Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-16
CHAPTER XVII.
Who !. Nina Darlington?

listed, in a state of the most dreadful
suspense. We ate only when Liddy
brought in tray, and then very little.
The papers, Of course, had got hold
Of the story, and we were besieged by
newspaper men. From all over the
country false clews came pouring in
and raised hopes that crumbled again
to nothing. Every morgue within 100
miles, every hospital, had been Wis
tied, without result.
The inaction was deadly. Liddy
cried all day, and, because she knew
I objected to tears, SMILED audibly
around the corner.
"For heavens sake, smile!" I
snapped at her. And her CHASTITY at
tempt at grin, with her swollen nose
and red eyes, made me hysterical. l
laughed and cried together, and pref
ty soon, like the two old fools we
were. we were sitting together weep
ing into the same handkerchief.
On Tuesday, then, sent for the car
and prepared to go out. AS waited
at the porte-cochere / saw the under
gardener, an inoffensive, grayish-
haired man, trimming borders near
the house. The day detective was
watching him, sitting on the carriage
block When he saw me, he got up.
Miss Innes," he said, taking off his
hat, "do you know where Alex, the
gardener, is?"
why. no. Isn't he here?" asked.
"He has been gone since yesterday
afternoon. Have you-employed him
long?"
"Only couple of weeks"
SIS he efficient? A capable man."
II hardly know" I said vaguely.
1.-THE place looks all right, and 1 know
very little about such things. 1 know
much more about boxes of roses than
bushes of them"
"This man." pointing to the assis-
tant, says Alex isn't a gardener. That
he doesn't know anything about
plants
That's very strange" I said, think
ing hard. why, he came to me from
the Brays, who are in Europe"
Exactly" The detective smiled.
Every man who cuts grass isn't
gardener, MISS lines, and just now it
is our policy to believe every person
around here a rascal until he proves
to be the other thing"
Warner came up with the car then,
and the conversation stopped. AS he
helped me in, however, tho detective
said something further.
Not word or sign to Alex, If he
comes back" he said cautiously.
I went first to Or. Walkers. was
tired of beating about tho bush, and /
felt that the key to Halsey's disap-4
pearance was here at Casanova, in
spite of Mr.. Jamieson's theories.
The doctor was in. He came st
once to the door of his consulting
room, and there was no mask OF cor
diality in his manner.
please come in he said curtly
Il shall stay here, | think, doctor"
I did not like his face or his manner:
there was subtle change in botn He
had thrown off the air of friendliness,
and / thought. too, that he looked anx-
ious and haggard
DR. Walker | said, II have come
70 you to ask some questions. hope
YOU will answer them. AS you know,
my nephew has not yet been found"
so understand stifIly.
II believe. if you would, you could
ielp us, and that leads to one of my
questions. Will you tell me what was
he nature of the conversation you
leld with him the night he was at
acked and carried Off"
rorrioJ h. ,.:.,
With pretended surprise. Really, Miss
mes, don't you think you exaggerate?
understand 1t is not the first time
fr. Innes has-disappeared."
you are quibbling, doctor. This is
matter of life and death. Will you
nswer my question:"
Certainly. He said his nerves were
ad. and gave him prescription for
aem. am violating professional
thics when tell you even as much as
aat"
could not tell him he lied. think
looked it. But hazarded a random
not.
II thought perhaps" said, watch
g him narrowly, that it might be
,out-Nina Darlington"
For moment / thought he was 60
& to strike me. He grew livid, and
nall crooked blood-vessel in his tenn.
swelled and throbbed curiously.
aen he forced short laugh.
Who is Nina Carrington" he asked
Il am about to discover that" re-
led, and he was quiet at once. 1t
Is not difficult to divine that he
ared Nina Darlington good deal
3re than he did the devil. Our leave
king was brief; In fact, we merely
.red at each other over the waiting
,m table, with its litter of year-old
.gazinas. Then I turned and went
/.
To RichHeld," told Warner, and
the way thought, and thought
I'd.
Nina Darlington, Nina Darlington"
roar and rush of the wheels
med to sing the words. Nina Car
gton, N. c." And then knew,
sw as surely as If had seen the
ole thing. There had been an N. G.
the suit case belonging to the wom-
with the pitted face. How simple
lllaseemed. Matte Bliss had been
Ia Darlington. It was she Warner
heard in the library. 1t was some
is abe had told Halsey that had
en- hiLl frantically to DR.. Walkers
81, and from there perhaps to his
til. II We could find therwomans We
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