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Show on saw two exquisitely gowned women, side by side, the younger one blushing beautifully over her bouquet of violets and valley lilies. The rest was a dream to little Marcia the entrance into the brilliantly lighted rooms, the music, the rustle ot silken gowns, the presentation to tba president She drew a great breath of delight, as she settled herself finally in a corner of the east room. But there was more to follow, for tn a few moments the fairy godmother II sent the prince. He was the nephew By PHILIP KEAN of the beautiful lady and be was tw lj JLLWmTKm BY take care of Marcia. HMiaan Thomas had a key to the east entry, And be did take care of her, most Oopyrttffet, by Anaoolatod Literary PrM SYNOPSIS. and gave it to her. graciously, and he talked with her ae On the way across the lawn she HE long line of people if she were a princess instead of a Mlsg Innes, and guardian of was confronted by Arnold, who for stretched down the wind- very shabby little girl, with her shab-blnes- s vlertrude and iplnster sumestablished mer headquartersHalsey, some reason was determined to get at Sunnyside. Arnold ing walk In front of the covered by a borrowed cloak. Armstrong was found shot to death in into the house, lie had a White House and through "Aren't you warm?" he said to her the hall. Gertrude and her fiance, Jack in his hand, that he had picked up the gate and out into the once, and Marcia said, hurriedly; "Oh, Bailey, had conversed in ths billiard room shortly before the murder. Detecstreet. On New Years no."' But when he said again: I think on and somewhere, her retusal had he tive Jamieson accused Miss Innes of holdstruck her with it. One hand had day all the world might youd better let me take your wrap." ing back evidence. Cashier Bailey of Paul Armstrongs bank, defunct, was arrested come and shake hands she laughed and confessed: been badly cut, and it was that, poisfor embezzlement. Paul Armstrongs with the president and It set was death was announced. Halseys which oning in, having fiancee, killing "Its your aunts cloak, and 1 wleh Louise Armstrong, told Halsey that while as if half the you could see what a She broke away in a frenzy ol seemed her. very shabby litshe still loved him, she was to marry anworld had availed Itself tle suit I am wearing under it rage and fear, and got into the house other. It developed that Dr. Walker was the man. Louise was found unconscious of the privilege. while Gertrude and Jack Bailey wers And the prince said the cloak wasnt at the bottom of the circular staircase. Marcia Marks felt al- any prettier than the bat, and that at the front door. She went upstairs, She said something had brushed by her In the dark on the stairway and she most overpowered by the the hair under the hat was the pret- hardly knowing what she was doing. fainted. Bailey is suspected of Armhonor that was before tle8t o a and jugt then the beautt- the of was Haldoor Gertrudes and thought , open, murder. Thomas, the lodgekeep-rstrong's was found dead with a note In his not yet learned ful had her. Marcia revolver on there bed. the sey's lay lady came along and asked: Harw pocket bearing the name "Lucien WalShe picked it up and turning ran part to shrug her shoulders at high you made friends with my hoy, Marlace." A ladder found out of place deepShe officials. ens the mystery. The stables were way down the circular staircase. Shs position and august cia?" burned, and In the dark Miss Innes shot could hear Arnold fumbling at the had been in Washington only three I think be is n Intruder. lovely," she said, and. Halsey mysteriously disaplock outside. She slipped down quiet- weeks. That the was soon to have a blushed prettily. peared. His auto was found wrecked by a freight train. It developed Halsey had bad she ly and opened, the door; he was in- peep at the wonders of which She was carried off to dinner with an argument in the library with a woman before his disappearance. side before she had got back to ths heard ao much seemed like a part ot the beautiful lady, and the prince went, New cook disappears. Miss Innes learned Halsey was stairs. It was quite dark, but she the fairy lore which she had loved too. And when Marcia took off tha alive. Dr. Walker's face becomes livid . She wished that there cloak he said he liked her In her alar could see his white From as a child. at mention of the name of Nina Carrington. Evidence was secured from a tramp was who might share her one some fourth fired. the As she fell he step pie little suit "Only you must still that a man, supposedly Halsey, had been billiard room pleasure. But she had made no friends, wear the violets, because they match . bound and gagged and thrown Into an somebody in the to the box car. foot so one was Gertrude she shifted from missing. empty screamed and ran. When the alarm your eyes. Hunting for her, Miss Innes ran into a wks raised, she had had no time to other, moving forward slightly as far man and fainted. A confederate of Dr. It was all