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Show 1 ' BORROWED HUSBANDS By MILDRED K. BARBOUR w By Mil DRED K. B UtBOUR LXXXIV A HN I FOR ESCAPE. (Copyright, 1921, By The Wheeler Syndicate Inc.) Edith's maid was brushing Naney'f ! hair sa "he lay stretched on a couch ; before the fire In her dressing room, 'when there was a light tap on the I door. Edith entered In response to 'Nancy's call, looking more tired and w hite than usual "You poor de.ir' Are you ready to drop? Here, lie down on this com-I com-I fortable thing." Nancy sprang off 'he couch and began be-gan to fluff up the cushions for i Edith's occ upancy, but the latter made a little gesture of refusal an 1 seated herself in a chair, closing her eyes with a sigh of utter weariness. "Let me send for some broth or hot tea," urged Nan:y. "You look all in " ' I'm not hungry, only terribly tired. I should like to sleep through Eternity, Eter-nity, I think like 1-Teurette." Nancy sent the maid away, and go-jing go-jing over to Edith, took, her cold hands1 in her own warm ones and rubbed: them gently. "Frederick tells mo you are going away tomorrow." said Edith dully. "Nancy, why do you go when I need you so much?" Nancy was momentarily at a loss Tor an BXCUSC "Connie needs me too, il SSSms. And I there are other reasons wh I ought to go home. I'll come back, Edith, any time you really want me You've only to send nie a wire ' Edith sighed and pressed Nancy's ihand absently. You've been very good to give me jso much of your time. You've had a Wretched Visit, I know what with the accident, and Pleurstte's death " "Is she . are you " "She will be burled tomorrow," Edith answered the question evenly. T shall attend the services, and 1 wish, you would accompany me, Nancy, unless un-less you really feel that a dressmaker dress-maker ' Ssh'" Nancy laid B hand over Edith's mouth. "Do you think I'm 0 miserable snob? Aren't we all equal in death?" "Then you will come?" "But I'm leaving on the Twentieth Century." "Valt for the Eakeshore Everything Every-thing will be over by then." In an Illuminating flash, Nancy realised two things. First, that Dr. I Lang wel did not intend to be present at the simple ceremonies which con-I con-I Signed Fleurette's beautiful body to the arth; second, that he bad hot told Edith that he, too, was leaving for New York. Nancy made an instant decision. By remaining over for the later train, sho could successfully evade Langwell, without eecmlng obviously to do so. What excuse he would make for his visit to New York, she could not guess, but granting that it was I professional, it would be awkward for him to change his train at the eleventh hour. She remembered that she had also Connie and Curtis Stanley to consul' r They would be taking one of the two trains, undoubtedly, sho would see to It that they would choose the Iike-shore. Iike-shore. So she said to Edith: "I'll be glad to accompany you. Edith I think you're a perfect peach to do ull this for poor Fleurette. Your goodness makes me feel like a selfish little beast. Had TleUTette no relatives?" rela-tives?" "Apparently not. Nancy, I only realized today how awful It is to die, w hen one dies in the house of strangers strang-ers and can command only the casual Consideration which human decency accords the passing of a soul. I have wanted to die so many time when the; world looked so fearfully black, but never like that! Please, God, never nev-er like that!" she whispered. "You'ro morbid, dear. Such a thing could never happen to you with your homes and servants and and husband." hus-band." "Husband!" echoed Edith, and the smile that accompanied tho word was sadder than tears. |