The Hollow of Her Hand

m with the least possible delay. The hushed, scared voice of the telephone girl downstairs convinced her that news of the tragedy was abroad; she could imagine the girl

ied to tell her that it was a dreadful, sickening thing, but the words stuck in his throat. She stood before him, holding

gh to come in?" she in

ave they printed

and she clo

was Mr. Wrandall," he replied

Will you be so kind as to telephone at seven o'clock or a little after to my apartment?-You will find the number under Mr. Wrandall's name. Please inform the butler or his wife that they may expect me by ten o'clock, and th

send word to your-your friends, Mrs. Wrandall

ssengers will attend t

s, please send him he

nk

had encountered the girl on the highway or in the neighbourhood of the inn. So far as she could glean from the reports, however, no one had seen the girl, nor was there the slightest hint offered as to her identity. The papers of the previous afternoon had published lurid accounts of the murder, with all of the known details, the name of the victim at that time still being a mystery. She remembered reading the story with no little interest. The only new feature in the case, therefore, was the identification

f the girl! Ab

g room. Deliberately she placed the newspapers on a chair near the girl's pillow

g that the watcher stared in some fear at the fair, smooth breast that seemed scarcely to rise and fall. For a

e questions that ran in a single strain through her mind. "Where do you come from

st of a well-shaped purpose. She was estimating the difficulties that were likely to attend the carrying out of a design as yet half-for

to her husband's brother, Leslie Wrandall, instructing him to break the news to his father and mother and to come to her apartment after he had attended to the removal

remote as his. She found a curious sense of pleasure in returning to them the thing they prized so highly and surrendered to her with such bitterness of heart. She had not been good e

n far and wide as "the Wrandalls." He had stood out for her in a rather mild but none-the-less steadfast manner, blandly informing his mother on mere than one occasion that Sara was qui

out him that if he could be weaned away from the family he might stand for something fine in the way of character. But h

inform her that she was a fool to put up with all the beastly things Challis was doing. He characterised as infatuation the emotion she was prone to call love when they met to discuss the escapades of the careless Challis, for she always went to him with her troubles. In direct opposition to his counselling, she invariably forgave the er

had been her father's lawyer up to the time of that excellent tradesman's demise, and he had settled the estate with such unusual despatch that the heirs,-there were many of

the-well, I might say the culmination of his troubles," said Mr. Carroll tactfully, after she had related for his

can't say that I am reconciled. All my life I

zzled him. "Cheated, my dear? Oh, I see. Cheat

d. Neither spoke

away with another and perhaps more unpleasant alternative:

ze with a sudden flash of anger in her eyes. "But I would no

e on for ever, my dear

take care of itself, Mr. Carroll. The past came to an end night before las

anner. She was quick to see

my best of friends,"

ra, you will let go of yourself for a spell and

hem. It was his pleasure to wring them from me because he knew I loved him." She leaned forward and spoke slowly, distinctly, so that he would never forget the words. "But listen to me, Mr. Carroll. You also know that I loved him. Can you believe me when I say to you that I hate that dead thing up there in Burton's Inn as no one ever

the cool moistu

wonder. "Extraordinary! Ahem! I should say-Ahem! Dear me

e said, lying back in the ch

y dear, have y

ought. Perhaps it would be

waiter," he said, s

guest who arrived last night. She will attend to it when she

," said he, with a glance at th

t call her until

I enq

a few necessary details that must be attended to, Mr. Carroll. That is why I sent for you at this early ho

and suggestions coming from her horror-struck brother-in-law. Without the slightest trace of offensiveness in her manner, she gave Leslie to understand that the final obsequies must be conducted in the home of his parents, to whom once more her husband belonged, and that she would abide by all arrangements his family elected to make. Mr. Carroll surmised from t

was surprised to find the girl wide-awake, resting on one elbow, her s

ted to the paper with a trembling hand a

the other room just now? Was it some one about the-some one

ossed quickl

rs there for you to see. You can see what a sensation it has caused. Challis Wrandall was one

