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

Mr. Ransom. and do NOT allow impulse
TO soretsede Judgment If,yol Will take
my advice"
Speak"
Il should treat her as ir she were
the woman She calls herself. or at least.
as II you thouslt her So Nothing
This word ho repeated as ne noted the
lncreduity with which the other list-
cned-'v Guild bee SO likely TO make Lcr
betray herself as that"
Let us 80 back and listen araln at
her door was Mr.. Eaus0m's emphatic
but inconseQuent reply.
The lawyer desisted from further adj
vice. but sighed as he followed his new
client into the ham, AT The turn OF the
staircase they We're stopped by the sound
of wrangiing voices in the office below.
Mr. Harper heard his name mentioned
and FASTENED 10 interfere. Assuring Mr.
Ransom OF lass speedy return. he stepped
downstairs. and in few minutes re-
appeared with "a middle-aged man OF cha
racterlstic appearance, whom he intro
duced TO Mr.. Ransom as Mr.. Goodcnough.
The sight Of the uncOuth head OF their
youthful acquaintance Of the morning
peering up after him from the foot OF
the stairs was warranty sufficient that
this VAS the man who had met the
strange young lady on the highway early
that morning.
At sight OF him Mr.. Ransom fcIt that
inner recon which we ali experience a.
the prospect Of an immediate and def
mite termination Of long brOOding
doubt. In another instant and with one
word this unculture6 and hitherto un-
known man would settle for him the
greatest question OF his life And he did
not feel prepared for IL. He had an inn
pulse almost Of flight as If in this way
nc could escape a certainty ne feared
What certainty Perhaps he could not
have answered had he been asked. His
mind was ia a turmoil lie had feel
ings-instincts; that was all
The lawyer noting his condition. I'M
certoo1 the leadership OF affairs. Beck
onins Mr.. Goodcnough into MI RansOm's
room. he softly closed the door upon the
many inquiring ears about, and. assuming
the manner most likely 10 encourage the
unsophlsticated but straightforward look
ing man with whom lie had 10 deal.
quietly observed.
1--WE hear that YOU met this morning
n young girl going towards tie Ferry.
There rs great reason why We should
know just how this young girl look
A lady disappeared froR here last night.
and though, from letter she left be-
hind her. we have every reason 70 be-
hevc that her body is somewhere IN the
river, yet VIC don't want TO overlook
the possibility Of her having escaped
alive in another direction Can you de-
scribe the person you save"
Wa III, m not much good at talk
was the embarrassed. almost haltine zee
ply. Il saw the gal and i remember
just how she looked but I couldn't rut
1t into words 70 save my soul She was
pretty and clipper and walked along as
II she was part OF the mornin. but that
don't tell YOU much. does it2 Yet 1 don't
know what else 10 say. P'raps YOU could
help me by asking questions"
wen see. Was she light-complex-
Toned? Yellow hair you know. and blue
eyes?"
mo; I don't think she was Not what
I call light Ny SAILS light this gal
wasn't Ike my sal"
Dark. then. very dark With "a gypsy
color and swapping black eycsc"
"No, not that either. What J should call
bctweens. But more dark than light"
Harper flashed glance 40 Ransom be-
fore putting his next question
What did she have on her head2n
BLESS me II / can ten IL wasn't a
sun-honnet, nor was il slapped all over
with ribbons and flowers like my dar-
tcrs."
But she had some sort Of Lat on2.'
'sarain. Did you think she was just
running 10 the neighb0rs?"
but she wore no coato''
II don't remember any coat"
do YOU remember her frock.'
"No. not exactly"
Don't you remember its COLOR"
'NO."
wasn't it black? the skirt Of IT, at
lcast?'
"Hlack2 Wa'al. 7 guess not. A gal OF
her age iu black, 40. She was as trielt
as the flowers la my wife's garden. Not
black thing on her. ] should sooner
think Ler clothes were red than black"
Harper showed his surprise.
not black silirt2- he persisted.
ono stree. ! haven't much eye for
nxins. bur I've eye enough 10 know when
"a gals dressed like a sal and not like
some ola woman
SOM