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THE 8EMI.WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA.
The Hollow
of Her Hand
--iV
8YN0P8I8.
ChaIN Wrantlalt la found murdered In
ft road Iioiiho noar Now York, Mrs. Wran
dall Ih Hummuncil from tho city and Iden
tifies tlm body. A younir woman who ac
companied Wrandall to tho Inn and sub
sequently disappeared, Is nuspectod.
Mrs. Wrandall Htarta hack for Now York
In an auto during a bllndlnsr snow storm.
On tho way sho meets a young woman In
tho road who proves to ho tho woman
whp killed Wrandnll. Feeling that tho
Girl had flonu her a servlco In ridding hor
of tlm man who though she loved lilm
deeply, had caused her sreat sorrow.
Mm. Wrandall delurmlncs to slilold her
and liikrs hor to liar own homo. Mrs.
Wr.uidull hoars tho story of Hetty Cas
tletnn'x life, oxcopt that portion that ro
lntCH lo Wrandall. Thin and tho story of
tho Irttjjody sho forblda tho Rlrt ever, to
tell. Bho offer Hottv a homo, friendship
nnd M-curlty from peril on account of the
tragedy. Mrs. Sara Wrandall and Hotty
Mttr-nd tho funorul Of Challls Wrandall at
tho liolno of his parents. Kara Wrandall
and Hotty roturn to Now York aftor on
nbxi-nco of a year In Europe. Leslie
Wrandall, brother of Challls, makes him
self iiHoful to Sara nnd becomes Rroatly
Interested In Hetty. Sara sees In Los
ilo'H InfHtuatlon possibility for revonge on
tho Wrandalls and reparation for tho
wronKH hIio suffered at tli. hands of
OIihIIIh Wrandall by marrylnf? his mur-den-HS
Into tho family. Leslie. In com
pany with his friend Brandon Booth, an
artist, visit Sara at hor country place,
Lesllo confesses to Sara that ho Is madly
in lovo with Hetty.
CHAPTER VII Continued.
"I (my, Lesllo, is alio staying hero?"
cried Booth, lowering his volco to an
excited half-whlBpor.
"Who?" "Uemanded Wrandall va
cantly. Ilia mind appeared to bo elso
whore. "Why, that'B. tho girl I saw on tho
road Wako upl The ono on tho
onvolopo, yau ass. Is she tho ono you
woro telllug mo about In tho club tho
oMIbb Whafs-Her-Name who"
"Oh, you moan Miss Castloton. Sbo's
Juet gono upstairs. You must havo
met hor on tho stops."
"You know I did. So that la Miss
Castloton."
"Itlpplng. Un't sho? Didn't I tell
you so?"
"She's beautiful. She Is a type, just
as you said, old man a really wonder
ful typo, fsaw hor yesterday and tho
day oeforo."
"I've been wondering how you man
agod to got a likeness of hor on tho
back of an onvolopo," said Lesllo sar
castically. "MuBt havo had a good
long look at her, my boy, It Isn't a
snap-shot, yoU know,"
Booth flushed. "It'lscan Impression,
that's nil, I draw It from memory,
'iron my soul." '
"Sho'll bo Immensely gratified, I'm
suro."
"For licaYon'H sake" Los, don't -bo
such n fool as to show hor tho thing,"
cried Booth In consternation. "Sho'd
noVer understand."
"Oh, you needn't worry. Sho has a
flno sonso of humor,"
Booth didn't know whether to laugh
or bcowI, Ho compromised with him
self by slipping his arm through that
of his frlond and saylug heartily:
"I wish you tho beat of luck, old
boy."
"Thanks," said Leslie drily.
CHAPTER VIII.
In Which Hetty Is Weighed. "'
Booth and Leslie returned to the
city on Tuesday. Tho nrtlBt loft bo
hind him a "momory sketch" of Sara
Wrandall, dono in tho solltudo of his
room long after tho rest of tho house
was wrapped In slumhor on tho first
night of hie stay at Southlook. It wuh
us Bkotchlly drawn as tho one ho had
mado of Hetty, and quite as wonderful
lu tho matter of falthfulnoBs, but ut-
He Wae as Doeply Perplexod as Ever.
terly without tho subtlo something
that mado tho other notable Tho
craftiness of tho artist wub thore, but
(.ho touch of inspiration "was lacking.
