The Hornet's Nest
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Paul Stahr
eBook
(, Dec. 11, 2010)
This illustrated novel was published in 1917.Book Excerpts:The Girl walked down Fifth Avenue from Fifty- ninth street, while the Ghost walked up from Four- teenth. Since they were on the same side of the street, their passing was as inevitable as it was un- premeditated. Converging rays from widely differ- ing spheres, they were destined by the sheer logic of direction to meet. The Girl's name was Muriel Fletcher, and she was about twenty years old. Now and then as she walked, some one would turn to look at her. Her individual- ity was even more arresting and vivid than her looks, and yet upon that mere question of looks she was not easily to be ignored. There was a sort of vital glow about her, but it was the glow of fire not of sunshine, and it had its contrasting one might better say, its corresponding gloom, a gloom with an edge on it. No matter from what point of view one took her, whether mental or physical, one quality always seemed to contradict another. Her melody had its dis- sonances. ......................................................................................Mr. Whitefield's secretary, young Everett Bab- cock, had just told the chauffeur that instead of hav- ing the motor before the front door at exactly twenty minutes to eleven, the invariable custom every busi- ness day in the year, it might not be required at all ; Mr. Whitefield hardly thought he would go down to his office. Then, telephoning one or two more mes- sages, he returned to the study to receive any further orders which might be issued. This room, which had been invaded the night before by policemen and detectives, not to mention reporters, now showed no trace of these rude presences. The dusty bootmarks of many feet, the litter of cigar and cigarette stubs which had been strewn heedlessly over the broad hearthstone and handsome rugs, the disorder caused by books, papers, and ornaments having been indifferently disturbed in the unavailing but con- scientious search for clues, these had all been removed......................................................................................He walked over to the safe which he had left open, and laid the papers inside. Then he came back with a package of bills, and placed it on the table before her. " There, my child, are fifty thousand-dollar bills, and I may say that I have never paid out fifty thousand dollars before with more pleasure, or to better advan- tage." Her eyes widened, her color came and went. She picked up the money in a frightened sort of a way. Her supreme self-confidence vanished ; she appeared all at once very small and meek. Slowly, and still in a bit of a daze, she turned over the crisp, rustling notes.