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Show fig&KX VCD J, X f ;VcAROLYN WELLS -" jfSi-.oyvRISHTty CAROLYN WELLS W. N.U. SERVICE SYNOPSIS -4 ..,111. Fairfax snd Corey Maiden TL married the next day at errsU Long Island home of t i??tXb.r stepfather. Gath-'!f.Tonr Gath-'!f.Tonr Gaskell, best man, a Hilda Sheldon, maid of hon-Pets hon-Pets Wilson and Bob Coles, fc erllla'. mother, ushers. . I. very wealthy. He is thirty-Jl"i thirty-Jl"i ind Perilla twenty-four, but SI 1. tru lo match. Everybody M hnsr including Jane Latimer, 0i,i Lovell'i pretty and efficient rrfdal .ecretary. There is a dress f.Vrsal and Malcolm and Bob are " to U the Tenney girls. When oarty i breaking up the night IdVort the wedding, Malcolm com-Hii, com-Hii, 0 a headache. Tony produces white tablets and nearly- every takes one, including Corey. J Ser the wedding Perllla tells her brother that Bob had repeated hit w!-lkr.,t that if she ever married any-SSw any-SSw BCPt him, he would kill her. "'-11. bridegroom, or himself. Her SSmlber insists Bob was only teasing 11 ler In Baltimore hotel room Corey M.tiH! Perllla, "you won't like my t Blither. She Isn't lovable," then n 4,op! to the floor dead as he holds jer In his arms. Alone, except for Soynton, the chauffeur, and Sarah, fer maid, Perilla has Boynton telephone tele-phone her father to come by plane lis with Malcolm. A physician says the jeaih resulted from natural causes. Wben Perllla arrives at the Maiden home she is greeted by Madame '.i.u- ith "vnn murdered him." ,'sit night she enters Perilla's room bj I balcony window and Perilla y-'Mlu her removed. When Malcolm ar-1 ar-1 Irirej the next day Madame Maiden ' fiends for him. She professes friend-itfltip friend-itfltip after Malcolm threatens her with the madhouse, but Farman, ii'izmo Maiden's lawyer, does not (Issulse his suspicions. Corey's will laves the greater part of his for-tau for-tau to Perilla. CHAPTER IV Continued , Garth promised he would. They (turned to the house, and Perilla tiDt to her room. Malcolm came ilp to see her, and advised her jgjo stay where she was. When Mr. farman came Perilla refused to ee him, saying she had retired Iit the night She felt a dread ithet than a dislike of the man, t at any rate she determined not i see him next morning, If she 'Skid help it, 61 Us It turned out, she couldn't lelp it Before she was entirely saltessed word came to her to come jfliownstalrs as soon as possible. ffter having had her coffee Perllla ' not down and found several peo-S peo-S pie awaiting to speak to her in the "library. ' jl I Garth offered her a seat, and . ply and with undisturbed air j. Perllla took It John Lovell spoke Brit in p I "Perllla, dear," he said, "these n. N liave some questions to put to K Pay strict attention and an-llflHer an-llflHer carefully." 5Ai "Certainly, Dad," she returned, Bowing no excitement I 1 will be spokesman," an-Nced an-Nced Farman, "as It is in regard n matter that Interests me." D..I11. - !"" seuiea upon him a most Wtatlng stare, which she did not remove. t"fu are familiar with drugs, it. Maiden?" he asked. t at all, scientifically, If that r. , hat you mean." I "Aa. Then, In any case, may I j W you If this packet Is yours?" held out t small parcel tied b black paper. 5 Jf'!!a Cast a S'ance at It, turned ' Wtatlj white, and In a low trem- S . voice said, "No," a no which s se present could not possibly be- J en whose Is it?" Farman went s not know." C- JU ever seen " before?" Ki've. Aa'n that unbelIevable $ ftf ' PerllIa wa thinking. Must .ir Ul-ht 1 8 on her sooulders, too? iButlh1 ln thl9 71 Wb0 had been "stenlng at stepped inside. (en t belongs to Madame Mal- 1 "allien My ttlstres3. Madame I It VT 11 last night into !: tteUadea worn, aa left It i ftntent. 7.Was about t0 shnke lta k,'nt Mls8 Per'lla'8 gla k Thl 8 Water' when I stopped lwWr , n"rse. Miss Seymour, can ,g Ho 80,W thIs" sue chooses to A, Seymour," said Garth, ,nurse was called. 