nk, cold night. Now that they were past the realm of traffic lights, it lopped off the miles

ergrooming, the highly polished fingernails, the small waxed moustache and too immaculate clothing, all repelled her. She knew at once what it had taken Janet some time to realize: Martin Lawson might be and probably was a very clever man; he was, on the other hand, a ma

hway leading out and on from their moisture-coated headlights glistened wetly in their reflection. After they turned into the hills behind Stamford, heading for the Connecticut Ridge Country, the road for a mile or more

ld wiper going. Dorothy was thankful that the sixty-mile journey from New York was nearly over. At last they reached the outskirts of Ridgefield, and the car swung into a driveway between high pillars of native

ad never been in the grounds before, she had driven past the Winn place numbers of times. Finally, she made

and two footmen in livery ran down the steps. The butler, a t

Lawson," he said. "

Dorothy, who had travelled in England, was sure that under stress, the cock

turned briskly, and Dorothy smiled p

tman. "Jones," he said to the other flunky, as Lawson stepped out of the car, "drive round to the service entrance. Miss

rned the man, and he g

ing hedge across the drive, and the giant skeleton arms of a tree that seemed to menace earth and s

traits, a wide stone staircase mounting upward to surrounding galleries, stained glass windows, tigers' and lions' heads, antlers of tremendous size, strange and

ht, where he knocked, then opened,

dam," announced the butler, and

ctive and looked luxuriously comfortable. A fire blazed in a fine chimney and a table near i

rth and came toward them. Her clear, white skin, and a broad streak of silver across the black hair gave her a strangely ethereal appearance, a

me to Winncote. You are later than we expected. The

formally and shook hands. "Y

f the lips alone, her dark eyes remained somber. "Did you have a brea

, Laura." He lifted a dish cover on the table and inspected

uble meaning. "It's long after three. Come over here by the fir

at the supper table an

scrambled eggs, toast and cocoa, but it will

t she was starving. In fact all three were hungry, and for some little time

am I. We take breakfast in our rooms. Ring for it when you're ready, but don't hurry about gettin

t would be just as well if she played the demure mo

I'll show you your room." She looked at her

finish this pipe, a

ke a hot lemonade before you go to bed. I don't want to have you bo

hy stuff," prote

he butler. "Tunbridge, have hot lemonades sent to Miss Jor

good,

arm through Dorothy's.

Good nig

ght, Mr.

en are such stupid creatures, Janet. So stupid about taking medicine or anything else that may be good for

ed. I'm rathe

f a cold, and you'll sleep like a top into the bargain. Well, here's your room, my dear. It's late, so I won't come in,

ll, Mrs. Lawso

he small grey-painted bed displayed pink pillow cases, sheets and blankets. A dainty writing desk in one corner of the room was also painted grey as was the chaise longue and the chairs, where the upholstery carried out the note of pink. A soft grey rug, pink-bordered, covered

t was a door that led into a spacious closet. Dorothy hung her coat o

r to the gallery. Quickly she stooped, snatched the paper and opened the door. The gallery was empty. Crossing to the ba

he spread out the paper she had crumpled in her han

NOT DRINK THE LEMONADE

thy muttered softly, "