Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

and when he called out I ran What are you talking about?” Mrs. ’s contralto tones had lowered tense- and she gripped the housemaid’s wrist vise while another door farther along sry opened slightly. “ What has red and who have you found?” - Benkard, ma’am! He’s lyin’ down there dead in the court withethe back of his _ “ Dead! Joseph—dead!” Mrs. Cayley started back, repeating the hoarse whisper ver and over while both hands flew to her carefully massaged throat, and she stared Straight before her as though unconscious of. _ the presence of her informant. ‘ Joseph!” _ Yes, ma’am. He—he looks as though been layin’ there all night, and Geoff ters says nobody must go near—” Jer words were choked back, for Mrs. | ey had suddenly thrust her aside with ‘an imperious sweep of her arm and started + the stairs. A tall young woman in a se robe with great ropes of red-brown ~ hair hanging over each shoulder intercepted wero t - x. F ‘Mrs. Cayley, iC Py ps! "> a TSE oe abe < te iY | ele « .! ae or. ae fae : I could not avoid hearing that something was wrong. Tf I can help - you, if I can be of any assistance—” ” Vera, my dear!” The stern lines of re- pression softened for a moment in the older an’s face and. she steadied herself with nd on the railing. “It is my brother! ‘not understand, but { fear that some scident or illness has come to him, and I am going down to find out for myself. Stay th Mildred and don’t let her see or know ing if you can help it; above all, do iow her to come downstairs.” wi don’t mean—” ‘The girl’s rich faltered. ‘“ Has—has something ter- ‘ble happened? Oh, don’t you want me to ywn with you? Mr. Benkard isn’t—” ‘The servants have just found him. ieerates, of course, -_ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. | but I gather lying unconscious out on the ter- re: he may have been there for so excitable that I want | of the way until her © J74). eee 7 qe ment and her face whitened, whil beat suddenly in the alin, Woe-eseantal her throat. Then her eyes opened full upon her hostess and she replied in low, steady tones: “I will take care of Mildred, of course, Mrs. Cayley, but if there is anything further that I can do—if you need me in any way—please send for me.” “J will, my dear.” The gaze of both women turned down- ward into the patio, but from where they stood they could see only the figure of the old butler huddled in his seat and the roped- off semicircle about the terrace doors. Then Mrs. Cayley moved forward to the staircase while the girl stood quite still for 4 moment where she had left her. The folds of the loose robe which she wore re- vealed rather than concealed the splendid sweeping lines of her form. She would have appeared like a statue had it not been for the rapid rise and fall of her breast. All at once a girlish voice made shrill by apprehension sounded down the gallery. “Letty, what is it? Why do you look so strange, and why has mother gone down- stairs like that?” : “Please, Miss Sherwood, will you tell Miss Mildred?” the housemaid paused to whisper hurriedly. “ Henry Carp isn’t goin’ to be a mite of use and Mrs. Cayley 'll need me. Will you tell Miss Mildred that—that her uncle died sudden in the night?” “¢er uncle—died ’!” Vera Sherwood repeated almost mechanically. ‘ This is horrible, Letty! Are you sure? He was perfectly well last evening! How—how could he have died?” “Tm sure enough, miss; I saw him!”’ Letty responded with grim emphasis. “ I’m sorry to have to break it so quick to Mrs. Cayley and—and to you, miss, but Mr. Benkard’s been dead for hours from a—an accident, it looks like, to the back of his head. I—I’d better go to Mrs. Cayley.” She followed her mistress down the stairs, and Vera Sherwood turned slowly back along the gallery to the open door, on the threshold of which stood a younger girl, a dainty fairylike little creature, whose bobbed, ash-blond hair curled in soft ring- lets like a baby’s about her head and whose - deep, violet eyes were wide with alarm. im SCO (ee) el ey ee) —- = * +7 a