Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-11
A Mystery
Romance
"
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd. !
Mead q Co.
CHAPTER v.
THE yellow light of the early
June afternoon grew softer as
r. Sank into and waS ahsorhod

Miriam Challoner. propped up with
red silk cushions In a strange attitude
Of expectancy. these things had ceased
TO matter. for out of her life a living
presence had gone. leaving void more
harsh than death. For weeks now
che had patiently waited, her ear
strained at every sound, trying to as
eociate It somehow with her husbands
return. The servants seemed to tread
on tiptoe as they went about their du-
ties. The house was curiously hushed
rs though listening. always listening.
"Oh. why doesn't he Gomez she cried,
an agony Of despair in her voice, and
began to pace the room in nervous agi-
kation.
At that moment a man noiselessly
entered the room. She did not hear
him until. suddenly looking round, she
saw Stevens, the butler. advancing re-
spectfully toward her.
Stevens held the silver salver before
her, on which were several letters.
There were nine in ALL the last Of
which she quickly tore open as the
sole missive fraught with possibility.
But she was doomed to disappoint-
ment, and, handing them back to him,
she told him to put them on the desk.
Stevens" she said falteringly, ''send
Foster to me at once"
Stevens turned on the instant and
found Foster in a passageway shud
dering.
Whats the matter with you?" he
whispered, at the same time placing
his arm about her.
what are you doing?' exclaimed
foster. with indignation. but made no
attempt to release herself from his
embrace. Don't you hear the news
boys? What are they saying?" she
went on. nesting closer to him.
'Listenw
They did not have long to wait, for
Just then the hoarse, raucous voices OF
the newsboys calling early specials
reached their ears. Then like bolt
from the blue rang out the words,
'Challoner caught in Chicago!"
They've caught himv' the maid al
most shrieked. pushing Stevens VIC
lently away from her, and, starting in
obedience to her mistress commands.
she added athetically:
81 hope she hasn't hear1'- '-
And as fortune would have it Mrs.
Challoner had not heard, but went on
to inform the maid that she was going
to her room to lie down.
On reaching her room. however, Mrs.
Challoner abandoned her intention to
lie down. Apparently calm and col
lected. she took a seat near the light
and started mentally to place her house
once more in order. Item after item
she checked of from her memorandum
upon her household pad.
4 There was an almost unheard tinkle
1 OF an altogether unseen bell, and be-
fore it's sound died away Stevens had
gone to answer.
what is ftp asked Mrs. Challoner
when she summoned Foster. Il don't
want to see anybody. can't see any
body! Iwon'tw she ended almost hys-
terically, and. gathering her trailing
skirts In her hands. she fed to her
room.
But no sooner had she reached the
door than Shirley Bloodgood followed
on her heels.
II just simply couldn't stay away
from you any longer. Miriam" she de-
clared. II know you don't want rae
here. but can't leave you.''
Miriam Challoner sank weakly at a
table. Finally she leaned toward her
visitor and asked, world of pathos in
the question:
Isis there any news outsider"
Shirley hesitated imperceptibly.
''None. IL haven't seen the papers.
NO, there's nothing new"
|, Mrs. Challoner threw her arms about
the girl
Shirley, Shirley. I'd have gone mad,
think, Il. you hadn't Gomez she cried
and fell to sobbing. but after a mo-
ment she Strengthened up again. There
was a defiant look in her face now, a
tremor IN the voice that said: IT don't
care what he's done. I want Laurie to
come back, do you understand?
want him back-I want him."
Shirley Bloodgood bit her lips.
II know, / know, Miriam-I do un-
derstand"-
"Oh, but you can't understand" she
persisted. You haven't a husband,
and yon don't know"
Yes, yes. Miriam, / know" WERE,
the only words that rose to the girls
lips to comfort her, for at that mo-
ment the faint sound Of the insistent
doorbell broke in upon them.
Mrs. Challoners slight frame shook
with sudden agitation as she exclaim-
ed:
THAT doorbell will drive me crazy!'
And. almost instantly recovering her
composure, she gasped:
III It should be Laurie!'
The girl glanced at the smoldering
Z dre in the CRATE. where to her excited
fancy IN all their hideousness rose be
fore her the headlines she had read in
the evening papers, "Challoner Caught
in Chicagor
How are we going to break the
news to herY' sighed Shirley as she
quickly left the room Just Outside Of
the door she encountered Stevens, . and,
quickly placing her finger on her lips.
she motioned him to be silent. When
they were well out. Of hearing he an
nounced in q confidential tone:
'Mr. Murgatroyd. Miss Bloodgood. !"
'Mr.E Nufcauoyd! William Aiufga,
toyd1 What -doee. he .Eant. steyeps7' r