tragically, "rooms empty, kitchen and pantries, full of dishes.
Did you ever hear of anything like it?"

"Never," he asserted. "It makes me suspect--" What he suspected
he did not say; instead he turned on his heel, without a word of
explanation, and ran down the stairs. I stood staring after him,
wondering if every one in the place had gone crazy. Then I heard
Betty Mercer scream and the rest talking loud and laughing, and
Mr. Harbison came up the stairs again two at a time.

"How long has that Jap been ailing, Mrs. Wilson?" he asked.

"I--I don't know," I replied helplessly. "What is the trouble,
anyhow?"

"I think he probably has something contagious," he said, "and it
has scared the servants away. As Mr. Brown said, he looked
spotty. I suggested to your husband that it might be as well to
get the house emptied--in case we are correct."

"Oh, yes, by all means," I said eagerly. I couldn't get away too
soon. "I'll go and get my--" Then I stopped. Why, the man
wouldn't expect me to leave; I would have to play out the
wretched farce to the end!

"I'll go down and see them off," I finished lamely, and we went
together down the stairs.

Just for the moment I forgot Bella altogether. I found Aunt
Selina bonneted and cloaked, taking a stirrup cup of Pomona for