Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

they had few hurried words Then Mr.
Harper went below and took up his stand
on the portico. He was determined that
Razen should not leave the place without
some further explanation.
1t was light where he stood. and he very
soon felt that this would not do; so be ship
ped back into the shade of pillar and see
ing, from the hustle. that Hazen was likely
to obtain the use OF the one automobile
stored I'm the stable, he waited with reason
able patience for his temperance in the
road before him.
Meanwhile. he had confidence In Ransom.
who he felt sure was watching them both
from the window overhead. If he should
fan in getting in the word he wanted RAN
som was pledged to shout it out without re-
gard to appearances. But this was not
likely to occur. He knew his own persis-
tency to equal Hazen's. Nothing should
promised himself
All! well-known whirr and ciatter il
heard The automobile was leaving tho
stable Hazen was already in it. and the
man who had come up from New York was
with him. This was bad: they would fash
by-No; he would not be baked thus STEM
ping out into the road. Ire stopped full I'm
me glare or the office lights and held up his
hand. They could not but see him. and thew
did. The chauffeur reversed the lever and
the machine stopped to the accompa niment
or low-muttered oaths from Hazen. which
We're rather disagreeable than otherwise
to Harpers ear.
"One word" said he. approaching TO the
side where Hazen sat II thought you
ought to know before leaving that we can
take no proceedings In the matter we were
speaking OF TIL We have undisputed proof
that your sister is dead That we may not
get for long time. possibly never If you
are interested In having this Auchincloss
receive his Inheritance you had better pre-
pare both yourself and him for long wait
The river seems slow to give up its dead
The culver of impatience which had
shaken Hazen at the first word had settled
into strange rigidfty.
'One moment, he said I'm a command to
the chauneur at his side. Then, In a low
strangely sounding whisper to Harper:
They think the body's In the Devils Cal,-
dron. Nothing can get II out IL II H.
Would some proof of its presence there be
sufficient to settle the fact of her death?'
That would depend. If the proof was
unmistakable 1t might pass I'm the surro-
gates court. What Is the matter Hazen?"
Nothing. The tone was hollow: the
whole man sat like an image of death. Il
m thinking-we weighing" he uttered In
scattered murmurS. Then suddenly You're
not deceiving me. Harper. Some proof viii
be necessary, and that very soon for this
man Auchincloss to realize the money!"
Yes, the monosylable was dry as Il
was short Harpers patience with this I'M
natural brother was about at an end
And who will venture to obtain this proof
for us? No one. Not even Ransom would
venture down into that wstery hole. they
say 1t Is almost certain Death" baboied
Hazen.
Harper kept silence. Strange forces were
AT work. The head of another grucsone
tragedy doomed vaguely through the shad-
ows of this already sufficiently tragic mye-
terry.
Go on suddenly shouted Hazen. lean
ing forward TO the chauffeur But the next
instant his hand was on the mans sleeve
NO have changed my mind. Here. Sta
pies. he called out as man came run
ming down the steps, take my bag and ask
the landlady to prepare me room. I'll not
fry IN ft1 In ,f.,l,f
at his side leaped to the ground he turned
to Harper and remarked quietly, but in no
common tone:
The steamer must sail without me. I'll
stay In this place a while and prove the
death of Georgian Ransom myself"
Go be continued next Saturday,