The Holbrook news., January 27, 1922, Image 7

About The Holbrook news. (Holbrook, Navajo County [Ariz.]) 1909-1923

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
gJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIHIIllllllllllllllllllll
HARRIET
and the
PIPER
. Kathleen Norris
Illustrations by
. Irwin Myers
nillllllliiililllilllllllliiiiiilllllllllllllilllr
CopyrUM by Kattdaea NorrO
CHaPTKR V,
. Harriet slept In the room with Julia
and Josephine that night, or rather
tossed and lay wakeful there. At
about two o'clock the wind streonied
mercifully In. hot and thick, Imt
prophetic of rain, and Harriet, wan
dering about to make windows fast,
encountered Linda, on the same er
rand. When, the worst of the crack
ling and flashing was over, the girl
glanced at her watch. Three o'clock,
but she could sleep now. She sank
deeply Into dreams, not to stir until
Linda's alarm clock, hnstily smutti
ered. thrilled at seven, and the small
glrl9 rose with cheerful noise, to let
Streams of hot sunshine upon hr face.
Immediately after breakfast the
two small girls attacked Iheir Satur
day morning's work with a philosophic
vigor that rather touched their aunt.
Fred had hurried away after his hasty
meal ; "the boys were turned out Into
the backyard,-which Tip was expected
to rake while he watched his small
brother.
Harriet's beart ached deeply for
them all as she watched the Jersey
marshes from the car window a few
hours later. Josephine was to he a
stenographer when she finished high
school, and little Julia hail expre-.ed
an angelic ambition to teach a kinder
garten class some day. Nina, at their
ages, had her pony, her finishing
school, her little silk stockings, and
her monocranimed Ivory toilet set.
her trip to England and France and
Italy with her mother and brother
and grandmother.
Suppose that she. Harriet, was right
In suspecting that Ward's feeling was
more than the passing gallant ry of
a light-hearted boy? It would he a
nine-days' wonder, his marriage nt
twenty-two with his mother's secre
tary, more than four years his senior.
But after that? After that there
would be nothing to say or do. Toiinjr
Mr. and Sirs. Ward Carter would es
tablish themselves comfortably, and
the elder Carters would visit them:
Isabelle absorbed as usual In her own
mysterious thoughts, and Itichard
. Carter
Harriet's thoughts, none too com
fortable up to this point, stopped here
and she flushed. She would not enjoy
telling Richard that she was to marry
his son. Those kten eyes would read
her through and through and while
her father-in-law might love her. and
see her beauty and charm with all
the rest of the world. Harriet knew
that she must begin an actual cam
palgn for bis esteem on her weddlns
day. The prospect had an unexpect
ed piquancy. She had little fear of
Its outcome. She would make Ward
Carter a wife-for whom his father
must come to feel genuine gratitude
and devotion. There would be chil
dren, there would be hospitality and
music and a garden. And Ward
should seriously fettle down to his
business, whatever It might be, and
show himself a worthy son of his
clever father.
"Why not why not?" Harriet asked
herself, as she reached Madame Car
ter's pretentious apartment house, and
was whisked upstairs. She was to
meet Nina here, and she glanced about
for the big limousine at the curb, us an
Indication that the old lady might be
ready to accompany them back to
Crownlands. But there was no car in
sight. The maid's first statement was
ahat Miss Cnrter had gone home with
tier brother, and then Madame Carter
fame magniticently Into the room.
"Well, our bird has flown!" said the
old lady. Harriet could see that she
was pleased about something.
"Goue home with Ward?" Harriet
asked. Madame Carter never shook
hands with her; there was conscious
superiority In the little omission. . She
sank into a chair, and ilarriet sat
down.
"Ward and his friend, this Mr. Bhm
din." Madame Carter said. "A very
Interesting a most unusual man. A
very good family, too excellent old
family. Yes. Xina assured us that shf
had to wait and go home with hoi
Daddy, but that " Madame Carter
gave Harriet a deeply significant snill
"but that didn't seem to please
Somebody very much !"' she added. "So
I told Nina I thought Granny would lie
able to make it all right with Daddy
and off the young people went."
She rocked, with a beidgnly tri
umphant expression, and a complacent
rustle of silken skirts. Harriet, bo
ueath an automatic smile, hid a trou
bled heart. Royal was losing no time
Ward bis innocent instrument, und thli
fatuous old lady of course playing hit
game for bltn !
