| OCR Text |
Show tt,e brick, which fitted so tightly that its ud ju.-liiu'iit was a process requiring requir-ing piitlf rice, care, and time. Flustered, frightened, she jammed the Jewel case into her dress ami frantically fran-tically restoring the brick to the yawning yawn-ing hole In the hearth as bet she could, she fled up the back stairs at the same moment Marcia descended the front ones. Once In her room, she closed and locked the door and sank panting Into a chair to recover her breath. Well, at least she had not beta caught and In the meantime the Jewels were quite safe. She took the case stealthily from her pocket. Now that the gems were hi her possession, It certainly could do no harm for her to look at them even try them on, as she had been tempted to do when she first discovered discov-ered them. Probably never again In all her life would she hold in her hand so much wealth and beauty. Accordingly she unwound the handkerchief hand-kerchief and opened the box. There lay the glistening heap of treasure, resplendent In the sunshine, a far more gorgeous spectacle than she had realized. Going to the bureau, Sylvia took out the Jewels, one by one. She clasped the diamonds about her neck; fastened the emerald brooch In place; put on the sapphire pendant; then added the rings and looked at herself her-self In the gold-framed mirror. What she saw reflected dazzled her. Who would have believed Jewels could make such a difference in one's appearance? ap-pearance? They set off her blond beauty so that she was suddenly transformed trans-formed into a princess. Slowly, and with conscious coquetry, like a preening bird, she turned her head this way and that, delighting In the creaminess of the neck.the gema encircled, and in the fairness of her golden curls. She really ought to have Jewels. She was born for them and could carry i them off. There were myriad women in the world on whom such adornment would be wasted good and worthy women, too. Then a voice interrupted her reverie. It was Stanley Heath calling. She heard Marcia reply and coma hurrying upstairs. Guiltily Sylvia took off her sparkling regalia ; tumbled It unceremoniously Into its case; and slipped It Into the drawer underneath a pile of nightdresses. night-dresses. Then she softly unlocked the door and sauntered out. It was none too soon, for Marcia was speaking to her. "Sylvia?" "Yes." "How would you feel about going over to the village for the mall and to do some errands? The tide is out and you could walk. Prince needs a run." "I'd love to go." "That's fine. Here is a list of things we need at the store. You're sure yoa don't mind going?" "No, Indeed. I shall enjoy being out" Then suddenly Sylvia had an Inspiration Inspira-tion which she Instantly acted upon. "Why don't you go?" she Inquired. "You didn't sleep much last night, and a walk might do you good." "Oh, I couldn't," objected Marcia with haste. "I've a hundred and one things to do. Thanks, just the same." "Well, you know your own business best. Is this the list?" "Yes. There are quite a few Items, but they won't be heavy. Here Is the basket. Prince will carry It. That Is his Job and very proud he Is of doing It. Good-by, dear." "She's dreadfully anxious to get us out of the way, Isn't she, Prince?" commented young Sylvia as she and the setter started out over the sand. "Now what do you suppose she has on her mind? She's up to something. Marcia isn't a bit of an actress. She's too genuine." Marcia, standing at the window watching the girl, would have been astonished as-tonished enough had she heard this astute observation. She did want Sylvia out of the way. The girl had read her correctly. She must telephone the messages to the stationmaster at Sawyer. Falls, the adjoining town where the railroaj ended and the nearest telegraph station sta-tion was. She got the line and had no sooner dicta red the telegrams than she heard Heath's voice. During tlie interval that had elapsed since she had left him, both of them had experienced a reaction and each was eager to make amends. Marcia regretted her flippancy. It had been childish of her to give way to pique and punish Heath simply because be-cause it was proved he had a wife. Why should he not be married? No doubt the absent Mrs. Stanley Heath was a dashing, sophisticated beauty, too, who lived In luxury at the great city hotel to which the first wire had been sent. Heath had been quite frank about the message and its destination. On thinking think-ing matters over, It occurred to Marcia he might have considered this the easiest way to inform her of things he found it embarrassing to put into words. Ami she? Instead of appreciating his honesty, chivalry, gentlemanly conduct as she should have done, and