Sam was delighted. Sho waB flat
tered, and mado no protonso of dlsgule
flng tho fnct,
Tho-discussion which followed tho
axhlbltiontof tho skotch at luncheon,
was very -animated. It sorvod to ex.
clto Leslie to such a degroo that ho
brought forth from lila pockot tho
treasured sketch of Hotty, for tho pur
pose ot comparison.
Tho girl who had boon gonulnoly en
thusiastic over tho plcturo ot Sara,
and who had not boon by way of know
Jog that tho ttrst skotch existed, was
covered with confusion. Embarrass
ment and a shy sonso of gratification
wero uuccocded almost at onco by ji
feeling of keon annoyance. Tho fact
Utt Ui sketch wad In Leslie's pos
I h
i i
COPY?Gr.92 OY
session and evidently a thing to bo
chorlshod took away nil tho pleasure
sho may havo experienced during the
first fow moments of Interest.
Booth caught tho angry flash in hor
oyes, preceding tho flush and unac
countnblo pallor that followed almost
immediately. Ho folt guilty, and at
tho same tlmo deeply annoyed with
Lesllo. Later on ho trlod to explain,
but tho attempt was a lamentable fail
ure Sho laughed, not unkindly, In
his face.
Lesllo had refused to allow tho
skotch to leave his hand. If sho could
havo gained possession of it, oven for
an Instant, tho thing would have been
torn to bits. But It wont back Into his
commodious pockotbook, and Bho was
too proud to demand it of him.
Sho beenmo oddly sensitive to
Booth's persistent though inoffensive
scrutiny as tlmo wore on, More than
onco she had caught him looking' at
hor with a fixedness that betrayed por
plexlty so plainly that sho could not
fall to recognlzo an underlying motlvo,
Ho was vainly striving to refresh his
momory; that was clear to her. Thoro
Is no mistaking that look in a person's
eyes. It cannot bo disgulsod.
Ho was as deoply perplexed as over
whou tho tlmo came for him to dopart
with Lesllo. Ho asked hor point blank
on tho last ovonlng of his stay If they
bad ovor met beforo, and sho frankly
confessed to a short memory for faces.
It was not unlikely, Mid said, that ho
had soon her in London or in Paris,
but she had not tho faintest recollec
tion of having seen him before their
meeting In tho road.
Urged by Sara, Bho had reluctantly
oonsentcd to sit to him for a portrait
during tho month of Juno. He put tho
request in Btich torms that It did not
sound like a proposition. It was not
surprising that ho should want her for
a subjoct; In fact, ho put it in such a
way that sho could not but feel that
sho would bo doing him a groat and
enduring favor. Sho Imposed but ono
condition: Tho plcturo waB never to
be exhibited. He met that, with bland
magnanimity, by proffering tho canvas
to Mrs. Wrandall, ae tho subject's
"next best frlond," to "have nnd to
hold so long as sho might llvo," "freo
gratis," "with tho artist's compli
ments," and so on nnd so forth, In. airy
good humor.
Leslie's aid bad boon solicited by
both Sara and tho painter in tho flnnl
effort to overcome tho girl's objec
tions. Ho was rather bored about It,
but added his volco to tho general
clamour. With hnlf an oyo ono could
see that ho did not relish tho Idea of
Hotty posing for days to tho hand
Bomo, agreeable painter. Moreover, it
meant that Booth, who could afford to
gratify his own whlma, would bo
obliged to spend a month or more In
tho neighborhood, bo that ho could de
vote himself almost ontlroly to tho
consummation ot this particular under
taking. Moreover, It meant that Vivi
an's portrait was to bo temporarily
disregarded.