very dear and delightful, of the line peothe at end other Walker confessed his part in the mysup get upstairs; she hid in the west wing but that night when Marcia went boma tery. He stated that the Carrington woa were admitted magic to her through until every one was down on the ple man had been kHled. that Walker feared poor little apartment shs told her, and that he believed that Paul Armlower floor. Then she slipped upstairs door. herself that of course, she must not strong had been killed by a hand guided waa It heart but Marcias cold, and thew the revolver out of an upvery by Walker. Halsey was found in a disexpect anything more. It waa a Now tant hospital. Paul Armstrong was not per window, going down again in time was warm. For the first time in her Years fairy tale, and that was alL dead. to admit the men from the Greenwood life she wsl earning money, and she But the beautiful lady came every was sending part of It home. Then, club. and took Marcia out with her, and CHAPTER XXXI. Continued. day new waa which a a bad hat. she If Thomas had suspected, he had too, often the prince was there, and at Inat. never told. When she found the hand one day, Marcia said: "Dear beautiful The slip had said "chimney. It Arnold had injured was growing Heard a 8ad and Pitiful Narrative. was the only clue, and a house as lady, you muBt not, you are spoiling mo worse, she gave the address of Lucien for everyday things." large as Sunnyside was full of them. Would not Paul Armstrong have taken ance, fresh air and hunting. The at Richfield to the old man and almost But she did not say that the real row-soThere was an open fireplace in my booty with him? If he had not, sisters, of course, knew nothing of $100. The money was for Lucien' for her protest was because of the dressing room, but none In the bed- his board He was such a charming room, and as I lay there, looking and if Dr. Walker was in the secret, this, and the young man's ardor rath sent until she recovered. She had prince. for me to ask me if I would try around, I thought of something that he would have known how to enter er carried them away. In a word to prince, and she felt that for her own interest the Armstrongs in tha made me sit up suddenly. The trunk-room- , the chimney room. Then who had seven years before, Lucy Haswell had peace of mind she must not see too the other hole in the false parti- married a young man whose name was child. When she found herself growmuch of him. just over my head, had an open dug ing worse she had written to Mrs. given as Aubrey Wallace. And as Marcia withdrew more and fireplace and a brick chimney, and tion? carArmstrong, Anne Haswell had a telling her nothing but married more, the prince one day demanded of yet there was nothing of the kind in CHAPTER XXXII. penter in her native town and was a that Arnold's legitimate child was at Wherea oar the fairy godmother: my room. I got out ef bed and exwidow. For three months everything Richfield, and Imploring her to recogamined the opposite , wall closely. Cinderella?" Anne Watsons Story. went fairly well. Aubrey took his nize him. She was dying; the boy There was apparently no flue, and I "She lnslstB, the old lady smiled, Liddy discovered the fresh break bride to Chicago, where they lived at was an Armstrong, and entitled to hit knew there was none in the hall just "on sitting In the ashes. Bhe says wo The house was heated by in the trunkroom wall while we were a hotel. Perhaps the very unsophisti- fathers share of the estate. The pabeneath. are too fine for her with our pumpkin coaches and our palaces." eteam, as I have said before. In the at luncheon, and ran shrieking down cation that had charmed him In Val- pers were in her trunk at Sunnyside with letters from the dead man that living room was a huge open fireplace, the stairs. She mantained that, as ley Mill jarred on him In the city. He "Humph, said ;he prince, "I gueao she entered, unseen hands had been had been far from a model husband, would prove what she said. It was He therewe will see about that. but it was on the other side. she who had crept down the circular Why did the trunkroom have both digging at the plaster; that they had even for the three months, and when upon sought Marcia in her ababby when she went in, and sha he disappeared Anne was almost staircase, drawn by a magnet, that a radiator and an open fireplace? stopped apartment. a gust of cold damp air. In thankful. It was different with- the night Mr. Jamieson had heard some Wont You Get In Here With Me?" had felt were not Marcias face was radiant as she Architects usually erratic. It was not 15 minutes before I was up- support of her story Bhe carried in young wife, however. She drooped one there. Pursued, she had fled great cause ot happlnes. It was the welcomed him. "But you must not come again, "she said, when he was in my wet and muddy boots, that I had and fretted, and on the birth of her madly, anywhere through the first first stairs, armed with a , unluckily forgotten to hide, and held baby boy she had