The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-18
A Mad MARRIAGE:
The HeipeSS of Law.
renee Park.
a STORY OF ABSORBING INTEREST.
By MRS. e. B. COLLINS.
CHAPTER XVI.
A NEW MOVE.

CHAPTER XVI.
--s NEW MOVE
Chief Ludlowe sat alone in his office
that night, look of care upon his
plain, grave face, his eyes full of an1-
iety.
II don't like the looks of tt" he ex-
claimed, addressing himself. "He is
the most headlong, rash young fellow
II know. Pays attention to every anon
ymous letter that comes in his way.
Bless my soul! old detective as am, I
would not think of going to every
rendezvous appointed in anonymous
letters. Gone to the pier, so his note
informs me-" (He turned to an open
letter upon the desk before him. And
here is the anonymous letter.
II believe I know that writing!" he
exclaimed, suddenly. I'll bet nickel
that fellow Alleyne has had a hand in
this!"
Ludlowe was hurriedly turning over
apple of letters in the great, cayernous
desk before him as he spoke. He had
once received note from Mark Alleyne
relative to the late murder-a hasty
scrawl-but Chief Ludlowe had laid it
away for future reference.
He found it at last, and laid it side
by side with the letter which Arthur
: Wynne had received that day. The
chirography was almost identical; the
letter paper was of the same quality,
and bore the manufacturers fancy
"Bahl" muttered the old detective,
his keen eyes twinkling. '"Mr. Mark
Aneyne, I'll put an extra spoke in your
wheel that will bring you up short: III
put spider in your dumpling, old fel.
fowl What time is it?" went on the
Chief, who had habit of holding long
conversations with himself, glancing
at the big clock upon the wall as ne
spoke. :,
Fifteen minutes to nine, oh? And
Arthur is going down to the pier at nine.
Humph! I imagine there will be
interview"
He arose with alacri:y; put on his
overcoat and hat; turned out the gas,
and left the Office, locking its door be-
hind him.
Once out in the street, he hailed
passing cab and was soon dashing down
through the most secluded streets to
the lake shore. It was some distance
to the spot, and Ludlowe had miscal-
culated the time that would be required
to reach it.. At all events, while the
cab was still some distance from its des-
tination clang went the clocks in the
church steeples around. Nine struck,
and Chief Ludlowe knew that no was
too latc!
When the cab halted at last at the
pier he alighted, and. bidding tho
driver await his return, made his way
swiftly out upon the long pier to the
farthest end. 1t was dark, perfectly
dark, but the detective produced small
3bull's-eye" lantern which threw light
upon the scene and reyealed-nothing.
No sign, no trace of any liying-or dead
creature.
A great blank space, washed by the
black waters down below, but no trace
Of human presence.
Having satisfied himself upon that
point, Ludlowe closed tho lantern and
went back to the waiting cab just as
the church clock near tolled the half
hour.
"Drive back 10 the police headquar-
ters!" he ordered the driver, as he sank
upon the cushioned seat, strange i'm
pulse prompting him to return to his
Office before going home. 1t was
nearly ten when he once more unlocked
it's door, and, entering, stirred the
sleeping fire into o cheerful glow, and
then sank into a leathern armchair
before it.
"Can anything be wrong?" he NUT
tered, his ruddy face growing pale and
anxious. "Can anything have hap
pened to Arthur? If so, I shall always
blame myself for not flying to him at
once when I received his note. But l
thought T was acting for the best, and
that it would please the boy to work out
his own plans without my interfer-
encs! whats that!-i Heavens
NAME"
He started to his feet, pale and as
tonished. The door of the Office had
been pushed slowly open, and there,
before Ludlowe's astonished gaze,
stood drenched, dripping figure, with
water streaming from his garments,
and forming little pools upon the Office
floor.
arthur! Good heavens! What has
happened?"
A faint smile touched Arthur Wynne's
:. lip for an instant. He stepped inside,
: and closed the door.
"Pretty near dead, Ludlowe!" he
painted. "Give me something warm,
and I'll tell you ALL"
Chief Ludlowe sprang to the door
and locked it. Then he went to q
z,xpall cupboard and drew forth we'll
finsa> >decantcr, and the necessary ma
terials for a toddy, which he proceeded
to mix.
Arthur drank it, lowering over the
fire meanwhile like one freezing. Lud-
lowe hastened to an adjoining room,
returning in q brief space.
"There's suit of clothes of mine in
therep he said. "You know always
keep an extra suit here, rs I often find
it useful. Go in and change your wet
garments, then II will hear what you
have to say"
The young man obeyed, returning in
q few moments, warm and dry, to find
that the Chief had taken the opportuni-
ty to place nice lunch upon the
table.
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