THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA.
The Hollow
i
of
Her
Hand
a
f!
h
I; hi
w
I
8YN0P8I8.
Challls Wrandall la found murdered In
a. rond house near Now York. Mrs. Wran
toll Is Biimmoned from tho city and Iden
tities the body. A young woman who ac
companied Wrandall to iho Inn nnd sub
noqucntly disappeared, Is suspoclocl.
Mrs. Wrandall starts hack for New ork
In an auto during a blinding snow storm,
On tho way Hhe moots a young womn In
the rood who proves to ho tho woman
who killed Wrn idall. Keeling that the
Girl had dono her u service. In ridding hor
of Oil: man who though Hho lovpd him
deeply, had caused her great sorrow.
Mrs. Wnindall dotirmlncs to shield her
nnd takes her to hir own homo. Mrs.
Wrfiiidall hears the story of Hetty Cas
tlolon's life, ixrept that portion that re
ntes to Wrandall. This and the story of
tho tragedy -me forbids the girl over to
tell 8ho offers Hetty a home, friendship
rnd security from peill on account of tho
trugedy. Hum Wrandall and Hetty re
turn to Now York aner an ausi-m-a ui
year In Europe. Leslie Wrundult, brother
of Chains, becomes greatly Interested In
Hotly. Bara sees In Lesllo's Infatuation
possibility for revenge on tho Wrandalls
und reparation for the wrongs slm sur
rered at the ha.ids of Challls Wrandall by
marrying his murderess Into tho family.
Melto, In company with his friend Ilran
llon Booth, an artist, visits Bara at her
rountry place. Lesllo confesses to Bara
ItiKt he Is madlv In lovo with Hetty. Bara
iirrangos with Booth to paint a plrture of
Hotty. Dooth ha a haunting fceltnrf that
lie has seon Hetty before. Looking
through a portfolio of pictures by an un
known English artlit ho finds ono of
Hetty. He speaks to her about It. Hetty
declares It must bo a plcturo of Hetty
Olynn. on English actress, who resomblps
lier vry much. Much to his chagrin
Tx-sllo is refused by Hetty IJooth and
Hetty confess thslr lovo for each other,
hut tho lattor declares that sho can never
inarry as there Is rtn Insurmountable bar
Hr In tho way. Hettv admits to Bara
that sho loves llooth. Bara declares that
Hetty must marry Leslie, who must bo
tnndo to pay his brother's debt to tho
rlrl. Hetty ngaln attempts to toll the
teal story of tho tragdy nnd Barn threat
ens to strangle her if sho says a word.
Rnra Insults Hetty by rovealing that all
Oils time sho lias believed Hotty to havo
fdnned in her relations with Chnllls Wran
dall, Later sho realizes that Hetty Is In
nocent. Leslie again proposes to Hetty
fnrt Is reloctod. Hotty prepares to leave
Para, doclarlng that after what has hap
ienod sho can remain no longer.
CHAPTER XIII. Continued.
Leslie did not turn up at his father's
place in tho High street that night
Until Booth was safely out of the way.
Ho spont a dismal ovonlng at the boat
club.
His fathor and mothor wero In tho
library whon ho camo homo at half
past ton. Prom a dark corner of tho
pardon-ho had wltnossod Booth's early
departure Vivian had gono down to
tho gate in tho low-lying hodgo with
hor visitor. Sho camo in a moment
uftor LobIIo'b entrance
"Hollo, Los," eho said, bonding an
Inquiring oyo upon him. "Isn't this
early for you?" ,
Her brother was standing near tho
fireplace.
"Thoro's n heavy dow falling, Ma
tor," ho said gruffly. "Shan't I touch
a match to tho kindling?"
His mothor camo over to him quick
ly, and laid hor hand on his arm.
"Your coat is damp," sho said anx
iously. "Yes, light tho fire."
"It's very warm in this room," said
Mr, Wrandall, looking up from his
book. They woro always doing some
thing for Leslie's comfort.
