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 )
