Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-02-08

barge, before MT. Thomas realized that
the conference was at an end. One
pleasant association only he carried
away with him, the charm of the pres
ence Of the younger girl, whose gentle
inclination Of the head as she looked
at him just before leaving the room
seemed to accentuate his feeling that
here was helpless, beautiful girl, who
appealed to his sympathetic interest,
and whom, II occasion should come,
he would most gladly serve.
Mr.. Thomas, as he wrote Of the days
developments in the North case, graph
ically presented certain facts, but kept
others, quite as important, untold
Among these undisclosed matters the
name and standing Of Richard Fet-
ridge in the North household were in
cluded.
There is no "rest day" in. the re-
porter'B week. Sunday came and
brought to Mr.. Thomas new duties. In
all the daily papers of Saturday this
announcement had appeared:
''The funeral Of the late Paul North will
take place from his late residence, Swamps-
colt, at three p. m. on Sunday, June 10.
Relatives and friends invited without fur
Their notice. Burial private"
In the throng that pressed into the
house of mourning, it would have
taken attentive observation to single
out Mr.. Thomas. But he was there
among the first; a nod of recognition,
given and returned, secured for him q
place after his own heart, where he
could see all and not be seen. From
this point of vantage, Thomas looked
over the assemblage quite at his
leisure, and noted many face familiar
in State street and on change.
Rather a young man in black, whom
he remembered to have seen often, was
escorted to place Of some prominence.
He exchanged some whispered words
with those in authority, and Mr..
Thomas set him down, unhesitatingly,
as Richard Fetrldge. And Richard
Fetridge 1t was, and none other.
Thornton Stackhouse, looking worn
and almost haggard, appeared ON the
threshold Of the great parlors. He
had been looked for obviously, for he
was at once approached by the master
of ceremonies, with his mourning face,
and escorted to the seat reserved for
him not far from the family group.
BY some potent influence, Mr.. Thorn
as eyes, as well as his thoughts, were
turned toward these silent, motionless
women. Once more, it was not Marion
but Stella who seemed to appeal to his
| heart. Once only he caught sight of
her face, and its pathetic, frightened
look again touched him nearly. What
would l not give" he thought, almost
wondering at the sudden feeling, 'for
the opportunity to help that poor girl!
How l wish it were in my power to
give her courage and hope"
Miss Harwood sat with Marion and
Stella on either side, closely yelled.
No other relatives were present, for
Paul North's only brother-a Chicago
merchant-was abroad with his fam
lily.
AS the sweet, mournful strains of the
funeral anthem were heard, the
searching eye of Mr.. Thomas noted
the presence, in a seat not far from the
central group, of the worthy Inspector
Applebee.
Mr. Thomas mental surmise was
quite correct. Inspector Applebee was
there on business. But the outcome of
that visit surprised no one more than
the officer from police headquarters.
The brief service had ended; the as
semblage rose respectfully to permit
the special mournerS to pass through
found himseL directly before them as
they went on, followed by many a
sympathetic look.
Aunt Comfort came a little in ad-
vance; and then the two orphaned
girls, Stella walking on the side near
er to the watching inspector.
A subtle, delicate odor came to his
sense as Stella stopped for a moment
so near that he might have touched
her without lifting his arm-a faint
rare perfume.
Instantaneously the scent recalled q
certain scene to the inspectors mind
His thoughts went from Paul North's
villa at Swampscott to Paul North's
town house in Marlboro street; and
he seemed to find again, where it had
lain overlooked in the masters house
a bit of filmy lace.
There could be no mistake, the in.
spectOr said to himself, outwardly i'm
passive, but every nerve quivering
with excitement
With Stella North, almost as II Il
were part of herself, came that faint
yet penetrating and subtle odor which
Inspector Applebee had known in al
his life but once before; when he was
keeping watch in the house where
Stella North's father lay, cold in death
CHAPTER TX.
UNDER COVER OF THE NIGHT.
When the yellow state house dome
next came into Reporter Thomas