No ono seemed to notlco him. Lea
tlo knelt and struck a match.
"Well?" said Vivian.
"Well what?" he domandod without
looking up.
Hlo slater took a moment for thought,
"Is Hotty coming to stay with uu in
July?"
Ho stood erect, first rubbing hla
Unoo to dlslodgo tho dust thon his
palms.
1 "No, sho Isn't coming," ho Bald. Ho
drew a vory long broath tho first In
Duvoral Wmra and thon oxpolled It
vocally. "Sho has rofusod to marry
mo."
Mr, Wrandall turned a leaf In his
book; It voundod like iho crack of
doom, eo etlll had tho room become.
Vivian had the forethought to push
n chair toward hor mothor. It was a
tnoBt tlmoly act on hor part, for Mrs.
Wrandall sut down vory abruptly and
vory limply,
"Sho what?" gaapod Lesllo's
mother. ,
"Turned mo down cold," said Lea
Ho briefly.
' Mr. Wrandall laid1 his book on the
tablo without thinking to put tho book
mark in place. Thon ho arose and
removed his glasses, fumbling for tho
case.
"Sho sho what?" ho demanded.
""Sacked me," roplled his son.
"Please do not jost with mo, Les
lie," said his mother, trying to smile,
"Ho Un't Joking, mothor," said Viv
ian, with a shrug of her fine Bhoulders
"Ho ho must bo," crlod Mrs. Wran
dall Impatiently. "What did olio really
nay, LcbIIo?"
"Tho only thing I rcmombor was
goodby,' " said he, and then blew his
ncso violently.
"Poor old Lob!" Bald Vivian, with
real feeling.
"It was Sara Gooch's doing!" ox
claimed Mrs, Wrandall, getting her
breath at laBt.
"Nonsense," said Mr. Wrandall,
picking up his book onco more and
Hurulng to tho placo whoru the book
mark lay, after which ho procoeded to
ro-read four or flvo pagoH boforo dis
covering IiIb error.
No ono Hpoko for a matter 6f flvo
minutes or inoro. Thon Mrs. Wran
idall got up, wont ovor to tho library
table and closed with a snap tho bulky
blue book with tho limp leather cover,
eaylng as she hold It up to lot him
boo that It was tho privately printed
history of tlj.x Murgntroyd family:
COPY?fflr,Mz or
"It camo by post thin evonlng from
Iondon. Sho ,la merely a fourth cousin,
my non."
Ho looked up with a gleam of In
terest In his eye.
CHAPTER XIV.
Crossing the Channel. ;
Booth, restless with a vague uneasi
ness that had come ovor him during
tho night, keeping him awako until
nearly dawn, was hard put during tho
early hours of tho forenoon to find
occupation for his Interest until a
soasonablo tlmo arrived for appearing
at Southlook, Ho was unablo to ac
count for this fooling of uncertainty
and Irritation.
At nlno ho sot out to walk ovor to
Southlook, realizing that ho should
havo to spend an hour In profitless
gossip with tho lodgo keeper before
presenting himself at tho villa, but
somehow relishing tho thought that
even so ho would bo noarer to Hetty
than if ho romainod in his own door
yard. Half-way thoro wo.was overtaken by
Sara's big French machine returning
from tho village. Tho car camo to a
standstill as ho stepped aside to let
It pass, and Sara herself leaned ovor
nnd cordially invited him to get In and
ride homo with her.
"What an early bird you are," ho ex
claimed as ho took his 'seat besido
her.
She was not In a mood for airy por
Blflago, as ho soon discovered.
"Miss Castloton has gono up to
town, Mr. Booth," sho said rather
lifelessly. "I havo JuBt taken her to
tho station. Sho caught tho eight
thirty." Ho was at onco solicitous. "No bad
nows, I hope?" Thoro was no thought
In his mind that her nbsenco was
other than temporary.
"Sho 1b not coming back, Brandon."
Sho had not nddreseed him as Bran
don boforo.
Ho stared. "You you mean " Tho
words died on his lips.