Sara Wrandall was quick to recog
nlzo tho first eymptomB of jealousy on
tho part ot hor brothor-In-law. Tho
now Idol ot tho Wrnndalls was In lovo,
solflBhly, insufferably In lovo as thlngB
wont with nil tho Wrandalls. They
hatod selfishly, and so they loved. Her
husband had boon their king. But
their king was dead, long llvo tho
king! Lesllo had put on tho family
crown a llttlo jauntily, perhaps
cocked over tho eye a bit, so to spook
but it was thoro Just the Bamo, an
noylngly plain to vlow.
Sara had tried to llko him. He had
boon her frlond, the only ono Bho could
claim among them all. And yet, bo
neath his genlnl allegiance, sho could
detect tho air ot condescension, tho
bland attitudo of a suporlor who do
tonds anothor's cause for tho reason
that It grntlllcs Nero. Sho experienced
a thrill of malicious joy in contemplat
ing tho fall of Nero. Ho would bring
down his house about his head, and
thoro 'would bo no Romo to pay the
flddlor.
Brandon Booth took n small cottngo
on tho upper road, half way between
tho village and tho homo of Sara
Wrandnll, and not far from tho ab
horred "back gato" that Bwung In tho
tooth ot hor connections by marriage.
Ho sot up his establishment in hnlf a
day and, bolng sottlod, betook himself
oft to dltfo with Sard and Hotty. All
his household cares, llko tho world,
rested snugly on tho shoulders ot an
Atlns named Pat, than whom thoro
waa no moro faithful servitor in nil
tho earth, nor In tho heavens, for that
mattor, if wo aro to accopt his own
ostlmato ot himself. In any event, ho
was a treasure. Booth's houso was al
ways in order. Try as ho would, he
couldn't got It out of order. Pat's wlfo
saw to that.
As ho swung jauntily down tho tree
llnod road that lod to Sara's portnlB,
Booth was full of tho Joy of living.
Sara was at tho bottom of tho tor
rar.o, moving among tho flowor bedn In
tho formal garden.
At tho Bound of his footsteps on the
gravpl, Sara lookod up and Instantly
smiled hor welcome,
"It la bo nlco to seo you again," sho
said, giving him her hand.
" 'My hoart's in tho highlands,' " he
quoted, waving a vaguo tribute to tho
heavens. "And It's nlco ot you to boo
re Barr
GCORCtaAna KCUrr&W : COrMTff7;?Z3YlODD,ffID&COMPAlY
mo," ho added gracefully. Then ho
pointed up tho terrace. "Isn't sho a
plcturo 7 Qad, It's lovely tho wholo
effect. That plcturo against tho sky "
Ho stopped short, and tho sentence
was novcr finished, although sho wait
ed for him to complcto-It beforo re
marking: "Her heart Is not In tho highlands."
"You ' mean somothlng'e gone
wrong "
"Oh, no," she said, still smiling;
"nothing llko that. Her heart Is In
the lowlands. You would -consider
Washington square to bo In tho low
lands, wouldn't you?"
''Oh, I see;" ho Bnld sldwly. "You
mean she's thinking of Leslie.'
"Who knowB? It wae a venture oh
my part, that's all. Sho may be think
ing of you, Mr. Booth."
"Or Homo chap in old England, that's
moro llko it,'; ho retorted. "Sho can't
bo thinking of me, you know. No.one
over thinks of mo when I'm out of
vlow.- Out of sight, out of mind. No;
sho'a thinking of something a long
way off or some ono, If you choose to
havo It that way."
Sho smiled upon him with half
closed, shadowy eyes, and shook her
head. Thon sho arose.
"Let us go In. Hetty Is eager to see
you again."
They started up the terrace. His
faco clouded.
"I have had a feeling all along that
sho'd rather not havo this portrait
painted, Mrs. Wrandall. A queer sort
of fooling that Bho doesn't Just like tho
Idea ot being put on canvas."
."Nonsense," sho Bald, without look
ing ut him.
Hetty met them at tho top of tho
stops. The electric porch lights had
just been turned on by tho butler. Tho
girl etood.in tho path ot tho light.