receiving It graciously, gra-ciously, surprise had betrayed her Into j displaying resentment. I She was heartily ashamed of herself. ; No matter how much it humbled her pride, she must put things right. Fortunately For-tunately it was not too late to do so. ' (TO DE COMTIXUED) I (CI v I SANDS I Sara War e BASSETT j Copyright by f J I Thn Turin Pub. Co. i WNU Service J SYNOPSIS The future of the BtlM youthful and comc5ly "Wldiler" Murcla Howe, recently relciiK'-d by death from tier Idling husband, hus-band, la a conversational tlt-blt amonpr housnwlves of the little hamlet of Wilton. KIlKible bachelors and widow-am widow-am also are Interested. Marcia la lonely, and han Invited her late husband's niece, Sylvia Hayden, whom she had never Been, to visit her. A stranger, n the verpe of exhaustion, finds his way to Marcla'a home. Secretly, he Issks Marcia to hide a package containing contain-ing Jewelry. She does so. Kllsha Wins-low, Wins-low, town sheriff, brings news of a Jewel robbery nearby. The stranger frlves his name as Stanley Heath. Sylvia, Syl-via, by chance, discovers the Jewels, and naturally bulieves Heath Is a robber. rob-ber. She realizes that Marcia must have bidden them, and decides to say nothing, noth-ing, putting the gems back In their biding place. CHAPTER V Continued 6 Prince came hounding Into the house from some dlstunt pilgrimage of his own, almost knocking her down In his eagerness for breakfast. She glanced far up the shore and Baw, serenely rocking with the tide, "My Unknown Lady." As she whispered the name, she was conscious of hot blood rushing to her cheeks. How ridiculous I Stanley Heath was Simply a stranger of a night, he was nothing to her. Well Indeed was It, too, that he was not! During her hours of sleeplessness the ardor of her faith In him had, to B degree, cooled. True, she still maintained main-tained her belief In his Innocence; tut that belief, she now realized, was only a blind unfounded Intuition. Both the circumstances and sober second thought failed to back It up. The man's Impatience to be gone, his complete Silence with regard to the Jewels, although al-though perfectly Justifiable, did not Strengthen It. Marcia conceded he had every right to keep his affairs to himself. Had he Started to confide his secret to her, she would have held up her hand to Stay him. It was the fact that through the dim hours of the night, while she sat at his elbow trying to make the discomforts dis-comforts he suffered more bearable, lie talked of almost everything else but the thing uppermost In both their minds. That was what hurt. She did not want to know. She wanted to be trusted; to help; to feel his dependence depend-ence upon her. Instead he held her Bt arm's length. He spoke with appreciation of the crew who had dragged his boat off the sand-bar, appearing to consider them tremendously kind as undoubtedly they were! Still, they had not begun to come into the close contact with him that she had. Marcia caught herself up with a round turn. Here she was being sensitive, sensi-tive, womanish. How detestable! Why Should Stanley Heath pour out his soul to her? She had never laid eyes on elm until yesterday. In a day or two lie would be gone never again to come Into her life. She was glad of It It was better so. This decision reached, she drew in her chin, lilted her head a wee bit and began to get the breakfast. Even Doctor Stetson's arrival and his subsequent verdict tha the patient had bronchitis and would take his life In his hands should he leave his bed, afforded her only scant satisfaction. So she was to keep Stanley Heath under her roof after all but against his will. It was not a very flattering situation. She sent Sylvia up with his coffee and toast, and began her usual round of morning duties. And then Just as they were finished and the clock was striking eleven, he called. She went up, cheerful but with her head still held high, and paused on the threshold. Glancing at her he smiled. "You look like a bird about to take flight. Won't you sit down?" She went nearer. Nevertheless she did not take the chair he Indicated. "1 see you are busy," he said. "I thought perhaps your housework might be done by this time and you might have a moment to spare. Well, I mustn't interrupt. Forgive me for calling." "I haven't a thing In the world to do," Marcia burst out. "Good! Then you can stay a little while." be coaxed. "Now answer this question truthfully, please. Von heard what Doctor Stetson said about my returning to New York today. I don't want to be pig headed and take a risk If It Is Imprudent; that Is neither fail-to fail-to others nor to myself. Slill, It Is Important that I go and I am anxious to. What is your advice?" "I think you are