"Sho Is not coming back," sho re
poatod. An accusing gleam leaped Into his
oyos.
"What has happened, Mrs. Wran
dall?" he naked. ,
Sho was quick to porcolve the
change In his volco and manner. '
"Sho-prefers to live apart from mo.
That l all."
"When was thlB decision reached?"
"But yesterday. Soon nfter sho came
in from hor walk with you."
"Do do you mean to imply that
that had anything to do with her leav
ing your homo?" ho demanded, with
a flush on his chook.
Sho met his look without flinching.
"It was tho beginning."
"You you crltlcjsod hor? You took
hor to task"
"I notified hor that sho wan to marry
Lesllo Wrandall it sho marries anyone
at all," she said in a perfectly level
tono.
"Good Lord, Mrs. Wrandall!"
"But sho Is not going to marry Les
llo' 1!I know It I knew It yestorday," ho
crlod triumphantly. "Sho loves mo,
Sara. Didn't she say as much to
you?"
"Yob, Brandon, sho loves you. But
she will not bo your wlfo."
"What Is all this mystery? Why
can't sho bo my wfo? What la there
to prevent?"
She rogarded him with dnrk, lnscru-
"She What?" Gasped Leslie's Mother.
table oyos. Many seconds passed bo
foro she spoke.
"Would you want hor for your wlfo
If you know sho had bolongod to an
other man?"
Ho thrnod very cold. Tho palmB of
his hands wore wot, as with ice-water.
Something durk soemed to flit before
his eyes.
"I will not bollovo that of her," ho
said, shaking his head with an air of
finality.
"That Is not an answer to my ques
tion."
"Yos, I would still want hor," ho
declared steadily.
"I merely meant to put you to tho
harshest test," sho said, and there was
relief in her volco. "Sho is a good
girl, sho is pure. I uskod my question
becauBo until yestorday I had reason
to doubt her."
?TRV cVC 7 1
. wiygfeffly,
Georffe Barr
GOnGr&WK AnCtiTCMfaW '' COPTfflCttZ 9t2 3YP0DD,ffIDZO0iPArtY
' (Jood heavens, how could you doubt
thoso honest, guiltless eyes of "
Sho shook her head sadly. "To an
swer you I would hrtvo to reveal the
secret that makes it impossible for
her to becomo your wlfo, and-that I
cannot, will not do."
"Is It fair to mo?"
"Perhaps not, but It Is fair to her,
and that Is why I muBt remain silent."
"Boforo God, I shall know tho truth
from her, if not from you and "
"If you love her, If you will bo kind
to her, you will lot her go her way
in peace."
Ho was struck by tho somewhat sin
ister earnestness of her words.
"Tell mo whero I may llnd her," he
said, setting his jaw.
"It will not bo dlfllcult for you to
find her," sho said, frowning, "If you
.Insist on pursuing her."
"You drlvo hor away from your
house, Sara Wrandall, and yet you ex
pect mo to believe that your motives
are frlondly. Why ehould I accept
your word as final?"
"I did not drivo her away, nor did
I ask her to stay."
Ho stared, hard at her.
"Good Lord, what is tho meaning
of all this?" ho cried in perplexity?
"What am I to understand?
Tho car had como to a stop under
tlfo porto cochore. Sho laid her hand
on his arm.
"If you will como Jn with me, Bran
don, I will try, to mako things clear
to you."
Ho left In half an hour, walking rap
Idly down tho drive, his coat buttoned
closely, although tho morning was hot
and breathless. Ho held In his hand
a small scrap of paper on which was
wrltton: "If I loved you loss, I would
como to you now and Ho to you. If
you lovo me, Brandon, you will let me
go ray way. It is tho only course.
Sara is my friend, and she is yours.
Bo guided by her, and believe In my
lovo for you. Hetty."
And now, ns things go In fairy sto
ries, wo should prepare ourselves to
soo Hotty pass through a season in
drudgory and hardship, with tho ulti
mata quintessence of Joy as the re
ward for hor trials nnd tribulations.