Harriet saw that she was pleased
and flattered by an older man's appar
ent admiration of Nina; and that sin
wool.! further the girl's first defiulM
t)ffalr In every way that lay in bet
power. It was maddeninf ; it was ex
asperating beyond words. An honest
warning would have merely flattered
her with its implication of her linpor
tanee; ah, uo, Isabelle and Harriet
might try to hold the child back but
Granny knew girl nature better than
either of them !
"Well, then, I murt follow them
home," Harriet said, pleasantly, "l'ou
don't come back tonight?"
To this Madame Carter very point
edly made no. answer; her plans were
not Miss Field's business.
"The child Is growing up!" the old
Jady said, smiling at some thought.
"Well, we nmst Irs t r love nffalrs
now !" ...
Harriet felt that t.icivwns siii--.ll
profit in following this line f conver
sation. She glanced at her twisteJ
wrist.
"I think I will make that two o'clock
train, il.'.duinn Carter, unless there is
Jmrnk
SmWmm
lij:'
"A Very Interesting A Moet Unusual
Han A Very Good Family, Too
Excellent Old Family."
some errand I might do for you?" she
said respect fully.
This courtesy, from c beautiful
young woman to an old one. always an
tagonized Madame Carter. Harriet
knew that she was casting about (or
some honeyed and venomous farewell,
when the muffled thrill of the beli
came to them, and the footsteps of
Kiln were heard. Immediately r.fter
wiird Richard Carter came quickly In.
He met Harriet tit the door.
"How are you; Miss Field? Tell
Nina to hurry ; I've got about five min
utes:' he said, pleasantly.
"Iou't keep Miss Field; fche Is mak
ing her train!" said his mother, com
ing forward under fall sail, and laying
both h:iinls about his. "I'H explain
about Nina."
Richard Carter gave his i iothcr the
peculiarly warm smile that was espe
cially her own.
"Wem on with Ward, eh?" he said.
In his hearty voice. "That's all right,
then. Oh, Miss Field!" he called, after
Harriet's discreetly retreating buck,
"the car's downstairs. Wait for me
there; I'll run you home in half the
time the train takes. I'm playing in
the tennis finals. Mother"
Harriet, turning for Just a nod and
smile, heard no more. But uf she en
tered the lift, the girl said to herself,
with a passionate sort of gratitude:
"t I like j oil ! You're the oi.ly genu
ine und unselfish and kind-hearted one
In the whole crowd !"
She went down to the street, .and
saw the small car waiting. He was
driving himself today. With a great
sense of comfort and relaxation Har
riet got into it, and was comtortably
establishcd, and tucked in snugly,
when Richard came down. He smiled
at seeing her, got into his own seat ;
the machine slipped smoothly Into mo
tion, the hot and sordid streets began
to glide by.
"Ever think how Illiiinlnatiiig it
would be. Miss F.eld, if we kept n list
of the things that are worrying us
sick, and read 'em over a few weeks
later?"
"I suppose so !" the girl said, a little
surprised, and yet with fervor. "We'd
have a fresh lunch then, und he wor
rying away Just us hard !"
The spontaneous response In her
tone made Richard Carter laugh.
Harriet was content to enjoy this
restful Interval between the hurry and
crowding of Linda's bouse and the
currents and cross-currents that she
must encounter at Crownlands. She
watched the green country go by. the
trees silent and heavy with their rich
foliage, the villages Mazing with the
list Jene r ses.
They Hew by the great gates of the
country club, ami turned in past
Crownlands lodge, and Harriet got out
at the steps, and turned her happy.
Hushed face toward the man to thank
h';m. Whatever she saw in his face as
lie smiled and nodded at her pleased
her. for she went upstairs saying again
to herself, "till, you're real you're
honest 1 like you !"
It was delightful to get back Into
the familiar atmosphere, to catch the
fragrance of (lowers in the orderly
gloom downstairs, to take off her hut
and her hot. dusty clothing, and have
a leisurely hot hath; ro put on fresh
and fragrant suiir.ner wear, and to go
downstairs presently, rejoicing in be
ing young and comfort utile, and tre
mendously inierested in life. The sig
nificance of Richiird Carter's p:ir'ing
look, its honest admiration and friend
liness, augmented by her own glance
at a chain-e mirror on her way up
stairs, stayed with her pleasantly.