'evelil ,,ne sal casually, "I be- h. la.tT Malden m 8teP lnt0 5 ,h9 , h 8 r0m last nlgt-and j kan(17' aave had a parcel In her item Garth said. In rather ' 'wencj... We may end this con- JJJ wa done, but Malcolm speaking low to Doctor Spurgeon, said, "What Is it?" And gravely, the doctor replied, In the same low tone, "Cyanide." It was the following Tuesday before be-fore Perllla Maiden found herself entirely. The motor car, whose speed was retarded by Lovell's direction, di-rection, reached New York on Sunday, Sun-day, and they went directly to the Lovell's city apartment The long and wearing motor ride, after the distressing stay at Maiden House, had so sapped Peril-la's Peril-la's strength that at the doctor's orders she went to bed and stayed there until fully recuperated. And that time had come. "All right now, Mother," she said. "I want to get up and dress and oh, Mother, there's so much to tell you. And first of all, here's a shocker for you. I'm going to finish up the work on the apartment, and get into it as soon as I can. Don't oppose me, I'm too ill to fight, but plenty well enough to do what I want to." "We won't fight you, dear, and you can move in just as soon as we can get things ready. Won't you be lonely there? Do you plan to have any one with you?" "I do" Perllla ?av her mnthpr a dubious glance. "I plan to have Jane." "Jane? Merciful heavens, what do you think I'm going to do? I can't get along without Jane." "Oh, yes you can. Let's say, for a month or two, anyway. She can run around here when you want her specially. And maybe she can get you another golden girl such as she is." "Well, we'll see about It" and Mrs. Lovell sighed. Perilla knew she had won her point. "Now we'll have luncheon," she ordered, "and then we'll have what I find they call a conference. Oh, mother ! It's all too dreadful I Don't pity me, or even sympathize; if you do, I'll break down." The two tactful women quite understood un-derstood this and no reference was made to matters at Maiden House, until Perilla chose to make it Perilla was so near collapse that it seemed no hardship to remain ln bed. When she felt equal to the strain she took her mother and Jane up to her own little boudoir and told them the whole story. Mr. Lovell and Malcolm came ln the late afternoon, having spent the night before with Garth in his Philadelphia Phil-adelphia home. "A splendid man, that Garth," declared Lovell. "He's taken over all Perilla's business, and she couldn't have a better lawyer. You won't have to worry about anything, any-thing, dear." "Not anything, dad?" "I hope not We won't go Into matters now." "Better have It out, dad," said Malcolm, who well knew Perilla's persistency. "Was there any more talk of of" but Perilla couldn't go on. "Nothing but. However, I think we put the kibosh on that. You must know, mother and Jane, that Corey's mother is not a well, not an- affable person. And she has a complex or whatever you call those things, that Prll might as well say it right out that Prll killed Corey. Don't Jump, Jane, Perllla has heard this and discounted It "The old lady I wish I could draw her picture for you well, 1 had to threaten her with all the torments of the Inferno, before she would let up on It And I did have her stopped; she made up with Perllla, and promised to lead a better bet-ter life, when, after the funeral, she somehow got going again." "Oh, Malcolm, did she?" cried Perilla. "What did she do?" "Well, to begin with, she vowed that packet of cyanide was yours, and of course we all know it was hers, and she said you meant to kill her with it and we know she meant to kill you with it" "And you let her put It over?" "Well, see here, Jane. My stand Is that she Is touched, loony, off her nut whatever you like to call it but they look upon her as sane." "But," said Mrs. Lovell, in her soft voice, "why doesn't Terllla get a lawyer and face this slander for that's what it is." "Yes, muramle, but here's the point If Perllla takes any notice of this slander, any notice at all, it gives it strength and a certain possibility pos-sibility which cannot be Ignored. That's why I went at the old lady hammer and tongs to scare her about the madhouse, which is real-lv real-lv where she belongs." "Not really, Mai," Tcrllla said. "I only wish she did. But she Is sane, "the doctors declare, and a strong hate or even an uufouuded