Happily, this Is not a fairy tale. There
aro somo things more fantastic than
fairy tales, If they aro not spoiled in
tho telling. Hotty did not go forth
to oncountor drudggry, disdain and ob
loquy. By no manner of means! She
wont with a well-filled purse, a deflnito
purposo ahead and a determined fac
tor bohlnd.
In a manner befitting hor station as
tho intlmato friend of Mrs. Challls
Wrandall, ns tho cousin of tho Murgnt
royds, as tho datrghter of Colonel Cas
tloton of tbo Indian corps, as a per
son supposed to bo possessed of In
dependent means withal, sho went,
with nono to question, none to cavil.
Sara had insisted on this, ns much
for her own sako as for Hetty's; she
argued, and sho had prevailed in tho
end. What would (he world think,
what would their acquaintances think,
and above all what would tho high and
mighty Wrandalls think if sho wont
with moek and lowly mien?
Why should thpy make it possible
for anyone to look askance? '
And so it was that eho departed in'
Btnto, with a dozen trunks and boxes;
an obsequiously attended scat In the
parlor car was hers; a telegram In
hor bng assured her that rooniB wero
being reserved for herself nnd maid
at tho Illtz-Carlton; elongaldo It re
posed a letter to Mr. Carroll, Instruct
ing him to provide her with sufficient
funds to carry out tho plan agreed
upon; and In tho seat behind sat tho
lady's maid who hart uerved her for
a twelvemonth and more.
Tho tlmoly domlso of the venerable
Lord Murcatroyd affojdod tho most
i natural excuse for her trip to England.
Iho old nobleman gave, up tho ghost,
allowing for difference In tlmo, at tho
very momcut when Mrs. Redmond
Wrandall wns undoing & oertaln pack
ago from London, which turned out
to bo u complete hiBtorj of what his
forbears had dono in tho vuy of prop
agation since the fourteenth contury.
Hetty did not And It enay to accom
Diodato hor prldo to tho plan which
was to give her a fresh and rathnr
Imposing start In tho world. Sho was
to havo a full year in which to deter
mine whother she should accept toll
and poverty as her lot, or otnulalo the
symbolic oxamplo of Dicky, tho canary
bird. At tho end of the your, unless
eho did as Dicky had done, her source
of supplies would bo automatically cut
on niul she would bo outlroly depend
ent upon her own wits and resources.
In tho Interim Hho wns a probationary
person of leisure. It had required
hours of persuasion on tho part of
Sara Wrandall to bring her Into lino
with these nrrangoments.
"But I am nblo and willing to work
for my living," had boon Hetty's stub
born rotort to nil tho arguments
brought to boar upon her.
"Thon lot mo put It In another llcht.
It lu vital to mo, of courso, that you
should keep up thu show of affluence
for a while nt least. I think I havo
tnatlo that clear to you. But hero Is
another sldo to tho mnttor; tho ques
tion of recomponso."
"Hacompenso?" cried Hetty sharply.
"Without your knowing It, I havo
virtually held you a prlsonor all these
MCutcheon
months, condemned in my own Judg
ment if not in tho sight of the law.
I havo taken tho law unto myself. You
wero not convicted of murder in this
unltnrian court of mine, but of an
other sin. For fifteen montliB you
have been living under the shadow of
a crlmo you did not commit. I was
reserving complete punishment for
you in tho shape of an ignoble mar
riage, which was to havo served two
bitter ends. Well, I had tho truth
from you. I believe you to be abso
lutely Innocent of tho chnrge I held
over you, for which I condemned you
without a hearing. Then, why should
I not employ my own means of mak
ing restitution?"
"You have condescended to believe
in me. That is all I ask."
"True, that Is all you nsk. But is
It .altogether the fair way out of it?
To illustrate: our criminal laws nro
less kind to the Innocent than to the
guilty. Our law courts find a man
guilty and he is sent to prison. Later
on, he Is found to bo Innocent abso
lutely Innojsont. What does the state
do in the premises? It Issues a formal
pardon a mockery, pure and simple
and tho man Is set free. It nil comes
to a curt, bclnted apology for an error
on the part of Justice. No substantial
recompense Is offored. He Is moroly
pardoned for something he didn't do.