At one end of the terrace there v.-as
an awning whose shade fell upon the
brick flooring and the jars of bloom;
and this afternoon it also shaded Isa
belle, in a basket chair, and the hip
hound, und Tony I 'ope. Harriet csl
f'-.em a passing gl.i:;-e, and wondered
a little in her heart. The boy was
handsome, and fascinating, and rich,
hut it was just a little unusual to have
Isabelle so openly interested in any
one.
Undefined and vague, this was still
somewhere in the ha'-kgrouud of her
thoughts us she returned to Crown
lands. and when she met Ward Car
ter, wrestling with the engine of his
own rather disreputable racing car,
out in one of the clean, graveled
spaces near the garage.
Harriet felt a little quickening of
her pulstvs as she saw him. Then was
no mistaking the pleasure in his eyes
ns she came close.
"Spark plugs?" trite nsked, with the
sympathy of one to whom the peculi
arities of the car were familiar.
"She's fixed now ; I've Just cleaned
'cm." Ward ennoiinccd, flinging away
his cigarette and stra'ghtcniiig Ills
back. "She'll go like a bird,, now. Suy,
THE HOLBROOK
Tl.. .....I rrv ir. will Ton?" he asked.
..,.,-ir ,..,,.. n, come on. he a
sport!"' But perhaps he was as much
surprised us delighted when she very
simply stepped into the low front seat.
He gave her more than one sldewlse
glance as they went dipping smoothly
up and down the green lanes, and said
to himself, "Gosh when she crinkles
those Idue eyes of hers, and her mouth
sort of twitches as If she wunted to
laugh, she Is a beauty that's what she
is!"
About a week later they met for a
few moments in this very side garden.
It was early evening, and twilight and
moonlight were mingled over the silent
roses, and the trimmed turf, and the
low brick walls.
They came straight toward each
other, and stood very close together,
end he took both of Harriet's hands.
"Now. what is it what Is It?" the
man said, quickly. "I've been waiting
long enough. I can't stand It any
longer! I enn't go away tomorrow.
perlia3 for two weeks, and not
know !"
"Ward," the girl faltered, lifting nn
exquisite face thut wore, even In the
faint moonshine, a troubled and in
tense expression, "can't we let it all
wait until you get back?"
"Why, Harriet," and his arm went
about her shoulders, and he bent his
face over hers. "Harriet, why not let
me go happy?" he pleaded.
"You'll see a dozen younger girls at
the Bellamy' camp," Harriet rea
soned, "girls with whom It would be
infinitely more suitable "
"I'lease !" he Interrupted, patiently.
And almost touching her warm, smooth
cheek with Ids own, and coming so
close that to raise her beautiful eyes
was to find his only a few Inches away,
he added, fervently, "You love me and
I love you Isn't that all that mat
ters?" Iid she love him? Harriet hoped,
when she reviewed It all In tin rest
less, tossing hour of the night. that she
haif thought, in that moment, that she
did. It was wonderful to feel that
strong, eager arm about her, there was
A sweet and heady Intoxication In his
pnsslon, even If it did not awaken an
answering passion In return. Under
ilV her reasoning and poutiter-reasun-Ing
in the night there crept the knowl
edge that she had known that this was
coming, had known that only a few
days of encouraging friendliness, only
u few- appealing glances from uplifted
blue eyes, and a few casual touches of
a smooth brown hand must br'.ng this
hour upon her. And back of this hour,
and of a man's joy in' winning the
woman he loved, she had seen the hazy
future of prosperity and beauty and
ease, the gowns and cars and homes,
the position of young Mis. Ward Cur
ler. She had let him turn her face up. In
the strengthening moonlight, and kiss
her hungrily upon the lips, and she
had sent him in to his dinner half-wild
with the joy of knowing himself be
loved. Harriet had gone lu, too, shaken
and half-frightened, and with his last
whispered prophecy ringing In her
eays :
"Wait a year rot! I'll go to the
Bellamys', because I promised to, but
the day I come back, and that's two
weeks from today, we'll tell everyone,
and this time next year you will have
been my wife for six months!"
CHAPTER VI.