suspicion cannot be regarded as Insanity." "What are you going to do about it?" asked Jane. "Nothing for the moment. In fact, the longer we remain silent, Garth says, the more chance of her fury blowing over." "But how did she get stirred up again?" Perllla wanted to know. "She was lovely to me when I left her." Malcolm drew a deep sigh. "It's all that Farman person," he said. "If he weren't ln the thing we could manage all right." "Why Is he down on me?" and Perilla's eyes flashed. "Because you bothered him. He was afraid of those stares of yours." "Rubbish," remarked Jane. "How did they get hold of the cyanide?" "They found it somewhere In Perilla's suite of rooms. But of course, it was planted there." "What you want" Mrs. Lovell observed, "is a first-class detective." "No, mums, that's just what we don't want Don't you see the minute min-ute we recognize the accusation of Perllla we submit to questioning." "What about the will?" asked Perllla. "It raised no furore," said Malcolm. Mal-colm. "Everybody got about what he or she expected, and some of them more. There's oodles of money I" "Mostly Perilla's?" said Ellen, unable un-able to resist "Mostly Perilla's," Malcolm said. "Is the madame jealous?" asked Jane. "Not at all. She knew all about It beforehand. She has a young fortune for herself, and money matters mat-ters seem to Interest her but slightly. slight-ly. But she Idolized Corey, and she can't rid herself of the opinion that Prll married him for his money, and then ' "Oh, stop I" said Jane, "I can't bear it. We must do something. We can't wait ln silence and Idleness." Idle-ness." "We must Janey," and Malcolm spoke gravely; "the whole matter now is In the hands of Garth and Mr. Carleton. They are two of the finest and best men I ever met. Father Fa-ther will say so, too, and whatever they decide on, we must do." "Of course," said Perllla, "yon won't catch me refusing to do their bidding. Mr. Garth is a wonderful lawyer. Corey said so, and Mr. Carleton was one of Corey's best friends." "Yes, and they propose to stay quiet for a while, and they abso- piaffe fgf-. "Then You Must Tell Perilla That" lutely convinced Dad and me that that was the best procedure. Well, now, Jane, have we convinced you?" "I suppose so," she replied, and then In answer to his beckoning nod she rose and left the room with him. "Jane," Malcolm said when they were alone, "there may be I only say there may be troubled waters ahead for that girl." "What sort of trouble V "Oh, because that old harridan down in Richmond has an obsession obses-sion that Prll killed Corey, her fool of a lawyer, Farman, must needs believe It too. And, Jane, consider consid-er the facts. A young girl marries mar-ries a man fourteen years older than herself, who has millions of money, they go off on their wedding wed-ding trip, and, alone ln the room with her, he dies. If you, say, disliked dis-liked the girl, or had a grudge against her, what would be your first thought as to the death of Corey?" "I s'pose you mean I'd lean to the thought that Perllla killed him, somehow or other." "What for?" "To Inherit his money and have a good time with It" "Well, there are people ready to look at the matter like that." "But that's too silly, Malcolm." "I tell you there are people ln Richmond, especially a lot who worship wor-ship the old Maiden family and estates, who would rush to accept the statement falling from the lying ly-ing lips of the old dame. Well, anyway, it isn't a question just now of whether there's any such talk going on; the question Is, how to prevent It or stop It If the sub-lost sub-lost is raised, up here, it'll be very bad for Pril. Why, Jane. If n breath of suspicion touches her name the fire will spread like a conflagration." "Then you must tell Perllla that" "That's where I want your help. You tell her." "Of course I will, If you want me to. We'll both tell her. But might It not be better not to tell har? Wouldn't she just get all hot and bothered, and if we let her alone she might more quickly forget It" "Well, I'll leave that part to you. Use your own judgment Of course she knows what Mrs. Maiden said to her, but I think she