Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/251

 Lida's stars, not stale. Later, she'd send for him. He shook hands with Ellen, unnecessarily but briefly and with no such grasp from her as on the night in the north.

Ellen knew nothing of Lida, but Ellen felt him withdrawn again. She went home—home now being a room with Diana.

Di was very glad to see her. Di questioned her a little, not much, of Hoster. She wanted Ellen to confine herself to answers to questions and not volunteer more. Abruptly Di abandoned the subject of home.

"Send your sympathy down to Lew?" she inquired.

"No," said Ellen.

"He ain't the one that can use it," admitted Di. "He'll be free as air, now."

Did Di mean, in the disposition of his business favors? Ellen wondered. Di explained.

"He's known for months the old man couldn't move from his bed, still he's been crampin' Lew's style. Now Lew'll let out."

Ellen had opportunity, soon, to see this for herself. Lew appeared, wearing a new, light suit with a broad, black mourning band on the sleeve. He called ostensibly to pay personal respects to Mr. Rountree and to deliver a seal ring, a Bible and other effects found to have been bequeathed to John Rountree by his father. Ominously, Lew did not discuss business at all but was prodigal, beyond the provisions of the will, in bestowal of his father's keepsakes, especially those of small intrinsic value, ecclesiastical in character.