The Hornet's Nest

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.