A most opportune lull followed,
when Harriet Field had time to collect
her thoughts, and get a true perspec
tive upon the events of the past week.
Nina was leaving for a visit to Amy
Hawkes, tit the extremely dull and en
tirely safe Hawkes mansion, where
four unmarried daughters constituted
a chapfi-oiiage beyond all criticism.
Isabelle Carter was giving and attend
ing the usual luncheons and dinners,
her husband absorbed In an especially
important business deul that kept lilm
alternate nights in the city. The house
was quiet, the domestic machinery
running smoothly, the weather hot,
sulphurous and enervating.
She dined as usiiul alone, that eve
ning, and was surprised, at about eight
o'clock, to receive the demure notifica
tion fivm Rosa that Mrs. Carter would
ilke to see her. With hardly an in
stant's delay she went downstairs.
On the terrace outside the drawing
room windows they were at a card ta
ble: Richard, looking tired and hot in
i-umplcd while, Isabelle exquisite in
silver lace, and yoc.ng Anthony I'ope.
Near by, Madame Carter majestically
fingered some illustrated magazines.
It uplM-urcil that they wanted bridge;
it was too hot to eat, too hot to dance
at the club, too hot suld Isabelle
pathetically to live!
Obligingly. Harriet took her place,
cut for the deal. But her eyes had not
fallen upon the group before she
sensed that something was wrong, and
she hud a moment's flutter of the heart
fcr fear some one suspected her, that
she was under surveillance. Had
Itoyal had Ward
She turned a card, took the deal,
found Anthony I'ope her partner, and
entered into the game with spirit.
Iticlmrd's first words to her were reas
suring : if there was constraint here,
she was not in vol veil In It.
"No trump says little Miss Field.
Well, that doesn't seem to frigid en me.
Two spades."
"I think we might try three dia
monds, M'ss Field," Anotliony said,
gravely and pleasantly, afid Harriet
felt herself acquitted of any apprehen
sion in that direction as well. It only
remained for Isabelle to show frlelid
lineksi. "I u hast diamiinten and perlen,
you two. I can see that ! You're
dow n. Harriet !" Mrs. Curter said,
thoughtfully. Harriet began thorough
ly to enjoy herself. If they were all
furious, at least it was not with her.
She speculated, as she gathered In
her tricks. Was It conceivable that
Richard did not enjoy the discovery
of the tete-u-tete dinner? But Isahelle
had often been equally Indiscreet, and
he had never seemed to resent it be
fore. Harriet knew that Isabelle was
III at ease; she suspected that Tony
was furious. The old lady was ob
viously quivering with battled Inter
est Hnd curiosity.
After three rubbers the game ended
suddenly ; Richard said he had some
letters to write, and was keeping Fox
NEWS, HULBKOOK. ARIZONA, JaN. 27, 1922
waning in uie nurnr.v; aihuu.i.v scno-
& ". said brief and unfriend
( -3' good-nights ; Isabelle merely raised
I P.onate dark eyes to his She was
languidly gathering In her spoils
when the lights of ids car flashed yel-
low on the drive and he was gone.
Immediately afterward Richard
Carter said good-night to Ids mother
and wife, and went in to his study,
Madame Carter followed him in, and
went upstairs, but isahelle sat on
moodily shuffling and reshuffling the
cards. In the bright soft light of the
terrace lamps.
"Walt a minute, Harriet." she said.
briefly, and Harriet obediently loitered.
But Isabelle seemed to have nothing
to say. Her eyes were on the cards,
her beautiful breast, exposed In the
"Wait a Minute, Harriet," She Said,
briefly, and Harriet Qbediently
Loitered. ,
low-cut Hllver gown, rose and fell
stormily, and Harriet saw (hat she was
biting her full under Up. as If anger
seethed strong within her, '
"Come upstairs to my room ; I warft
to speak to you !" Isabelle said, sud
denly. . Harriet followed her upstairs.
pud they entered the beautiful boudoir
together. Here Isabelle dropped Into
a chair and stared dully alien d of her,
a queen of tragedy.
Germalne came forward, evidently
more accustomed to this mood than
Harriet was. Like a flash the high
heeled shoes, the silver gown, and
the brocaded stays were whisked
away, and a cool, loose silk robe en
veloped Isabelle. and she took a deep,
cretonned chair by the window. The
lights were lowered, Isabelle nodded
Harriet to the opposite chair.
