Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-09
JOHN SAUNDERS HIATUS
BY DAVID A. CURTIS,
tCcpyrsht, 1892 by American Press Associa-
toni
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER III,

ing set myself at work to review all
the circumstances, so far as l knew
them, which mast in some way connect
me with the 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 Inc when first met her? / had
puzzled over 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, but
finishing my letter TO The Item ! went
on deck an hour later, and Mr.. Adrian
introduced me to them all. Mrs Greg
DRY turned very pale when Adrian pre-
scented me to her, and in a few moments
she asked me some trivial question,
which took us to the rail, Il little apart
from the rest / was about TO explain
what she had understanding about
the rigging-when she said in an under
tone, but very tiercely;
"What are you doing here?"
81 am corresponding with my paper,
The Item" answered, somewhat aston
ished.
And you are at work for news
papert' she said, with a most peculiar
emphasis that puzzled me.
Il have that honor" said l as digni-
fiedly as possible, for ] thought perhaps
she meant a slur on my profession.
cit is an honor, great honor for
you," she said. "And your name is
Saunders now" Again there was a
curious emphasis ON the word ''now,"
which made me start
looked at her steadily for moment
and said deliberately: Yes, my name
have never met before, Mrs. Gregory.
but whatever knowledge you may pos
sess of me and my past l beg you to re-
member that my name is Saunders
now
My God!' she exclaimed. 81 am not
nkeIy to forget. And we have never
met, as you say. 1t is best so. hope we
may never meet again
There was no possibility Of replying to
such speech as that from a lady whom
had never before seen, and whom /
could not have offended in any way in
The few minutes we had been together,
was thoroughly mystifed and could
only bow in confused way. I recovered
myself in moment, however, and as
She turned away to join her companions
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
quick, searching glance said, mo, /
have never met you before, as YOU say
yourself, and l certainly do not mistake
you for any one | ever saw before" And
she was gone. 1t was impossible under
the circumstances for Inc to ask for any
explanation for during the following
two hours, while the party remained on
hoard, 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 1 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.
L had been in her house, too, as the
night editor had said when he had given
me the order which l 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
10 society news that winter, and | had
been sent to the ball as reporter. Mrs.
Gregory had given me the same polite
recognition on this occasion as on the
others, but had said nothing beyond a
few words Of greeting. Nevertheless
there had been in her eyes, when were
remarkably beautiful ones, strange
look each time she met me. had tried
again and again to read her expression.
1t seemed to me that could see fear
and defiance both, and yet could not
be certain.
Naturally had thought this all over
many times before, and had tried often
to imagine what it was that had inspired
her to make such strange speeches to me
the first time she saw me, and to treat
me afterward as though she desired both
to propitiate me and to keep me at dis
tance.
1t would have been perfectly natural
for me to suppose that she mistook me
for some other person but for two things
First was her positive declaration that
she did not. / was inclined to give more
weight to this than l might otherwise
have done because of the very strange
circumstances which accompanied the
loss of my fortune. Those circumstances
constituted the second reason why !
thought that she might not have been
mistaken, and that l had really seen her
before without knowing it.
1t sounds mysterious, but all the cir
cumstances We're mysterious. Inspector
hnA &l.o@ Z