Haslett is writing you about it. I suppose there are no signs of a return?" "No. Jones says that the ser vants tell him they have not heard a word from her since she left. But, West, Willets is certain that he is never in his room now, after late at nifeht. Willets is ir and out of the house now at night I thoua-lit is was rr to bate liiut, How he nuke his exit is a mys tery io u," "I don't know that it nulti-r even if you find it, I wouldn't in terfere. But about Marir take care of her for mr, Aunt liutoh. If anything should happen to litr 1 don't want to live." "I am taking core of her-that's the reason 1 have Willets in the house at night." "That makes me think of it. Haslet wants you to ask Walter Greene to the party. It's bct. He'll make himself um ful." Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent nighed. "Whatever you and Haslett think best." "Don't be downhearted, Aunt Bulah. I believe it will come .out as we want if. I know I want to see Marie. It's all 1 can do to keep away. Is it of any use, da you think?" Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent admim'i tered what comfort she could. "She said to me this morning, 'It will be nice when he conies back.' " "She said that!" West exclaimed. "Bless her heart 1" Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent turned away from the telephone with a sigh. She hoped that Marie was not merely persuading herself into marrying West; that would be a poor foundation to build on. The child looked so grave sometimes. Still, all that was in the future; the present held troubles enough with out imagining others. Bella had written from Philadelphia that she would arrive at nine o'clock on Wednesday night, and the an nouncement had not raised Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's spirits. It would end the tete-a-tcte break fasts with Marie, which she had enjoyed, and Breck would appear again in the dining room. Then two days of tiring bustle over a party in which she felt only an anxious interest. It was an intoler able state of things! Every tlr.ie she and Marie drove through the park entrance and she glimpsed Mrs. Smith's house her face burned. Marie experienced the same dis comfort. Her eyes were drawn to the Smith house. - She believed Mrs. Smith was still there, keep ing herself hidden; that she and Breck met in the cottage. They passed Colfax hall entrance every day, but they never met Colfax. Marie was certain that somewhere he and Bella were together. On the afternoon of the day on which Bella was expected, Marie' drove Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent to the farm by the road they had taken on the day of Marie's arrival at Kent house. She said she wanted to leave a message at the farm, but Marie suspected that she wanted a closer view of Mrs. Smith's house. Hitherto Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent had avoided the road that passed the cottage, but today she was particu larly depressed; time was passing and nothing had been accom plished; the storm might break at any moment. She was- thinking grimly that the party would be a good sitting for an expose Breck taken from their midst the star ing faces of her guests quite a drama! "Drive by the cottage," she said to Marie. "It's the shortest way to the farm." Marie determined that when they passed the place she would not glance at it, but she did, and at the house that topped it. Mrs. Smith's house presented a smiling appearance, its window shades up and smoke curling from its chim ney. It was a contrast to the grimly forlorn stone cottage; the shades of its casement windows were down, and the windows themselves were streaked and dusty. Marie had a vivid recollec tion of how the interior looked. They passed it in silence, but after a moment or two Mrs. Dun-; barton-Kent said with suppressed feeling, "Poor little cottage! Many's the evening I've spent there with my dear husband, he reading aloud to me. He had a wonderful .voice." Then she added with an indignation that would not be suppressed, "I ought to have torn it down when that woman built her house, but first I let Breck use the place. He slept there all summer. Then Bella with her clay" She had paused so abruptly that Marie was startled into looking at her. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's lips had fallen apart and her eyes stared. They were in the roadster, and she leaned out and gazed back at the cottage. Then she sat back, silent and grim. "How convenient she muttered. . Marie guessed the suspicion which had flashed into her mind. It had occurred to her for the first time, as it had occurred to West when he saw the hair he had found, that the cottage had been the meeting place of those two. West had said that he would not tell Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent about it, but she had come upon it her self. She was silent until Marie was about to drive in at the farmhouse gate; then she aroused suddenly. "No, go on," she said. "Talking of the cottage has upset me. I'll send (Canttnaed aa rasa )