Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-02-23
CHAPTER III.

JOHN SAUNDERS STORY CONTINUED.
1t was no. the first crisis | had met in
my life, and when l awoke next morn
ing set myself at work to review all
the circumstances, so far as | knew
them, which must in some way connect
me with tho Gregory murder-how,
could not understand, but it was evident
that had urgent need to know.
In the first place, what could Mrs.
Gregory have meant by her evident fear
of me and by the strange things she
said to me when first met her? l had
puzzled ove. that problem before, but
had never been able to solve it.
The afternoon she came on board the
Mischief with that gay party of New
port people was busy writing in the
cabin and did not see her at first, bu.
finishing my letter to The Item | wertt
on deck an hour later, and Mr.. Adrian
introduced me to them all. Mrs. Greg
ory turned very pale when Adrian pre-
sented me to her, and in few moments
she asked me some trivial question,
which took us to the rail, little apart
from the rest. was about to explai.
what she had asked-something about
the rigging-when she said in an under
tone, but ve.y fiercely:
"What are you doing here?"
81 am corresponding with my paper,
The Item," answered, somewhat aston
ished.
"And you are at work for news
paper?' she said, with a most peculiar
emphasis thst puzzled me.
81 have that honor" said l as digni-
fiedly as possible, for ] thought perhaps
she meant slur on my profession.
"It is an honor, great honor for
you," she said. "And your name is
Saunders n,w." Again there was a
curious emphasis on the word "now,"
which made me start.
l looked at her steadily for moment
and said deliberately: "Yes, my name
is Saunders-now. / am very sure we
have never met before, Mrs. Gregory,
but whatever knowledge you may pos
sess of me and my past beg you to re-
msmber that my name is Saunders
ROW.
"My God" she exclaimed. 81 am not
likely to forget. And we have never
met, as you say. It is best SO. hope we
may never meet again."
There was no possibility of replying to
such a speech as that from lady whom
I had never before seen, and whom l
could not have offended in any way in
the few minutes we had been together.
l was thoroughly mystifed and could
only bow in confused way. recovered
myself in moment, however, and as
she turned away to join her companions
l said hastily: "There seems to be some
extraordinary mistake, Mrs. Gregory.
You have evidently taken me for some
one else."
She turned her head at this, and with
a quick, searching glance said, "No,
have never met you before, as you say
yourself, and certainly do not mistake
you for any one ever saw before" And
she was gone. 1t was impossible under
the circumstances for me to ask for any
explanation, for during the following
two hours, while the party remained on
board, the lady avoided me carefully.
When they left the yacht she addressed
me particularly, it is true, saying "Good
afternoon, Mr.. Saunders" but she was
with her friends, and could only bow
and answer in the same fashion.
And when had met her the following
winter at three or four social events, as
had truthfully told the inspector, she
had taken particular pains to seek me
out and speak in most tremendously
courteous manner, but she had also
taken particular pains, it seemed to me.
to be leaning on the arm of some other
man each time.
had been in her house, too, as the
night editor had said when he had given
me the order which / had refused to
obey the night before. The occasion
was the giving of a grand fancy ball by
Mrs. Gregory, which was one Of the
prominent events of the winter in social
circles, The Item paid great attention