Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-01

e,CSticii w oCHilHE llcIl lCS ClSdti.
and cake on every holiday. Beyond
that, and her reputation at bridge,
which is insufferably bad-she is the
worst player at the bridge club
know little Of her. 1t was she who
| had taken charge of Arnold Arm
strong's funeral, however, and 1 went
at once to the telephone.
eyes," I said, this is Miss Innes."
"Miss 1nnes," she said volubly, Il
have just received very strange tele-
gram from my cousin, Mrs. Arm
strong. Her husband died yesterday
in California and-wait, I will read
you the message"
I knew what was coming, and l
made up my mind at once. If Louise
Armstrong had a good and sufficient
reason for leaving her people and
| coming home, reason, moreover,
that kept her from going at once to
Mrs. Ogden Fitghugh, and brought her
! to the lodge at Sunnyside instead it
was not my intention to betray her
Louise herself must notify her people,
do not Justify myself now, but re-
member, / was in a peculiar position
toward the Armstrong family I was
connected most unpleasantly with
cold-blooded crime, and my niece and
nephew were practically beggared,
either directly or indirectly, through
the head of the family
Mrs. Fitzhugh had found the mas
sage.
paul died yesterday. Heart dis
ease, she read. "'Wire at once if
Louise is with you You see Miss
lnnes, Louise must have started east,
and Fanny is alarmed about her"
Yes 7 said.
Louise is not here" Mrs. Fitzhugh
went on, 'and none of her friends
the few who are still in town-have
seen her. I called you because Sunny
side was not rented when she went
away, and Louise might have gone
| there"
Il am sorry, Mrs. Fitzhugh, but
cannot help you," l said, and was i'm
mediately filled with conjunction
Suppose Louise grew worse? Who
was l to play Providence in this
case? The anxious mother certainly
had right to know that her daughter
was in good hands. So | broke in on
Mrs. Fitzhugh's voluble excuses for
disturbing me.
Mrs. Fitzhugh," I said. 'I was 60
ing to let you think 1 knew nothing
about Louise Armstrong, but l have
changed my mind. Louise is here,
With me-" There was a clatter of
CALCULATIONS at the other end of the
wire. She is i'll, and not able to be
moved Moreover, she is unable to see
any one. l wish yor would wire her
mother that she is v-.th me, and tell
her not to worry. No, l do not know
why she came east"
But my dear Miss Innes," Mrs.
fftzhugh began. l cut in ruthlessly.
L will send for you as soon as she
can see YOU I said. mo, she is not
In critical state now, but the doctor
says she must have absolute quiet.
When l had hung up the receiver I
sat down to think. So Louise had fed
from her people in California, and had
come east alone! 1t occurred to me
that DR.. Walker might be concerned
IN 1t, might possibly have bothered
her with unwelcome attentions; but
1t seemed to me that Louise was hard
~ a girl to take refuge in fight under
such circumstances. She had always
been high-spirited, with the we'll
s poised head and buoyant step of the
outdoors girl 1t must have been much
more in keeping with Louise's char
| Ictar I know II To
~ any unWelcome attentions from DR..
Walker. 1t was the sutton whom ]
should have expected to see in head
long flight not the lady in the case.
The puzzle was no clearer at the
end OF the half hour. I picked up the
morning papers, which were still full
OF the looting of the Traders bank
the interest at fever height again, on
account of Paul Armstrong; death
Inc bank examiners were working on
the books, and said nothing for publ
cation; John Bailey had been released
on bond. The body of Paul Armstrong
would arrive Sunday and would be
buried from the Armstrong town
mouse. There were rumors that the
dead mans estate had been a com
2aratively small one. This last para
graph was the important one.
Walter P. Rroadhurst of the Ma
rlne bank had produced 200 American
Traction bonds, which had been placed
as security with the Marine bank for a
loan of 100000, made to Paul Arm
strong, just before his California trip
: The bonds were a part of the MISSING
traction bonds from the Traders
bank! While this involved the late
president of the wrecked bank, to my
mind 1t by no means cleared Its
I cashier.
tTo BE coNTINUED.)