Booth was never to forget tho loveli
ness of her in that moment. He car
ried tho imago with him on tho long
walk homo through tho black night.
(Ha declined Sara's offer to send him
over In tho car for tho very reason
that ho wanted tho half-hour of soll
tudo In which to concentrate all tho
Impressions sho had mado on his
fancy.)
The three of them stood there for a
fow minutes, awaiting the butler's an
nouncement. Sara's arm waB about
Hetty's shoulders. Ho was so taken
up with the plcturo they presented
that ho scarcely heard their light chat
ter. They were typoB of loveliness so
full ot contrast that ho marveled at
tho'powor of naturo to create women
In tho samo mold and yot to model so
differently.
As they entored the vestibule, a
servant came up with tho word that
Miss Castloton was wanted at tho
tolephono, "long dlstanco from New
York."
Tho girl etopped in hor tracks.
Booth looked at her in mild surprise,
a condition which gave way an Instant
later to perplexity. Tho look f an
noyanco in hor eyes could not bo dis
guised or mistaken.
"Ask him to call mo up later, Wat
son," Bho said quietly.
"This Is tho third tlmo ho has called,
Miss Castloton," said tho man. "You
woro dressing, if you pleaso, ma'am,
tho first tlmo" -
"I will como," Bho interrupted sharp
ly, with a curiouB glance at Sara, who
for somo reason ' avoided mooting
Booth's gaze.
"Tell him wo shall expect him on
Friday," said Mrs. Wrandall.
"By Qoorgel" thought Booth, as Bho
left them. "I wonder it It can bo Les
lie. If It Ib well, ho wouldn't bo flat
tered If ho could have seen tho look In
hor eyes.
Later on, he had no trouble In gath
ering that it was Losllo Wrandall who
called, but he waa very much In tho
dark as to tho meaning of that ex
pressive look. Ho only knew that sho
was In the telophono room for ton min
utes or longer, und that all trace of
emotion was gono from hor faco when
sho rejoined thorn with a brief apology
for keoplng them waiting.
Ho left at ten-thirty, saying good
night to them on tho terrace. Sara1
walked to tho steps with him.
"Don't you think hor volco is love
ly?" sho asked. Hetty had sung for
them.
"I daro sny," ho responded absently.
"Give you my word though, I wasn't
thinking of hor volco. Sho is lovoly."
Ho walked home ns If In a dream.
Tho spell was on him.
Par In tho night, ho Btartod up from
tho easy chair In which ho had been
smoking and dreaming and racking
his brain by turns,
"By Jovo!" ho exclaimed aloud. "I
remember! I'vo got ltl And tomor
row I'll provo It."
Then ho wont to bed, with the storm
from tho sea pounding about the
houso, and slopt serenely until Pat
and Mary wondored whether ho moant
to got up at all.
"Pat." Bald ho at breakfast, "I want
you to go to tho city this morning and
fetch out all ot tho Studios you can
find about tho place. Tho old ones aro
In that Italian hnll scat and tho lato
ones nro In tho studio. Bring all ot
thorn."
"There's n dlvvll of a bunch of
thlm," said Pat ruofully,
Ho was not to begin ekotchlng tho
flguro until tho following day. Aftor
lunchoon, howovor, ho had an appoint
McCutcheon
ment to lnspoct Hetty's wardrobo, os
tensibly for tho purposo of picking out
a gown for tho picture. As a mattor
of fact, he had decidod tho point to
his own satisfaction tho night beforo.
She should poso for him in tho dainty
whlto dress sho had worn on that oc
casion. While they wore going ovor tho ox
tenslvo assortment of gowns, with
Sara as tho judgo from whom thoro
seemed to be no appeal, ho casually
Inquired If she had ever posed beforo.