doesn't know that the matter is talked over In Richmond " "By whom?" "I don't know exactly, but it was doubtless promulgated by that worm, Farman, and then just grew with what it fed on. Anyway, Perilla Per-illa has got to keep still, and I think she must be told so, and I hope you'll tell her." "Oh, I will, I promise you that. But I think I ought to do more than that I don't know exactly what but I guess It's ln my mind we ought to see a lawyer." "And have him fighting Farman? And have the police step ln? I think I shall spill it all to Garth, for he's a man of wonderful judgment, judg-ment, and I'd like his opinion." "Be careful as to how far you go without telling Perilla. She likes to paddle her own canoe, you know." "Yes, I do know. Bless the kid's heart Isn't It awful, Jane? For she .was wildly ln love with old Corey. They planned a tip-top life together. And now the poor kid's a widow for life." "Not necessarily. She's too young to remain a widow very long." "Good Lord! I never thought of her marrying again I" "Well, don't mention it to her. You're likely to blurt out what you think about It Leave Perilla to me and turn your attention to the beast, Farman." "I'll do that, but I wish It could be settled, once and for all. I don't want to kill the wretch, but I can understand the Impulses of a first-class and earnest killer." CHAPTER V A"iOOD heavens, Malcolm, who vJare you going to kill? You sound positively bloodthirsty 1" Perilla appeared at the door of the small sun parlor where Malcolm Mal-colm and Jane were talking. "It's that Farman chap. I've a notion he's coming up here " "Here?" "Oh, I don't mean to stay with us here, but he may stay with you If you ask him prettily." "Let rue know when he's coming," com-ing," said Perilla, "and I'll be out. I'm planning a trip to California." "Perilla, dear, we've got to take up Farman as a burden, you know. You can't leave him to run around by himself, you know." For a moment Perllla looked panicky, then she said, "But you told me, Malky, to treat him as If he weren't there. I'm ready to do whatever you say, but you must make it clear." "I will. Also, Garth Is coming over from Philadelphia ln a few days. Perhaps they'll hit the same time." "Do we want them to?" Perilla spoke slowly. "Yes, perhaps It would be better. Garth might scare the Farman person, but as I read him he Isn't easily scared." T say, Pril," Malcolm said cheerfully, cheer-fully, "will the old un take a notion no-tion to visit you?" "Like as not And If she takes the notion, she'll carry It out I'm going to try to stay friendly with her." Malcolm said, "It's ten chances to nna che'll nrniA at the time Far- man selects." "Yes, I daresay. Lucky I've lots of room. Well, I'll leave you" "Walt a minute, Prll," Malcolm detained her. "Remember not to say a word about Farman to anybody. any-body. Not a word about Madame Malden's " "Malcolm Fairfax, If you tell me once more to keep quiet about her threats, and why, I'll leave home! Now, I promise to shut my mouth whenever the subject Is mentioned or liable to be mentioned. You think I'm Ignoring Farman, Mai; I'm not I think about him lots. And sometimes, I think we're wasting wast-ing time and energy worrying about him. Some fires burn themselves out. If you let them alone, but If you keep trying to put them out they burn up more brightly. I have gespoken." It was November now, and Perilla Per-illa was settled in her beautiful apartment Jane was with her, but Jane was a movable feast Always around when wanted or needed, but never ln the way. Much of her time Bhe spent at the Lovell's home, and naturally she kept Ellen Lovell Informed In-formed of Perilla's progress. "And," as Jane said one morning morn-ing after about a week's separation, separa-tion, "she Isn't so good." "What's the matter with her?" asked the mother. "I can't find out Of course, there's her grief for Corey, which seems to grow more poignant rather than less. But there'9 something else. She's absorbed In something or somebody. Yet she Is esrited about It. rnrher than rln-ressed." (to nr. coTiyrrp 1 Sloops and Schooners X sloop hns otie ujuat, a schooner I two or core. |