too ill." A frown of annoyance wrinkled his forehead. "!V: cap- you're rl-ht. Vet for all thai I am disappointed. want very much to go I! ' necessary." "Can't anything be done from here?" queried she. "Snch us " "Letters, telegrams whatever you wish. I can telephone or telegraph anywhere. Or I can write." Surprise stole over hl3 face, then deepened to admiration. "You would do that fur me blindfolded?" blind-folded?" "Why not? I simply want to help. I always like to help when I can." "Even when you do not understand?" under-stand?" Piercingly ,i3 re.ste(j on ,ftr f it ce. "1 I do not need to understand," was her proud retort. For the fraction of a second their glances met. When he spoke his vc-lce was low Imperative. "Marcia come here!" She went she knew not why. "Give me your hand." Again, half-trembling, half reluctant, she obeyed. He took It In his and bending kissed It. "I will stay and you shall telegraph," was all be said. She sprang to fetch paper and pencil, pen-cil, as If welcoming this break in the tension. "I'm afraid I cannot write plainly enough with my left hand," he said. "Will you take down the message?" "Certainly." "Mrs. S. C. Heath." Her pencil, so firm only an Instant before, quivered. "Have you that?" "Yes." "The Blltmore, New York City " "Yes." "Everything safe with me. Do not worry. Marooned on Cape Cod with cold. Nothing serious. Home soon. Love. Stanley." "Got that?" "Yes." Had something gone out of her voice? The monosyllable was flat, colorless. Heath looked at her. Even her expression was different or did he merely Imagine It? "Perhaps I would better Just glance over the message before you send It simply to make sure It's right." "Let me copy It first," she objected. "Copy It? Nonsense I What fori Nobody's going to see It." He reached for the paper. Still she withheld it. "What's the trouble?" "It Isn't written well enough. I'd rather copy it." "Why?" "It's wobbly. I I perhaps my hands were cold." "You're not chilly?" "No oh, no." "If the room is cool you mustn't stay here." "It Isn't I'm not cold at all" "Will you let me take the telegram?" She placed It In his hand. "It Is shaky. However, that's of no consequence, since you are to 'phone Western Union. Now, If you truly are not cold, I'd like to dictate a second sec-ond wire." "All right" . "This one Is for Currier," he said. "Mr. James Currier, The Blltmore, New York City. Safe on Cape with My Lady. Shall return with her later. Motor here at once, bringing whatever I need for indefinite stay. "Stanley a Heath." "Got that?" "O. K.," nodded Marcia. This time, without hesitation, she passed him the paper. "This., I see, is your normal handwriting," hand-writing," he commented as he placed the messages side by side. Taking up the sheets, he studied them with interest "Hadn't I better go and get off th& messages?" suggested Marcia, rising nervously. "The station might be closed. Of'.en It Is, at noontime." "It doesn't matter If they don't go until afternoon." "But there might be some slip." He glanced at her with his keen eyes. "What's the matter?" "Matter?" "Yes, with you? All of a sudden you've turned easterly." "Have I?" Lightly, she laughed. "I probably have caught the habit from the sea. Environment does Influence character, psychologists say." "Nevertheless, you are not fickle." "How do you know? You know an amazing amount about me, seems to me, considering the length of our acquaintance," ac-quaintance," she observed with a tantalizing tan-talizing stiii 1 o. "I do," was the grim retort "I know more than you think more, perhaps than you know yourself. Shall I hold the betraying mirror up before you?" "The mirror of truth? God forbid: Who of us would dare face It?" she protested, still smiling but with genuine gen-uine alarm. "Now do let me run along and send off the messages. I must not loiter here talking. You are forgetting that you're 111. The next you know your temperature will go up and Doctor Doc-tor Stetson will blame me." "My temperature has gone up," growled Stanley Heath, turning his hack on her and burying bis face in the pillow with the touchiness of a small hoy. Sylvia, meanwhile, had heard Stanley Heath call Marcia and hailed her aunt's departure from the kitchen as the opportunity Cor which she had so anxiously been waiting. No sooner was the elder woman upstairs up-stairs and out of earshot than she tiptoed tip-toed from her room, the monogramnied handkerchief in her pocket. She had pried out the brick and had the jewel-case In her hand, wrapped and ready for its return when conversation conver-sation overhead suddenly ceased and she heard .Man ia pass through the hall and slarl down stairs. Sylvia gasped. There was no chance to mil I lie package hack and renlace |