Ho watched her closely as ho put
tho question. Sho waB holding up a
beautiful point laco creation for his
inspection, and thero was a pleading
smile on her lips- It must havo been
her favorlto gown. Tho Bmllo fnded
away. Tho hand that dangled tho gar
ment beforo his eyea suddenly be
camo motionless, as if paralyzed. In
tho next Instant, she recovered her
self, and, giving tho lace a quick fillip
that sent its odor of sachet leaping to
his nostrils, responded with perfect
composure
"Isn't thero a distinction between
posing for an artist, and sitting for
ono's portrait?" sho asked.
Ho was silent. Tho fact that he did
not respond seemed to disturb her aft-
Tho Girl 8topped In Her Tracks.
cr a moment ot two. Sho made the
common mistake of pressing tho ques
tion. "Why do you ask?" was her inquiry.
When It was too lato sho wished sho
had not uttered tho words. He had
caught tho somewhat anxious note in
hor volco.
"Wo always ask that, I think," he
said. "It'B a habit."
"Oh," sho said doubtfully.
, "And by tbo way, you haven't an
swered." Sho waa busy with the gown for a
tlmo. At last she looked him full In
tho faco.
"That's true," Bho agreed; "I haven't
answered, havo I? No, Mr. Booth, I've
never. posed for a portrait. It Is a
now experience for mo. You will havo
tocontond with n great deal of Btupld
lty on my part. But I shall try to bo
plastic."
Ho utterod a pollto protest, and
pursued tho question no farther. Her
answer had been bo palpably evasive
that it struck him as bald, oven awk
ward. Pat, disgruntled and Irritable to the
point of profanity ho was a privi
leged character and might havo sworn
if ho felt like it without receiving no
tice camo shnmbllng up tho cottage
walk lato that afternoon, bearing two
largo, shoulder-sagging bundles. He
had walked from the-Btatlon a mattor
of halt a mile and it was hot. His
omployor sat in tho shady porch, view
ing his approach.
Tho young man drew a chair up to
tho tablo and began tho task of work'
ing out tho puzzle that now seemed
moro or Iobs near to solution. Ho had
a pretty clear Idea as to tho period ho
wanted to investigate. To the best ot
his recollection, tho Studios published
three or tour years back held tho koy.
Ho selected tho numbors nnd began
to run through them. He was search
ing for a vaguely remembered article
on ono of tho lesser-known English
painters who had given great promlso
at tho tlmo It was published but who
dropped completely out of notice soon
afterward because of a mistaken no
tion of hla own Importance.. If
Booth's memory served him right, tho
fellow camo a cropper, so to speak, in
trying to Tide rough shod ovor public
opinion, and went to tho dogs. Ho
had been painting sensibly up to that
tlmo, but suddenly went In for tho
most violent style ot Impressionism.
That was tho end of him.
Thore had bocn reproductions ot his
principal canvases, with sketches and
studies In charcoal. Ono ot thoso pic
turos had made a lasting Impression
on Booth; Tho figure of a young wom
an in deep meditation standing in tho
shadow of a window casement from
which sho looked out upon tho world
apparently without a thought ot It. A
Blonder young woman In vaguo reds
and browns, whoso shadowy faco was
positively Illuminated by a pair ot
wonderful bluo eyes.
Ho camo upon It at Inst. For n long
tlmo ho sat thoro gazing at tho faco
of Hetty Castloton, a look of hnlf-won-dor,
half-triumph In his eyea. Thero
could be no doubt as to tho Identity
of tho subjdet. Tho faco was hers:
tho velvety, dreamy, soulful eyes that
had haunted him for years, as he now
believed. In no senso could tho plc
turo bo described as a portrait. It was
a study, deliberately arranged and de
liberately posed for In tho artist's stu
dio. Ho Was mystified. Why should
she, tho daughter of Colonel Castloton,
tho grand-nleco of an carl, be engaged
In posing for what evidently was
moant to bo a commercial product of
this whilom artlBt?