Tho state, which has wronged him,
condescends to pardon him! Think of
it! It is the same as If a man knocked
another down nnd then snld, before ho
removed his foot from tho victim's
neck: 'I pardon you freely.' My fa
ther was opposed to tho system we
have that all countries have of par
doning men who have been unjustly
condemned. Tho innocent victim Is
pardoned in tho snmo manner as tho
guilty one who comes in for clemency.
I accept my father's contention that
an Innocent man should not be shamed
and, humiliated by a pardon. The
court which tried him should reopen
tho case and honorably acquit m of
tho crime. Then tho state should pay
to this Innocent man, dollar for dol
lar, all that ho might have earned dur
ing hie term of Imprisonment, with an
additional amount for the suffering he
has endured. Not long ago in an ad
joining state a man, who had served
seventeen years of a life sentence for
murder, wns found to bo wholly inno
cent. What happened? A pardon was
handed to him and ho wulked out of
prison, broken In spirit, health nnd
purse. Ills small fortune had been
wiped out In tho futile effort to prove
his Innocence. He gave up sovouteen
years of his lifo and then wan par
doned for the sacrifice. He should
havo been paid for every day spent in
prison. That was tho vory least they
coiild have done."
"I see now what you mean," mused
Hotty. "I have never thought of It
In that way before."
"Well, It comes to this in our enso,
Hotty: I havo tried you all over again
In my own llttlo court and I have ac
quitted you of the charge I had against
you. I do not offer you a silly pardon.
You must allow mo to have my way
In this matter, to choose my own
means of compensating you for"
"You saved my life," protested Het
ty, shaking her head obstinately.
"My dear, I appreciate tho fact that
you nro English," said Sara, with a
weary smile, "but won't you please see
the point?"
Tnsn Hotty smiled too, and the way
was eaBler uftor that for Sara. Sho
gained her quixotic point, and Hetty
went away from Southlook feeling that
no woman in nil the world was so be
wildering as Sara Wrandall.
When sho sailed for England, two
dnyc later, tho newspapers nnnounced
that the benutlful and attractive Miss
Cailtleton was returning to her native
lnul on account of the death of Lord
MuTatroyd, and would spend the year
on tho continent, whero probably she
would bo Joined later on by Mrs. Wran
dull, whoso period of mourning and
dlnfcBs had boon softened by the con
stn. and loyal friendship of "this ex
qurolto Englishwoman."
F'cur hundred mllee out at sea she
wi overtaken by wireless messages
fna three porsons.
tfrnndon Booth's messngo said: "I
tun walling tomorrow on a faster ship
thPJtt yours. You will find mo waiting
for you on tho landing stage." Her
heart gave a leap to dizzy heights, and,
try as sho would, Bhe could not crush
It brick to tho depths in which It had
dw41t for days.
The second bit of palo green paper
contained a cry from a most unexpect
ed source: "Cable your London nd-
drrai. S. refuses to glvo It to mo. I
thlnft I undoratnnd the situation. We
want to make amends for what you
hav had to put up with during the
year. Sho has shown hor truo nature
at Ust." it was signed "Lesllo."
From Sara camo these cryptic
wortfB: "For each year of famine thoro
will come seven years 'of plenty."
AH tho way across tho Atlantic sho
lived In a Btnto of subdued excitement.
Conflicting emotions absorbed her
waking hours but her dreams wero all
of ono complexion: rosy and warm
and full of a Joyousnosa that dis
tressed hor vastly whon sho rocalled
them to mind In tho onrly morning
hours. During tho day aho intermit
tently hoped and feared that ho would
bo on tho lnndlng stage. In nny event,
she wns bound to And unhnpplncss.
If ho wero thero her Joy would bo
short-lived and blighting; if hp woro
not thero, hor disappointment would
be equally hard to bear.
