"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 066 - Doom on the Hill" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

It must have overcome her."

"I understand, sir," said the servant, with a nod. "I am Craven, Mr. Grantham Breck's butler. Johanna" -
he indicated the woman on the couch - "has these fainting spells quite often. I shall summon Adele, the
cook."

Craven hurried from the room. Harry heard his footsteps pounding up the stairs. The man bellowed from
above; there was an answer. Soon, a tall, stoop-shouldered woman appeared. Like Johanna, Adele was
wearing a dressing gown. Evidently all the servants except Craven had retired for the night.

Johanna had been moaning at intervals while Harry watched her; but her condition had given Harry no
cause for alarm. It was only when Harry turned toward the couch that the moans became most
noticeable. Harry could not restrain the impression that Johanna was faking.

Adele, the cook, was both apprehensive and talkative. She worried for a bit; then as she placed a pillow
under Johanna's head, she spoke in words that were half to Johanna, half to Harry.

"Poor soul!" exclaimed Adele. "She has been working too hard. Yes, sir, she has. Any one that visits this
house can tell you the same, sir. There should be a dozen servants to keep the place tidied up as Mr.
Breck wants it.

"There, there, Johanna. Rest a bit. I'll fetch you a drink of water. Yes, sir, it's a housekeeper that Johanna
is; and a housekeeper should be giving orders - not always doing all the housework herself.

"It's been a wonder to me that something like this hasn't happened long ago. But you haven't had time,
have you, Johanna, to be ill like this? No, sir - she's always on the go, working all hours of the day. Wait
here, sir, while I fetch the water."

Johanna had closed her eyes and was lying silent. Harry's gaze narrowed as the young man turned
toward the doorway. Craven had not returned. That was the first point that made him ponder. Another
important factor was Adele's statement that Johanna had been working steadily. It belied Craven's claim
that the housekeeper had been subject to frequent fainting spells.

HARRY was about to go and look for the butler when Adele returned. She was carrying a bottle of
ammonia and a glass of water. She thrust the latter into Harry's hands, while she uncorked the ammonia
and held it under Johanna's nose. The effect was electric. The housekeeper gasped and sat up, thrusting
the bottle away from her.

Adele pushed the bottle into Harry's hands and grabbed the glass. She made Johanna drink the water;
then stood back and smiled as the housekeeper rubbed her head and blinked. Adele seemed pleased at
the effectiveness of her emergency methods. To Harry, however, the housekeeper's quick recovery was
reason for new suspicion.

A few minutes passed while the cook made Johanna more comfortable on the couch. Harry began to
edge for the door, hoping to gain some sign of Craven. Then came the sudden clang of the big bell.

"Craven will answer it, sir," announced Adele. "Stay right here, sir."

Again the clang. Still no sign of Craven. Harry turned to the cook.