Turning from a skilfully colored full
pngo reproduction, he glanced at first
casually over tho dozen or moro
sketches and studies on tho succeed-
dng pages. Many of them represented
studies of women's heads and figures,
with llttlo or no attempt to obtain a
likeness. Some wero half-draped, show
ing In a sketchy way tho long graceful
lines of tho half-nudo figure, ot baro
shoulders and breasts, of gauze-like
fabrics that but illy concealed Imprcs
bIvo charms. Suddenly his eyes nar
rowed and a sharp exclama'tion fell
from his lips. Ho bent closer to the
pages and studied the drawings with
redoubled interest
Then ho whistled softly to hlnlself, a
token ot simple amazement. The head
ot each of these remnrkablo studies
suggested In outline the head and fea
tures of Hetty Castloton! Sho had
been Hawkrlght's model!
Tho next morning at ten ho wna at
Southlook, arranging his oasel and
canvas in tho north ond of the long
living room, where tho light from the
tall French windows afforded obUn
dunt and well-distributed light for the
ontorpriso in hand. Hetty had not yet
appeared. Sara, attired In a loose
morning gown, was watching him from
a comfortnblo chair In tho corner, ono
shapely bare arm behind hor head; the
freo hand was gracefully employed in
managing a cigarette. Ho was con
scious of the fact that her lazy, half
alert gaze was upon him all tho time,
although sho pretended to bo entirely
indifferent to' the preparations. Dimly
he could seo tho faint smilo of Inter
est on her lips.
Hetty camo in, calm, sereno and
lovelier than ever In tho clear morn
ing light Sho was wearing tho simple
whljo, gown ho had cnosen the day be
fore. If she was conscious ot the
rather intense scrutiny ho bestowed
upon her as she gave him her hand
In greeting, Bho did not appear to bo
in tho least disturbed.
"You may go away, Sara," sho said
firmly. "I shall bo too dreadfully self
conscious It you aro looking on."
Booth looked at her rather sharply.
Sara Indolently abandoned her com
fortable chair and left them alono In
the room.
"Shall wo try a fow effects, Miss
Castloton?" ho Inquired, after a period
of constraint that had its effect on
both ot them.
"I am in your hands," sho said sim
ply. Ho mado suggestions. Sho tell Into
tho position so gaslly, so naturally, so
effectively, that ho put aBldo all previ
ous doubts and blurted out:
"You havo posed beforo, Miss CaB
tleton." Sho smiled frankly. "But not for
a really truly portrait," sho said.
"Such as this is to be."
Ho hesitated an instant "I think
I recall a canvas by Maurlco Hawk
right," ho said, and at onco experienc
ed a curious senso ot perturbation. It
was not unllko fear.-
Instoad ot botraying tho confusion
or surprise ho expocted, Miss Castlo
ton merely raised her oyebrowB In
quiringly, "What has that to do with me, Mr.
Booth?" sho asked.
He laughed awkwardly.
"Don't you know IUb work?" ho In
qulrod, with a Blight twist of his lip.
"I may havo seen hla pictures," sho
replied, puckering her brow as .If In
reflection. "Oh," sho cried, with a
bright smllo of understanding. "I see!
Yes, I hayo a double a really remark
able double. Havo-you never seen Het
ty Glynn, tho actress?"
"I nm Buro I have not," ho said, tak
ing a long breath. It was one of re
lief, ho romombered afterward. "If
sho Is so llko you as all that, I couldn't
havo forgotten her."
"Sho Is quite unknown, I believe
sho went on, Ignoring the Implied com
pliment. "A chorus girl, or something
llko that. Thoy say she is wonderfully
llko mo or was, atleaBt, h, few years
ago."
Ho waa allent for a fow minutes,
studying her faco and flguro with the
critical oye of tho artist. As ho turn
ed to tho canvas with his crayon point,
ho remarked, with an unmistakable
noto ot relief in his volco:
"That explains ovcrythlng. It must
havo been Hotty Glynn who poaod for
all thoBo things of Hawkrlght's."
"I daro say," said sho Indifferently.
CHAPTER IX.
The Ghost at the Feast.
Tho next day ho appoared bright
and early with his copy ot tho Studio.