He wns there. Sho saw him from
the deck of tho tender as they edged
up to tho landing. His tall figure
loomed In the front rank against tho
rail that held back tho crowd; his
sun-bronzed faco woro a look of eager
expectancy; from her obscured posi
tion In the shadow of the deck build
ing, purposely chosen for reasons only
too obvious, she could even deject the
nlert, ewift-moving scrutiny that he
fastened upon the crowd.
Later on, ho stood looking down
into her serious blue eyes; her hands
were lying limp In his. His own eyes
wero dark with earnestness, with the
restraint that had fastened Itself upon
him. Behind her stood the respectful
but Immeasurably awed mnld, who
could not, for the life of her, under
stand how n man could be on both
sides of the Atlantic nt one and the
same time.
"Thank tho Lord, Hetty, say I, foi
tho five-day boats," he was saying.
"You Bhould not have come, Bran
don," sho cried softly, and tho look
of misery In her eyes was tinged with
a glow she could mot suppress. "It
only makes everything harder for me.
I I Oh, I wish you had not come!"
"But Isn't it wonderful?" ho crlod,
"that I should be here and waiting for
you! it Is almost inconceivable. And
you were in the net of running away
from me, too. Oh, I havo that much
of the tale from Sara, so don't look
so hurt nbout it."
"I am so sorry you camo," sho re
peated, her lip trembling.
Noting her emotion, he gave her
hands a fierce, encouraging pressure
nnd immediately released them.
"Come," he said gently; "I have
booked for London. Everything Is ar
ranged. I shall see to your luggage.
Let mo put you In the carriage first
As sho sat in the railway carriage,
waiting for him to return, she tried
In a hundred ways to devise a means
of escape, and yet she had never loved
him eo much as now. Her heart was
sore, her desolation never so complete
as now.
He camo back at last and took his
seat beside hor in the compartment,
fanning himself with his hat The maid
very discreetly stared out of the win
dow at the hurrying throng of travel
ers on the platform.
"How I love you, Hetty how I
adore you!" Booth .whispered passion
ately. "Oh, Brandon 1"
"And I don't mean to glvo you up,"
he added, his lean Jaw setting hard.
"You must oh, you must," she cried
miserably. "I mean It, Brandon "
"What aro your plan's?" asked he.
"Please don't nsk me," she pleaded.
"You must glvo It up, Brandou. Let
mo go my own way."
"Not until I have the whole story
from you. You see, I am not easily
thwarted, once I set my heart on a
thing. I gathered this much from
Sara: the object Is not insurmount
able." "She said that?"
"In effect, yes,-' ho qualified.
"What did she toll you?" demanded
Hetty, laying her hand on his arm.
"I will confess she didn't reveal tho
secret that you consider a barrier, but
she went so far as to say that it was
He Stood Looking Down Into Her Se
rious Blue Eyes.
very dark and dreadful," ho said light
ly. They wore speaking in very low
tones. "When I pinned her down to
it, sho ndded that It did not in any
sense bear upon your honor. But
there is tlmo enough to talk about this
lator on. For tho prosent lot's not
discuss the past. I know enough of
your history from your own lips ns
well as what llttlo I could got out
of Sara, to feel suro that you are
In a way, drifting. I intend to look
nftor you, at least until you find your
self. Your sudden break with Sara
hns been explained to mo. Leslie
Wrandall Is at tho back of It. Sara
told mo thut sho tried to forco you
to marry him. I think you did quite
right in going away aa you did, but,
on the othor hand, was it qulto fair to
mo?"
"Yes, It was iinost fair," sho said,
compressing her llpa.
Ho frowned.
"We can't possibly bo of tho sarao
opinion," ho said sorlously.
"You wouldn't say that If you knew
everything."
"How long do you Intend to stay In
London?"
"1 don't know. When does this train
arrlvo thoro?"
"At four o'clock, I think. Will you
go to an hotel or to friends?" Ho put
tho question very delicately.
