Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01
PART I.
A WOMAN OF MYSTERY
CHAPTER /.
A Bride Of Five Hours.

room SIP
Yes. sir. I've just sent for detective.
You were not to be found and the gentle
man Is desperate. But very anxious TO
have It all kept quiet; very anxious. 1
think we can oblige him there. or. at least,
wen try. Am l right. sirT'
"Of course, if"
'Oh, it's nothing criminal! The lady's
missing, that's all; the lady whose name
you see here"
The register lay open between them;
the clerks finger, running along the COL
umn rested about halfway down.
The manager bent over the page.
Roger j. Ransom and wife, he read
out in decided establishment. why, they
are"
You're right Married today in Grace
Church. A great wedding; the papers are
full of it. Well she's the lady. They
registered here a few minutes before .
O'Clock, and in ten minutes the bride was
missing. It's queer story Mr.. Ransom
tells. You'd better hear It, All, there
our man, Perhaps you'll go up with him. !"
You may bet your last dollar on that,
muttered the manager. And joining the
newcomer, he made significant gesture
which was all that passed between them
till they stepped out on the second moor.
Wanted In room SIP the manager now
asked.
"Just so. That's the door. Knock-or
rather, I'll knock, for must hear his story
as soon as you do. The reputation of the
hotel
Yes. yes. but the gentleman's waiting.
All! that's better"
The manager had just knocked.
An exclamation from within. hurried
step, and the door fell open. The figure
which met their eyes was startling. Dis
tress, anxiety and an Impotence almost
verging on frenzy, distorted features nat
urally amiable if not handsome.
My wife," fell in a gasp from his with
ing lips oo - ,o,, ro,, ena her ),
Mr.. Gerridge calmly assured him. Mr.. Ger
ridge was the detective. Relate the cir
cumstances. sir. Tell us where you were
when YOU first missed her
Mr.. Ransom's glance wandered past MIN
to the door. 1t was partly open Inc
manager. whose name was Loomis, hastily
closed It, Mr.. Ransom showed relief and
hurried into his story. 1t was TO this Ell
feet:
II was married today in Grace Church
At the altar my bride-you probably know
her name, Miss Georgian Hazen-wore
natural look. and was in all respects, SO
far as any one could see. happy woman,
satisfied with her choice and pleased with
the eclat and elegancies of the occasion.
Half way down the aisle this all changed:
j remember the instant perfectly her hano
was on my arm and l felt 1t suddenly stiff
fen / was not alarmed. but l gave her a
quick look and saw that something mad
happened. What, l could not at the mo-
ment determine. She didn't answer when
i spoke to her and seemed to be mainly
concerned in getting out of the church be-
fore her emotions overcame her. This she
succeeded in doing with my help; and.
once in the vestibule recovered herself
so completely and met all my inquiries with
such gay shrug of the shoulders that
should have passed the matter over as a
mere attack of nerves. II had not after
ward detected in her face. through all the
hurry and excitement Of the ensuing re-
ception, a strained expression not at all
natural to her. This was still more evident
after the congratulations of a certain guest,
who l am sure, whispered to her before
he passed on: and when the time came
for her to go upstairs she was so pale
and unlike herself that 1 became seriously
alarmed and asked II she felt well enough
to start upon the journey we had medi-
tated. Instantly her manner changed. She
turned upon me with look 1 have been
trying ever since to explain to myself, and
begged me not to take her out of town
tonight, but to some quiet hotel where we
might rest for a few days before starting
on our travels. She looked me squarely In
the eye as she made this request. and, see
ing In her nothing more than feverish
anxiety lest l should make difficulties OF
some kind. promised to do what she asked
and babe her run away and get herself
ready to go and say nothing to any one
of our change of plan. She smiled and
turned away toward her own room, but
presently came hurrying back to ask II
would grant her one more favor. Would
/ be so good not to speak to her or ex-
pect her to speak to me till We got to the
hotel; she was feeling very nervous, but
was sure that a few minutes OF complete
rest would entirely restore her; something
had occurred (she acknowledged this) which
she wanted to think out: wouldn't l grant
her this one opportunity of doing SO? 1t
was a startling request. but she looked so
lovely-pardon me. / must explain my easy
acquiesence-that l gave her the assurance
cba urls about prep
arations. somewhat disconnected but still
not at all prepared for what happened af-
uerward. I had absolutely no idea that she
meant to leave me-
Mr. Ransom paused, greatly affected
but upon the detective asking him how and
when Mrs. Ransom had deserted him, he
controlled himself sufficiently to say:
Here; Immediately after that silent and
unnatural ride. She entered the office with
me and was standing close to my side all
the time / was writing our names in the
her to enter the elevator with me. she
was gone, and the boy who was standing
by with our two bags said that she had
slipped into the reception room across the
hall. But / didn't find her there or in any
Of the adjoining rooms. Nor has anybody
since succeeded in finding her. She ha.
left the building-left me-and-"
You want her back again?'
This from the detective, but very dryly.
Yes For she was not following her OWE
inclinatons in thus abandoning me so soor
after the words which made us one were
spoken. Some influence was brought t
bear on her which she felt unable to resist
/ have confidence enough In her to believ,
that The rest is mystery-a mystery which
] am forced to ask you to untangle. havt
neither the necessary calmness nor expert
ence myself"
But you surely nave done something.
protested Gerridge. 'Teiephoned to hel
late home Or
"Oh, yes / have done all that but will
no result. She has not returned to her ole
home Her uncle has just been here and h,
Is as much mystified by the whole occur
renee as i am. He could tell me nothing
absolutely nothing"
Indeed And the man. the one WHIT
whispered to her during the reception
couldn't you learn anything about him."
Mr.. Ransom's face took n an expression
almost ferocious.
mo. He's a stranger to Mr.. Fulton; We
Mr.. Fulton's niece introduced him to me a
relative"
"A relative? When was that?'
AT the reception. He was INTRODUCES
as Mr. Hazen Tiny wife's maiden name. yo
know. and when I saw how his presenc
disturbed her. l said to her. a cousin O
yours? and she answered with very eviden
embarrassment. A relative'-which yo
must acknowledge didn't locate him yer
definitely. Mr.. Fulton doesn't know Of an
such relative. And l don't believe he is
relative. He didn't sit with the rest of tn
family In the church."
"Ah, you saw him in the churh?'