The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-06-17
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS
Author Of The Fighting Chance" Etc.

Ruthven was apparently in perfect
health. living in the country. main
tanning villa and staff OF servants;
that she might be seen driving a per.
fectly appointed Cossack sleigh any
day with groom on the rumble and n
companion beside her; that she seem.
ed to be perfectly sane. healthy In
body and mind. comfortable. happy
and enjoying life under the protection
OF a certain Captain Selwyn, who paid
all her bills and at certain times was
seen entering or leaving her house at
Edgewnter
Excited incredulous. but hoping for
the worst Ruthven had posted of to
his attorneys To them he naively
confessed his desire TO he rid Of Alike
He reported her misconduct with Neer.
Rard-whlch he knew was n le-her
pretense OF mental prostration. her dis.
appearance and his last interview
with Selwyn in the card room He
also gave a vivid description Of that
gentleman's disgusting behavior and
his threats OF violence during that In.
terview.
To all OF which bis attorneys listen.
ed very attentively, bade him have no
fear of his life. requested him to make
several affidavits and leave the rest
10 them for the present
Which he did. without hearing from
them until Mr.. Hallam telegraphed
him to come to Bdgewater II he had
nothing better TO do
Mr.. Hallam was very busy, very
sangulne. very impetuous young man,
and when he met Ruthven at the Edge.
water station be told him promptly
that he had the best case on earth
that he, Hallam, was going TO New
York on the next train, now almost
due, and that Ruthven had better
drive over and see for himself how
gayly his wife maintained her house.
hold, for the Cossack sleigh, with its
gray crimson tchug. had but just re-
turned from the usual afternoon spin,
and the young chatelaine of Willow
Villa was now on the snow covered
lawn, romping with the coachman's
huge white wolfhound. RuthveD drove
10 the villa.
about, tall cedars, bit OF bushy fore
land and stretch OF snow. And
across this open space Of snow a
young girl was moving, followed by
white wolfhound Once she paused.
hesitated, looked cautiously around
her. Ruthven. hiding behind a bush.
saw her thrust her arm into a low
evergreen shrub and draw out shin.
Ing object that glttered like glass.
Then she started toward the house
again.
At first RUthven thought she was his
wife. Then he was not sure, and he
cast his cigar away and followed,
sinking forward among the ever
greens. But the youthful, fur clad
figure kept straight on 10 the veranda
of the house, and Ruthven, curious
and determined 10 find out whether II
was Alike or not, left the semi-shelter
of the evergreens and crossed the open
space Just as the woman's figure dis
appeared around an angle OF the We
randa.
Vexed determined not 10 return
without some definite discovery, Ruth
ven stepped upon the veranda. Just
around the angle Of the porch he heard
a door opening and he hurried for
ward, impatient and absolutely un-
afraid, anxious to get one good look at
his wife and be off.
But when he turned the angle OF the
porch there was no one there. Only an
open door confronted him, with a big,
mild eyed wolfhound standing In the
doorway looking steadily up at him.
Ruthven glanced somewhat dubious
ly at the dog; then as the animal made
no offensive movement he craned his
fieshy neck striving TO see inside the
house.
He did see-nothing very much, only
the same young girl, still in her furs,
emerging from an inner room, her
arms full of dolls.
In his eagerness to see more Ruthven
pushed past the great white dog, who
withdrew his head disdainfully from
the unceremonious contact, but quietly
followed Ruthven into the house,
standing beside him, watching him out
Of great, limpid, deerlike eyes
But Ruthven no longer needed the
pog. HIS amused and slightly sneer-
Ing gaze was fastened on the girl In
furs who had entered what appeared
TO be a living room to the right and
now, down on her knees beside a
couch. smiling and talking confden-
tally and quite happily to herself, was
placing her dolls against the wall.
Then the great white dog growled
very low, ard the girl in the fur jack
ct looked around and up quickly.
Alixel He realized II as she caught
his pale eyes hxed on her, and she
stared, sprang to her feet, still staring.
Then into her eyes leaped terror, the
living horror OF recognition distorting
her face. And as she saw he meant
to speak she recoiled, shrinking away,
turning In her fright like hunted
thing. The strange doll in her hand
Riittered Ii was "A revolver wraDDed