The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-26

lOdiSt dlA 1It-iiOllof k
a part of a role she had assumed. our
ears were strained for the first throb
of the motor as 1t turned into the drive
and commenced the climb to the house.
Ten minutes passed, fifteen. twenty. |
saw Louise's hands grow rigid as they
clutched the arms of her chair, |
watched G~eItrude's bright color slowly
ebbing away. and around my own
heart 1 seemed TO feel the grasp OF a
giant han
Twenty-Five minutes. and then a
sound. But it was not the chug of the
motor; 1t was the unmistakable rumble
of the va hack. Gertrude drew
aside the curtain and peered into the
darkness.
It's the hack, | am sure" she said,
evidently relieved. Something has
gone wrong with the car. and no Won
der-the way Halsey went down the
HILL
1t seemed a long time before the
creeking vehicle came TO a stop at the
door. Louise rose and stood watching,
her hand to her throat. And then Ger
trude opened the door, admitting Mr..
Jameson and a stocky, middle-aged
man. Halsey was not with them. When
the door had closed and Louise realized
that Halsey had not come, her express
sion changed. From tense watchful-
ness to relief, and now again to abso-
lutte despair, her face was an open
page.
"Halsey?" l asked unceremoniously,
ignoring the stranger, Did he-not
meet your
NO" Mr.. Jameson looked slightly
surprised. Il rather expected the car,
but we got up all right"
you didn't see him at all?" Louise
demanded breathlessly.
Mr.. Jameson knew<her at once, al
though he had not seen her before. She
had kept to her rooms until the morn
ing she left.
No, Miss Armstrong" he said. Il
saw nothing of him. What is wrong"
Then we shall have to find him."
she asserted. Every instant is prec-
lous. Mr.. Jameson. l have reason for
believing hat he is in danger, but l
don't know what il is. Only-he must
be found
The stocky man had said nothing.
Now. however. he went quickly toward
the door.
I'll catch the hack down the road
and hold it," he said. rs the gentle
man down in the town."
"Mr. Jameson" Louise said impul-
sively, Il can use the hack. Take my
horse and trap outside and drive like
mad. Try to find the Dragon Fly-it
ought to be easy to trace. / can think
of no other way. Only, don't lose a mo-
ment."
The new detective had gone, and a
moment later Jameson went rapidly
down the drive, the cob's feet striking
fire at every step. Louise stood look
ing after them. When she turned
around she faced Gertrude, who stood
indignant, almost tragic, In the hall.
You know what threatens Halsey,
Louise" she said accusingly. Il be-
lieve you know this whole horrible
thing, his mystery that we are strug-
Cling with. If anything happens to
Halsey. l shall never forgive you"
Louise only raised her hands de-
spairingly and dropped them again.
He is as dear to me as he is to you"
she said sadly, Il tried to warn him"
NONSENSE" I said. as briskly as l
could. I'VE are making a lot of trou-
HE out of something perhaps very
small. Halsey was probably late-he is
always late. Any smoment we may
bear the car coming up the road"
But it did not come. After a half
hour of suspense, Louise went out
quietly. and did not come back. I
hardly knew she was gone until I heard
the station hack moving off. At II
o'clock the telephone rang. 1t was Mr..
Jameson.
Il have found the Dragon Fly, Miss
Innes." he said. ut has collided with
q freight car on the siding above the
station. No. Mr.. Innes was not there.
but we shall probably find him. Send
Warner for the car"
But they did not Inc him. AT /
o'clock the next morning we were still
waiting for news, while Alex watched
the house and Sam the grounds. Al
daylight / dropped into exhausted
sleep. Halsey had not come back. and
there was no word from the detective.