died. Anne took the door she came to. She had fallen ever really lovely hat that she had levlnto Mr. a lieu of eager justify , possessed. down the clothes chute, and been "Why not? Jamiesons opinion of my Intelligence, them out to the detective and myself. child and named him Lucien. not She her did dream that exquisite saved What did I tell you?" she said i Anne had had no children of her by the basket beneath. I could "Because, said Marcia, which was and firmly resolved not to tell him of have cried with relief; then it had not blonde beauty framed by the big bat not a real reason. my suspicion until I had more than dramatically. "Look at em. They're own, and on Lucien she had lavished was not the attention only attracting been Gertrude, after all! I shall cmie as .often as I please." theory to go on. The hoi in the yours, Miss Rachel and covered ymt! all her aborted maternal Instinct. On L That was the story. Sad and tragic of the pedestrians but of the occupants be said. trunkroom wall still yawned there, be- mud and soaked to the tops. I tell one thing she was determined, howof the autos and of the carriages that Marfcla ever: stood up very straight Then it scoff can the It somewas, you, was though all That of you Wallace that very you like; telling tween the chimney and the outer wall. Aubrey drove slowly In line toward the other I am only a shabby little I examined it again, with no new re- thing has been wearing your shoes. should educate his boy. It was a part seemed to relieve t$ye dying woman. entrance, where a privileged few were and tall. I must sult. The space between the brick As sure as you sit there, theres the of her devotion to the child that she She did not know Aat Thomas was admitted at once to the blue room Cinderella, aha said, and I smell and of did not I the dead, should tell on be her. them. ambitious How for he promgraveyard him; wall and the plaster and lath one, Marcia feasted her eyes on the pretty however, had a new significance. The do we know they werent tramping must have every opportunity. And so ised to look after little Lucien, and gowns, and for the first time as she hole showed only one side of the chim- through the Casanova churchyard last she came east. She drifted around, sat with her until the intervals of con- stood there In the cold a little bit ot doing plain sewing and keeping a sciousness grew shorter and finally envy entered her heart Why shouldnt ney, and I determined to investigate night, and sitting on the graves!" Mr. Jamieson almost choked to home somewhere always for the boy. ceased altogether. She died that night she ride In luxurious comfort? 8be what lay In the space on the ether (TO BE CONTINUED.) I wouldn't be at all surprised Finally, however, she realized that death. side of the mantel. had beauty and youth, and loved a I had a blister on my palm when if they were doing that very thing, her only training had been domestic, time. good Ways to Keep Neat. But even as the thought entered, she at last the hatchet went through and Liddy. he said, when he got his and she put the boy in an Episcochildren were becoming dread"My fell with what sounded like the report of breath. They certainly look like it. palian home, and secured the posiput It away. Wasnt she lucky enough to the Arm- fully careless about leaving their with her $60 a month and her new a gun to my overstrained nerves. I sat I think the detective had a plan tion of housekeeper an said moththings around, original hat? And once more her face was en a trunk, waiting to hear Liddy fly on which he was working, but which strongs. There she found Luciens er, and the older members of the bright, and she held her head high. up the stairs, with the household be- was meant to be a coup. But things father, this time under his own name. family werent any too tidy. So I hind her, like the tall of a comet. But went so fast there was no time to It was Arnold Armstrong. Then suddenly she gave a startled made I mind that wasnt going up my I gathered that there was no parunder the brim of her hat, nothing happened, and with a growing carry it into effect. The first thing glance to be a pick-ufor the rest as the door of a great motor car openfeeling of uncanniness I set to work that occurred was a message from ticular enmity at that time in Anne's of the household. drudge I set up a big fine ed and a voice said: "Wont you get the Charity hospital that Mrs. Wat- mind. She told him of the boy, and enlarging the opening. a box with an oblong hole in the In here with me? box, The result was absolutely nil. When son was dying and had asked for me. threatened exposure if he did not provide for him. Indeed, for a time, he top. Into which I put every slngl6 The woman who spoke was beautiI could hold a lighted candle in the I did not care much about going. did so. Then he realized that Lucien thing hat, coat, toy, pipe, no matter ful with the beauty of old age. Under opening I saw precisely what I had There is a sort of melancholy plea- was the ruling passion in this lonely what