"Thero," ho said, holding it boforo
her oyca. She took It from his hand
and stared long and earnestly at tho
reproduction
"Do you think it like mo?" she in
quired innocently.
"Amazingly like you," ho declared
with conviction.
Sho turned tho page. Ho was watch
ing hor closely. As sho looked upon
tho skotchoB of tho half-nude flguro a
warm blush covered her faco and
neck. She did not speak for a full
minute, and ho was posltivo that her
fingers tightened their grasp on tho
magazine.
"Tho samo modol," he said quietly.
She nodded her head.
"Hetty Glynn, I am sure," she said,
after n pause, without lifting hor eyes!.,
Her volco was low, tho words not very
distinct
Ho drow a long breath, and she look
ed up quickly. What ho saw In her
honest bluo eyes convicted her.
Sara Wrandall camo into tho room
at that moment. Hotty hastily closed
tho magazine and held it behind hor.
Booth had Intended to show tho re
production t6 Mrs. Wrandall, but tho
girl's behavior caused him to chango
his mind. Ho felt that bo possessed
a secret that could not bo shared with
Sara Wrandall, then or afterward.
Moreover, ho decided that he would
not refer to tho Hawkright pictures
again unless tho girl herself brought
up tho subject AH this flashed through
his mind as he stepped forward "to
greet tho newcomer.
Whon ho turned again to Hetty, tho
magnzino had disappeared. He never
saw it afterward, and, what is moro to
tho point, ho never asked hor to pro
duce It.
Ho thought hard over the situation.
Tho obvious solution camo to him:
Sho had been at ono tlmo reduced to
tho necessity of posing, a ciroumstanco
evidently known to but few and leaBt
of all to Sara Wrandall, from whom"
the girl plainly meant to keep tho
truth. This conviction distressed him,
but not In tho way that might havo
been expected. Ho had no scruples
about sharing the secret or In keeping
It inviolate; hla real distress lay In
the fear that Mrs. Wrandall might
hear of all this from other and per
haps ungcntlo sources. As for her pos
ing for Hawkright, it meant little or ,
nothing to him. In his own experience,
two girls pf gentle birth had served. as
models for-pictures of-his own mak
ing, nnd he fully appreciated the exi
gencies that had driven' them to It:
Ono had posed In tho "altogether."
She was a iglrl of absolutely Irre
proachable, character, who afterward
married a xhnp he know very well,
and who was fully nwaro of that short
phase In her life. That feature of the
situation meant nothing to him. Ho
was in no doubt, concerning Hetty. vSha.
waa what Bho appeared to be: A gen-1
tlewoman.
Ho admitted to himself that Tio was
under tho spell of her. If was not-'
love, ho was able to contend; but
It was a mysterious appeal to some
thing within him that had never re-"
vealed Itself before. He couldn't '
qulto explain what It was.
In his solitary hours at tho cottage'
on tho upper road, ho was wont -to
take his friend Leslie Wrandall into
consideration. As a friend, was it not
his duty to go to him with ills Bordld
little tale? Was it right to let Wran
dall go on with his wooing when there
existed that which might make all the
difference In the world to him? He
invariably brought theso deliberations
to a..closo by relaxing Into a grim smilo
ot amusement, as mueh, as to say:
"Servo him right, anyway. Trust him
He Was Watching Her Closely.
to sift her antecedents thoroughly.
He's already dono It, and ho is qulto
satisfied with tho result. Sorve them
all right, for that matter."
But then thero was Hetty Glynn,
What of hor? Hotty Glynn, real or
mythical, was n disturbing factor In
IUb deductions. If thero was a real
Hotty Glynn and she was Hetty Cob
tloton's doublo, what thon?
On tho fifth day of a series of rather
prolonged and todlous sittings, ho was
obliged to conflno hla work to an hour
and a half In tho forenoon. Mrs. Wran
dall was having a fow friends In for
auctlon-brldgo Immediately after lunch
eon. Sho asked him to stay over and
tako a hand, but ho declined. Ho dlu
not play bridge.
(TO BB CONTINUED.)
"HE
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