"I ask you," she said, with a great
breath of anger restrained, "I ask
you if any woman In the world could
stand It! You saw the way Mr. Car
ter acted. You saw him make me
ridiculous make a fool of me! The
boy will never come to the house
again."
"Oh, I don't think that!" Harriet
said, in honesty.
. "Mr. Carter stalked In upon us, at
dinner " his wife said, broodlngly.
She fell into thought, and suddenly
burst out, "Harriet, my heart aches
for thut hoy! My God my God
what have I done to him !"
She rested her white full arms on
the dressing table, and covered her
face with her hands. Harriet saw the
frail silk of the dressing gown stir
with her sudden dry sobbing.
"My God if I could cry!" Isabelle
said, turning. And ' Harriet realized,
with a shock, that she was not acting.
"Mr. Carter only sees what I see,"
she added, "that It must stop. But
I am afraid it will kill him. He Isn't
like other men. He " She opened a
drawer, fumbled therein. "Read that!"
she said.
Harriet took the sheet of paper,
pressed It open.
"'My heart'," she rend. In Tony
Pope's handwriting. "'I will go away
from you if I must. But It will be
further than India, Isabelle, further
than Rio or Alaska. While we two
live. I must see you sometimes. Per
haps outside the world there is a
prsto oig enut'gn loi me to torgel
you !' "
"Now !" said Isabelle, rising and
beginning restlessly to walk the floor.
"Now, what shall I do? Send him
sway to his death, or risk Mr. Car
ter's Insulting hi in again, as he did
tonight! Anthony Pope means It,
Harriet I know him well enough for
that."
She fell silent. Germalne appeared
with a trav, and began to loosen and
! brush (lie dark hair, and Isabelle
went automatically to the business of
creaming and rubbing, still shaken,
but every minute more mistress of
herself. With the thick, dark switch
gone, Harriet was almost shocked by
the change In the severely exposed
forehead and face. Isahelle looked
fully her nge now, more than her age.
"Well !" said the mistress, somber
eyed still, and with a still heaving
breast. "There was something else
Harriet Gently, please, Gerinaine.
my head aches frightfully. Oh. Har
riet, will you tee what this Blondin
man wants with Nina? She tells me
he suggested some sort of summer
parly In Ids roof garden ; I don't know
quite what It Is. But her heart Is set
on It. They seem to understand each
other I always felt that when Nina's
affairs did begin, she would pick out
freaks like this! Pon't " Gerinaine
bud gone to the bathroom for a hot
towel, and Isabeile dropped her voice,
almost affectionately "don't worry
about this little scene, Harriet. It will
be quite all right!"
"Oh, surely !" The companion's
voice wns light and cheerful ; she
went upstairs only pleasantly excited
and thrilled. And at the breakfast
table next morning Harriet could show
the head of the house the same bright
assurance. Richard had come down
stairs early, and they had their coffee
alone.
"Nina?" asked her father.
"She comes back today," Harriet
said. "Mrs. Corter is going to have
her masseuse, so she won't be down.
She asked you to remember that you
are dinlng at. the Jays' tomorrow.
:
There's to he tennis at about four
"Finals," he said, nodding, a'nd went
out to his car apparently well pleased
with himself and Ids life. Harriet
started for the Hawkes with a philo-
sophlc reflection or two as to the
ephemeral quality of married quar
'els.
She brought Nina back at noon, a
garrulous and complacent Nina, who
could pity the elder Hawkes as girls
who "never i had admirers." When
they reached the driveway of Crown
lands, Harriet recognized the car thnt
was already there, and said to her
self that Anthony Pope would Join
them for luncheon. But just as she
and Nina were about to enter the
cool, wide, dark doorway, Anthony
himself passed them. He was al
most running, and apparently did not
see them. He ran down the shallow
steps and sprang Into his car, which
scattered a spray of gravel as he
Jerked It madly about, and was gone
before she and Nina had ended their
look of surprise. Harriet went slowly
upstairs, with a dim foreboding fur
back in her heart.
