The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-16

Ransom was silent.
"Anitras hat is below and here is Mrs.
Ransom's- She who ESCAPED from this
house last night went out bare headed 30
repeated the lawyer.
Mr. Ransom. moving aside TO avoid
the probing OF the others eyre, merely re-
marked.
You noticed my wife's dress very par
tculariy IL seems. It was Of serge. You
say"
Yes. am learned IN stuns. To-
narieed II when she got into the coach,
p0ssfbly because 1 was struck by its sim
picity and conventional make. There was
70 trimming on the bottom, only stitching
Her sisters was just like f. They had
TIE look Of being ready-rnade."
But Anitra had no raIncoat I remem-
Der that her shoulders were wet when she
came ia from the lane"
NO, she had no protection but her
blouse. black like her dress presume
that her hot blood resented every kind
OF wrap"
Again that sideiong glance from his
Keen eye she wore a checked silk hand
kerchief about her neck-the one she ar
forwards put over her head"
You were on the same train with nv
wife and sister-in-law," Ransom now sail
Did you sit near them? Converse with
them, that is, with Mrs Ransom"
/ have no reason for deceiving you
In that regard" replied Mr.. Harper Il
did not come UP from New York on the
same train they did. They must have
come Up in the morning for when arr.v-
Cd al the place they call the Ferry I saw
them standing on the hotel steps ready
10 step into the coach. I spoke 70 Mrs
ransom then, but only word. Ny grin
sack had been put under the drivers seat.
hoe
Win MIN Notwithstanding the inclernency
OF the weather. Mrs Ransom saw It too
ana POSSIBLY my natural hesitation. for
she turned 70 me after she had seen her
sister safely ensconced Inside. ana said
something about Ter regret at having
subjected me to such Inconvenience. hut
aid not offer TO make room for me In the
Dody OF the coach, though there was rocra
enough II the other had been the Quiet
lady she was herself. But she was not
ana possibly this was Mrs. Ransom's OK
cuse Tor her apparent lack Of cOnsidera-
uon Tor me. Before We reached fha
point where the lane cuts I'm. becar1e
aware Of some disturbance behind mo
and when we really got there. I hea ii
hrst the coach door opening. then yolir
wnes voice raised in entreaty to tho
driver. calling on him to stop before her
sister jumped out and hurt herself .Sho
is deaf and very wild was an the ex-
pianation she gave after Miss Hazon had
ieaped into tho wet road and darted from
sight into what looked to me i'm tiic
darkness. Ike tangled mass Of bushes.
hen she said something about her iav-
ing had hard work TO keep her still tiu
We got this far; but that she was sure
she would ind her way to the hotel. ard
that we mustn't bother ourselves about
IL Tor she wasn't going 10: Anitra and
she had run this road too many times
when they were children. That is an
! have to tell of my Intercourse with these
ladies prior TO our appearance AT the
hotel I think it right for me 20 clear
the slate Ransom. Who knows what We
may wish TO write upon It next?"
A slight shiver on RansOms part was
the sole answer he gave 20 this innuendo.
then both settled themselves to work
tho eyes Of either flashing hither and
thither from one small object 10 another.
in this seemingly deserted room In the
momentary silence which followed. me
even breathing of the woman In the
adjoining room could be distinctly heard.
It seemed to affect Mr.. Ransom deeply.
though he strove hard TO maintain the
business-like attitude he had assumed