that I found lying around In her wide hat her hair was white, but seen on the other side of the chimney sure to be had out of a funeral, with the way. And to get his or her prop- she held herself with grace and diga space between the true wall and its pomp and ceremony, but I shrank womans life. He found out where the owner bad to pay a penny erty was child the death-bed- . and threatened hidden, from a "Oh," Marcia faltered, and the But You Must Not Come Again," Sha nity. However, Liddy the false one, possibly seven feet long take him away. Anne was frantic. if It was one of the children; ten lady said, quietly: Get In, my dear, Said, When Ho Was Leaving. and about three feet wide. It was in got out the black things and the crepe to became reversed. cents in case of the older ones. As the I will explain later." no sense of the word a secret cham- veil I keep for such occasions, and I The positions Where Arnold had given money for children have only an allowance ot 6o Marcia, followed by the eyes of work, and I haven't the time to fritter ber, and it was evident it had not went. I left Mr. Jamieson and the Lucien8 and ten a cents week as went each, didnt the they support, the crowd, stepped into the wonderful away with fairy godmother years been disturbed since the house was day detective going over every inch on he forced money from Anne Wat- naturally want to pay It out In fines; car, which went slowly up the drive- princes who wear gardenias. of circular the was a It built. staircase, pounding, supreme disappointso they began to be careful. GradualThen he looked very sober and way. ment. probing and measuring. I was Inward- son instead until she was always pen"Do you think I fritter away asked: the whole niless. The lower mended Arnold sank the ly in family their Then the beautiful lady turned to It had been Mr. Jamiesons idea ly elated to think of the surprise I was scale, the heavier his time? now my fine bebox Is generalmy demands ways, and her with sparkling eyes. "Was your that the hidden room, if there was going to give them that night; as it came. With the "Yes." Marcia told him, "1 do." between him empty, and the house Is as tidy as grandmother Martha Witherspoon? one, would be found somewhere near turned out, I did surprise them al- and his family rupture were worse. ly "Well, tomorrow I am going toyou please. she demanded. things the circular staircase. In fact, I knew most into spasms. be told her. "They have orwork," Anne took the child from the home "Why yes I drove from the train to the Charie And I that he had once investigated the ent0 and hid him in a near r9.me The beautiful lady clapped her hands. Cheering Her Up. m0DUl8tire length of the clothes chute, hang- ty hospital, and was at once taken Casanova, on the farmhouse road. Is no which "I knew It the minute Maid my eye. Claysburg longer rural, Islington, ing to a rope, with this in view. I to a ward. There, in a Six months? There she went sometimes to see the was once so esteemed by medical men on you, she said. As you stood there was reluctantly about to concede that room in a high iron bed, lay Mrs. Wat- boy, and there in her voice made him Something sent that held he fever. in their head with had taken your there high patients that they "You care? be had been right, when my eyes fell son, She was very weak, and she The sharply: say blue were he and little Illness. with way, your Germans, and Many also went haughty after severe to say: "Oh, no, but on the mantel and fireplace. The lat-te- only opened her eyes and looked at calledpeople tried Marcia as the farmer's wife grossmutter. there In the last stages In the forlorn eyes and your hair It was white and her vole were had evidently never been used; me when I sat down beside her. I He had her lips grown Into a beautiful boy, hope that the invigorating air might If my dear school friend had come We had been and shook. it was closed with a metal fire front, was conscience-stricken- . he was all Anne had to live for. restore them to health. A story re- back to me." Then the prince gathered her into and only when the front refused to so engrossed that I had left this poor The Armstrongs left for California, lated by Dr. Abernethy turns on the Grandmother is the dearest thing, You shall go with me, arms. his move, and investigation showed that creature to die without even a word and Arnolds anew. latter class of visitors. One of his Marcia said, "and as pretty as ever. little Cinderella, he said. persecutions From the began of to did be not was intended it sympathy. moved, 1 lost track of her, the beautiful He was furious over the child's disI saw you in your fairy godpatients engaged some rooms in Isminute The nurse gave her a stimulant, my spirits revive. I went abroad appearance and she was afraid he lington, and casually remarked to the lady told her, when mothers cloak, I knew you were th I hurried into the next room. Yes, and in a little while she was able to would do her some hurt. She left the landlady that the banisters on the years ago, and