At about three, when Harriet and
Nina were Idling on the shady ter
race, with the hound, the new maga
zines, anil their books, Hansen brought
one of the small closed cars to the
side door. Five minutes later Isabelle.
lu a thin white coat., a veiled white
hat, and with a gorgeous white-furred
wrap over her arm, came out. Ger
malne wns with her, carrying two
shiny black suitcases. Isabelle, Har
riet thought, looked superbly hand
some, but Gerinaine had evidently
been scolded, and had red eyes.
Isahelle enme over to give her
daughter a farewell kiss.
"Mrs. Webb has telephoned for me.
ducky. Your father isn't coming home
tonight, but have a happy time with
Miss Harriet, and I'll be back In a
day or two. Good-hy, both of you.
All right. Hansen!"
They swept away, leaving Harriet
with a strange sense of nervousness
and suspense. The summer air seemed
ehnrged with menace, and the silence
that followed the noise of the car odd
ly ominous.
Madame Carter was on the terrace
when they came back at five from an
Idle trip to the club, reporting that
her son had Just returned unexpect
edly from the city, and had gone In
to change for golf.
Nothing alarming here, yet Harriet
experienced a sick thrill of apprehen
sion. Something abnormal seemed to
be the matter with them all this after
noon !
"Did yon call me, Mr. Carter?" She
hardly knew her own voice, as he
came down the three broad steps from
the house. Her hands felt ccld, and
she was trembling.
"Do you happen to know where
Hansen is. Miss Field?"
"Driving Mrs. Carter to the Webbs'
at Great Harrington," the girl an
swered, readily. "Mrs. Carter left In
a hurry. She did not expect you to
night. Hansen ought to be back at
about seven, I should think
He was not listening to he; ab
ruptly left her. When Harriet went
Into the house she saw nothing of
him. She made her usual little round,
spoke briefly to a maid about some
fallen daisy petals, consulted with the
housekeeper as to the new cretonne
covers. A man was to come and
measure those covers this very after
noon perhaps this was he, modestly
waiting nt the side door.
But no, this man briefly and sim
ply asked to be shown to Mr. Carter,
remarking that he was expected. He
disappeared Into the library; Harriet
saw no more of him for an hour, when
he silently appeared beside her, and
asked to see the chauffeur Hansen
as soon as he came.
Richard brought the strange man
to the dinner table; but there was
nothing In that to make the dinner
so unnatural. To be sure Richard ate
little, and spoke hardly at all; but
this Mr. Williams was quite entertain
ing, and the old lady in good spirits.
At eight Hansen was back, present
ing himself lu his dusty road-coat;
Mr. Carter immediately drew him with
Williams Into the library. Nina
loitered up to bed, but the old lady
and Harriet remained downstairs.
They did not like, but they some
times amused, each other. Sudden
ly came the summons: would Miss
Field please step into the library?
Hansen was going out ns she came
in ; Richard was at the big flat
topped desk, the man Williams stand
ing somewhat In shadow. Harriet's
heart leaped ; they were going to ask
her about Royal.
"Jfst a moment, Miss Field," Rich
ard said. "Will you sit down?" And
as Harriet, looking at lilm In fright
ened curiosity, did so, he began quiet
ly: "We are In some trouble here.
Miss Field. I hardly know how to
tell you what we fear. Did you no
tice anything strange about Mrs.
Carter's manner today?"
"I thought I did," Harriet admitted.
"Did you think of any reason for
it?"
Harriet gave the stranger a glance
that made him an eavesdropper.
"I fancied that It was connected
with with what distressed her last
night, Mr. Carter."
"You may speak before Mr. Wil
liams," Richard said. He looked
down; was silent. "I asked him to
help me," he added, slowly. "Was
young Mr. Pope here today?"
"This morning, I don't know how
long," Harriet said, with a great light,
or darkness, breaking in upon her
mind, "he was leaving when Nina and
I came home."
"Do you know who took the tele
phone call from Mrs. Webb?''
"No, because nobody did. No per
son named Webb colled from Great
Barrlngton, or anywhere else, today,"
said Williams, breaking In decidedly,
his voice a contrast to Richard's hesi
tating tones. "As a matter of fact,
Hansen didn't drive to Crept Barring
ton. Two miles from your gate here,
Mrs. Carter gave him other direc
tions." "What directions?" Harriet asked,
antagonized by his manner, and feel
ing her cheeks get red. The man evi
dently had small respect for woman
hood. "He drove to New London," Richard
supplied. "Pope's yacht Is there."