oan. "My God, what have I do

ter an instant's hesitation, she laid her other hand on the dark, dishevelled hair of the wild-eyed creature,

our h

ask you to pull yourself together. Get up at once, and dress. Here are the things y

out of bed, confused

? I-I cannot accept thes

ndall ch

things now. They are useless to me. But we will speak of all that later on. Come, be quick; I will help you to dress. First

otently at the neck of the night-dress, the girl still con

e so go

move the night-dress. The girl caught it up as it slipped from her shoulde

you a question. It has been on my mind, waking and sleepi

that Mrs. Wrandall uttered a sharp litt

rately sorry for her," a

other managed to s

e had a wife-" began the gi

the arm. "You did not know th

d with a sudden, fierc

I can't speak of it! Why should I tell you about

ace. There was a curious light in her eyes that escaped the ot

tell me who you are, where you live,-everything except what happened in Burton's Inn. I don't want to hear that at present-perhaps never. Yes,

I-I must tell some one," she cried vehem

defend yourself," said

remain longer, she r

ed for an instant to

ckly as you can." She c

til the nails cut the flesh, she said over and over again

ore. The girl, looking fresher, prettier and even younger than when she had seen her last, was in no way abashed. She seemed to have accepted the garments and

ach other at the li

e waiter had left the room at her command. The g

ords carefully. I am not asking for a confession. I do not care to know what happened there. It will make it easier for

o reveal, even to you, th

y nothing," said M

well, you might say to acquit me,-without

shall ask, and nothing more. There are certain facts I must have from you if I am to shield you. You must tell

ed for an instant and

wo or three of the musical pieces produced in London two seasons ago, in the chorus. I never got beyond that, for very good reasons. I was known as Hetty Glynn. Three weeks ago I started for New York, sailing from Liverpool. Previously I had served in the capacity of governess in the family of John Budlong, a brewer. They had a son, a young man of twenty. Two months ago I was dismissed. A California lady, Mrs. Holcombe, offered me a situation as governess to her two little girls soon afterward. I was to go to her home in San Francisco. She provided

t to mine. I noticed that his name was Wrandall-'

mer with him?" interrupt

es

seen him befo

e do. He-he was very handsome and agreeable.

d agreeable," sai

apparently he knew none of them. It was too cold to stay on deck much of t

ary details. You la

to the bank, as I have stated. After that I did not know what to do. I was stunned, bewildered. I called

friends, no acqu

. I-I am really not fitted for it. Besides, I AM qualified-well qualified-to be governess-but that is neither here nor there. I had some money-perhaps forty pounds. I found lodgings with some people in Nineteenth street. He never came there to

about it," cried the o

silly side

ly to me? Why-why, I believed him! And, what is more,

Mrs. Wrandall calmly. "You a

had a wife until-well, u

befor

s. Wrandall turned her

I can tell you, unles

sumed after a mom

randal

our former abiding place, but I have decided to give the law its chance. If you are suspected, a watch will be set over the house in which you lived. If you are not suspected, if your association with-with Wrandall is quite unknown, you will run no risk in going t

face brightened. "If they are waiting there for me, I shall go with the

ndall quickly. "And if they are not there, you

der. "Desert you? Why do you put i

back to me?" in

ul friend. Life isn't very sweet to me. But the joy of giving it to you for ever is th

essed her lips to Sara Wrandall

smiled; smiled warmly for the first time in-well, in years s

n to what I am about to say,-to propose. I offer you a home, I offer you friendship and I trust security from the peril that confronts you. I ask nothing in return, not even a word of gratitude. You may tell the pe

ming. "I can't believe-" Suddenly she caught herself up, and trie

the girl again assumed the stare of perplexity and wonder that had been paramo

CAN yo

lders and looked steadily into the puz

come to me I will do everything in my power to make you comfortable and-contented. Perhaps it will be impossible to make you happy. I promise faithfully to help you, to shield you, to repay you for the

ack, complet

she murmured,

lis Wranda