Sho smiled faintly. "You mean tho
Murgatroyds?"
"Your father is here, I am Informed.
And you must havo other frlendo or
relatives who "
"I shall go to a small hotel I know
near Trafalgar square," sho interrupt
ed quietly. "You must not come thero
to see me, Brandon."
"I shall expect you to dine with mo
nt say Prince's this ovonlng," was
his response to this.
Sho shook hor head and thon turned
to look out of tho window. Ho oat
back in his seat and for many miles,
with deep perplexity In his eyes, stud
ied her half-averted face. Tho old
uneasiness returned. Was this ob
stacle, after all, so great that it could
not be overcome?
They lunched together, but wero
singularly reserved all through tho
meal. A plan was growing In her
brain, n cruel but effective plan that
made her despise herself and yet con
tained tlie only means of escape .from
an even more cruel situation.
He drove with hor from, the station
to the small hotel off Trafalgar square.
Thoro wero no rooms to bo had. It
was tho week of Ascot and tho city
was still crowded with people who
awaited only tho royal sign to break
the fetters that bound them to Lon
don. Somewhat perturbed, sho al
lowed him to escort her to several ho
tels of a like character. Failing in
each case, she was in despair. At
last she plucked up the courago to
say to him, not without constraint and
embarrassment:
"I think, Brandon, If you were to
allow me to apply alone to ono of
these places I could get In without
much trouble."
"Good Lord!" ho gasped, going very
red with dismay. "What a fool I"
"I'll try the Savoy," she said quick
ly, and then laughed at him. His faco
wna the plcturo of dietress.
"I shall come for you tonight at
eight," he said, stopping the taxi at
once. "Goodby UU1 then."
He got out and gavo directions to
the chauffeur. Then ho did a very
strange thing. He hailed another taxi
nnd, climbing in, started off in tho
wake of tho two women. From a,
point of vantage near the corridor
leading to the "American bar," he saw
Hetty sign her slips and move off
toward the left. Whereupon, seeing
tliat sho was quite out of the way, ho
approached the manager's ofllce and
asked for accommodatona.
"Nothing left, sir,"
"Not a thing?"
"Everything has been taken for
weeks, sir. I'm sorry."
"Sorry, too. I had hoped you might
hao somothing left for a frlond who
expects to stop hero a Miss Castle
ton." "Miss Castloton has Just applied.
Wo could not give her anything."
"Eh7"
"Fortunately we could let her havo
rooms until eight this evening. Wo
were moro than pleased to offer them
to her for a few hours, although they
are reserved for parties coming down
from Liverpool tonight."
Booth tried the Cecil and got a most
undesirable room. Calling up tho
Savoy on the telophono, ho got hor
room. The maid answered. Sho In
formed him that Miss Castleton had
Just that instant gono out and would
not return before seven o'clock.
"I suppose sho will not remove her
trunks from tho station until sho finds
a permanent place to lodge," ho In
quired. "Can I bo of any service?"
"I think not, sir. Sho left no word,
sir."'
Ho hung up the receiver and
straightway dashed over to tho Savoy,
hoping to catch hor before sho left tho
hotel. Just inside the door ho camo
to an abrupt stop. Sho was nt tho
news and ticket booth In tho lobby,
closely engaged in conversation with,
tho clork. Prosently tho lattor took
up the telephone, nnd after a brief con
versation with somo ono at tho other
end, turned to Hetty nnd nodded his
head. Whereupon sho nodded her own
adorablo head and began tho search
for her purse. Booth edged around
to nn obscure spot and saw hor pay
for and recclvo somothing In return.
"By Jove!" he said to himself,
amazed.
Sho passed near him, without seeing
him, and wont out into tho court. Ho
watched hor turn into tho Strnnd.
.(TO UK CONTINUED.)
Purpose Doubtful.
"I'm puzzled about this custom of
eating to music."
"How's that?"
"I can't understand whothor tho
food is intended to keep your mind
oft tho music or tho music is intended
to keep your mind off the food."
Musician.
"
W