His manner was very quiet, he spoke
almost wearily, but Harriet felt as if
a cannon had exploded In the study.
"I've had New London on the wire,"
said Mr. Williams, "Mr. Pope had been
getting ready for a cruise. The
chances are that they have already
weighed anchor."
"On the other hand," Richard said.
glancing at his watch, "we have an ex
cellent prospect of finding thi m there.
I was not supposed to come home until
tomorrow night. I found Mr. Carter's
message at live, twenty-four hours
earlier than she expected me to. Wil
liams may be mistaken, of course," he
nuished, with a glance at the detep
tlve.
"Not likely !" said Williams, with a
modest shrug.
"However, even If he is right," Rich
ard resumed, "the chances are that
they are still there, and if they are, 1
will bring my wife back with me to
night. Meanwhile, I leave the house In
your care, Miss Field. I needn't tell
you that my mother and Nina must be
kept absolutely ignorant of what we
suspect. You'll know w hat to tell them.
In case I should be longer away. II
our calculations are wrong, there's no
telling where I may follow Mrs. Carter.
I leave this end of things to you I"
"Ira sorrier than I can say," she
said, huskily.
"I know you are I It's" Richard
passed his hand over his forehead
"It's utter madness, of course. But,
please God, we can keep It all hushed
up. She has Gerinaine with her; Han
sen L can trust. We're off now. Miss
Field. I'll keep you Informed If I can."
Harriet went back to the drawing
room with her heart big with pride.
He had mentioned Hansen and Ger
malne, but he knew that he could trust
her! The event was sensational
enough. But back of the excitement
lay the Joy of being needed and being
trusted.
CHAPTKRVII.
That Isabelle's madness would rui
its full gamut did not occur to Harriet
until Uie next day. Then, as the serene
hours moved by, and there was no
word and no sign from Richard, the
(Possibilities began to suggest them
selves. It seemed to her incredible
that any woman would risk all that
Isabelle had for the sake of a fiery
boy's first love, and yet, on the other
hand, there was the memory of Isa
belle's suffering two nights ago, and
here were the amazing facts to prove
It.
It was for few women to enjoy the
popularity Isabelle had known. Bat
any woman might run away with a rich
admirer. Harriet's admiration for the
cleverness with which Isabelle con
ducted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared, and in its place came the
sharp conviction that old-fashioned
women like Linda had some justifica
tion, after All ; it was "dangerous," it
did "lead to sin," it could indeed "hap
pen once too often."
Harriet' felt her own lapsing moral
ity regaining its standard. Just now.
when Nina most needed her mother,
when Richard was struggling witli dif
ficult business conditions, when Ward
was engaged
She interrupted her thoughts here,
and tried to make herself feel like a
woman engaged to be married. Some:
how the fact persisted In baffling her.
There was an unreality about it that
prevented her from tasting the full
sweet. Engaged to a rich man, and a
rich man's son. Well, perhaps when
Ward came back, It would seem more
believable.
She had been standing at one of the
hall windows, a window deep set in
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path to
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
eyes tight, she came back to the pres
ent moment with a start. Ward Car
ter was behind her. He laughed at her
confusion, and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes, he was
going back to the Bellamys', and so
was Blondin, but they had both come
in just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought reassurance to
her. Ward was such a dear! Of
course she loved him.
"But you weren't a very good boy
last night !" she said. Their hands were
locked ; but she had shaken a negative
when he would have kissed her.
"Rotten!" he confessed, easily. "I
played poker, too. No man ought to
do that when he's edged. Sorry sor
ry sorry. Listen. When we're mar
ried it's all oft. No smoking, drinking,
gambling, wine, women, or song,
what?"
"You may not know it, but you never
spoke a truer word !" the girl said. His
shout of laughter was pleasant to hear.
"Listen. Does Mother know It?
About us, I mean?"
"Oh, Ward nobody knows It!
Hush!" His mention of his mother
brought back realization with a rush. -and
she added uncomfortably, "She's
at Great Barrington."
"Oh, darn! I wanted to see her!
She wrote me, and told me she loved
me, and that she didn't think she had
been a very good mother to me!" He
laughed, youthfully, with a bewildered
widening of his eyes. "I thought she
was sick. Well, maybe we can stop
there going back."