when I saw you I one woman. manSo a was broken talk. similar and sure enough, there big house and went down to the lodge. staircase were very much broken. wasn't going to run the chance of not "And I kr.ew you were the one man." tel and fireplace there, similarly however, was her story that I shall When I had rented so I made you get howtold him later, but somehow I Sunnyside, bless you, mam, said the land finding you again "Lor she closed. In both rooms the chimney tell it In my own way. In an hour ever, she had to mend them, Tor In, and made you lose your place In felt that it would never really come the use no thought persecutions its lady, I out time from the from the wall entered the Charity would stop. She had flue extended well line." applied for the they always get broken when the un- the true for It seemed only a New Year's my hospital I had heard a sad and pitiful position of I measured with the tape-line- , "Oh, I dont mind that, said Marcia. it. dertakers men bring the coffins downand secured housekeeper fantasy. and so seen had I a could woman that hands "1 to narrative, trembling can go back the end and wait slip That had been on That stairs. London Chronicle. scarcely hold it. They extended two into the unconsciousness that is only night Louise arrivedSaturday. you won't," said the beau"Indeed, unexpectedly. I am going to take you tiful lady. feet and a half into each room, which a step from death. Thomas sent for Mrs. Watson and Intelligence in the Kitchen. the then, with the three feet of space between Briefly, with me to the blue room. housekeepers then went for Arnold Armstrong at along right ijmMxrrxxxxxxxxxss?; The higher the intelligence and the the two partitions, made eight feet to story was this: the Greenwood Club. Anne had been uroader the education of the woman I am to stand behind the receiving The New Year is but a mirror She was almost 40 years old, and fond of Louise she be accounted for. Eight feet in one line, and you shall meet the president of the years that are past, and it reminded her of in the kitchen, the greater the pleas and sister-mothe- r In seven othon wait almost and and to east the the the of room, had been a large Lucy. She did not know direction go what the may bring before you all that satisfaction in household du- from me there. er what a chimney it was! family of children. One by ODe they trouble was, but Louise had been in tire and (s best and brightest, helpful and "But I am not dressed for that, MarBut I had only located the hidden had died, and been buried beside their a state of terrible excitement Mrs. ties. truest and holiest, heartening, cooks who woman The intelligently a demurred. town in cla little in the middle room. I was not in it, and no amount parents atson tried to hide from Arnold, but sum may up for you all that it and great is commanding mysterious I am going to play fairy godmother. of pressing on the carving of the west. There was only one sister left, he was ugly. He left the lodge and dishonorable and debasing an She is nature. iTchemlst and put my wrap on you. Your gloves woodea mantels, no search of the the baby, Lucy. On her the older girl went up to the house about 2:30, was forces of alone, can determine these !1s her At an command behind and apron. and all are all you hat, your of love the right, an impul- admitted at the east floors for loose boards, none of the had lavished entrance and food constituents that are indigestible, shall have my violets, and presto customary methods availed at all. sive and emotional nature. When came out again very soon. Something and even are you will be a young lady of fashion." 32 was the means and of a elder, was Anne, 19, Lucy entrance, That there had occurred, she didnt know what; unpalatable to chemical poisonous, Marcia protested, but for just ole changes that come subjected man had to a the town. but young and probably a simple one, I could be very soon Mr. Innes and another render them an epicurean delight. Tha moment the curtains of the closed 6ar was He after east, What what? would going the But spending certain. gentleman left using the car. woman of real intelligence and powers were drawn, as the wrap was slipped And if I did get in? Was the detect- summer at a celebrated ranch in WyThe folly of casting pearls before Thomas and she had Louise of imagination finds In her well or- from the fairy godmothers shoulders of got one those places where ive right, and weie the bonds and oming and a little before three Mrs. dered kitchen a source of deep and en- find transferred to Marcia's more slen- pork lies in that we ought to begin men send worthless and quiet, bank Traders there? wealthy the from money der ones, and then the crowd, looking with pumpkins. sons for a season of temper Watson started up to the bouse. during interest and pleasure. Or was our whole theory wrong? THE CIRCULAR STAIR1 A New Years Fantasy gpasK ROBERTS RINEHART f j j golf-stic- shirt-bosom- n - tape-measur- e ... foot-rule- p - gray-walle- d d red-gol- t, 1 d k I . A |