"Where did you leave Mr. Blon
din?" "He beat it down to the tennis
court. Say, listen, is there a chance
that he's stuck on Nina? It looks to
me like what the watch comes In!".-
Harriet glanced at her wrist before
she answered him. Her heart was
sick within her. Close upon her radi
ant dream had come this shadow, far
more a shadow now, when her respon
sibility had Infinitely Increased, and
when she had had proof of the love
and respect in which they held her
here.
"I don't think so!" she said, briefly.
"I'll find Bottomley, and have lunch
put ahead."
"You don't like him!" Ward said,
watching her closely. " f.
"I don't like him for Nina I" she
amended. - - '
The boy followed her while she gave
her order. Then they went out into
the blazing day together,- -. ;
"Nina isn't going to -have mor
than a scalp a day," said her brother,
fraternally,
"Nina has a fortune!"' the 'girl re
marked, dryly, opening her wide white
parasol. '
"Lord, he could marry a girl with:
ten times that! Look here, you don't
think a man like Blondin would con
sider that!" he protested. '
"I would rather see Nina dead and
buried!" The words burst from Har
rlet against her will, against her prom
ise to Royal. There was no help for
it, her essential honesty would have
Its way.
"Talk to him!" Ward, fortunately,
was not inclined to take her too seri
ously. "You'll tike htm t fiah h
certainly has a good effect. ' on me,"
added the youth, modestly.
doesn't drink, and he talks to me
you ought 'to hear him ! about char
acter being fate, and all that! Say,
listen, before we get out of the
woods ?"
His sudden sense of her nearness
and beauty belied the careless words.
Hani t found his arms tight about
her. her face tipped up to the yoai)g.
handsome face that was stirred now
with trembling excitement. The quick
movements his breast she could feel
against her own, and the passion of
his kisses almost frightened her; she
was held, bound, half -lifted off .her
feet.
"Ward !" she gasped, freed at last
and with one hand to her disordered
hair, while the other held him at
arm's-length. "Dear I Please!"
(To be continued next week)
Fisher and Harbrecht
Merchant Tailors
CLEANING-PRESSING ;
Adjoining Millinery Store
HOLBROOK,
ARIZONA
HEMSTITCHING
'15 cents per y&rd
Mail orders promptly
returned
The Art Shop
WINSLOW, ARIZ.
BUILD
HOME AND BE HAPPY
Chas Crumely 1
CONTRACTOR & BUILDER :
LET ME DYE FOR YOU
WILLIAM J. PLANT
BATIK ARTIST
Holbrook, Ariz.
NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL ESTATE
Office of the Sheriff of Navajo County
state of Arizona,
fhe Arizona state Bank, a corporation
Plaintiff, viGN UmDerger, Defendant
Under and bv virtue or an execution
issued by the Superior Court if Navajo
County, Stste of Arizona, in action
wherein Arizona State Bank, a corpor-,
ation was plaintiff and G N Umberger
was delei.aant, upon a judgment in.
favor of said plaintiff and against de
fendant G N Umberger for the sum of
Two hundred Fifty (250.00) Dollars,
with interest thereon at the rate of 10,
per cei.t per annum until paid being
$16 67 at date of Judgment October 28,
1921, together with $28.05 cost5 and
disbursements at the date of said judg-'
ment, J35 for attorney fee, and accur-
ing costs, and to me directed and deliv
ered which execution was duly attested
the 11th day of January, 1922, I have
heretofore levied on all the right, title, 1
and interest of said defendant in and to
the follow ing described property to-wit:
Lots numbered tt.rae (3) and four (4)
ofBkck numbered fifty;one (51), of
the lownsiteof Winslow,-county of
Navajo, state of Arizona, as surveyed
and platted by J A 'Williamson, trustee
for the Atlantic and Pacific Railway Co,
together with the appurtenanci s and
investments thereto or thereunto be
longing.
Notice is hereby given that on the 4th
day of Feb. A D 1922, at 10 o'clock a m
at the door of the court house, in Hol
brook, Navajo county, Arizona, I will
sell the above described property, or
so mucp thereof as may be necessary to
satisfy plaintiff's claim, besides the at
torney fees, cotts, interest, accuring
costs, at public auction, to the highest
bidder for cash.
Dated this 12th of Jan., A D 1922
R L NEWMAN, sheriff. .
St 127