The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-08-25

L L.u....as Ssiii -
Old Ladies home and ruins their di-
eestion by sending them ice cream
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.
YES" l said, this is Miss lines"
Miss Innes," she said volubly, Il
have just received a very strange tele-
gram from my cousin. Mrs. Arm
strong. Her husband died yesterday
in California and-wait, l will read
you the message"
l knew what was coming, and |
made up my mind at once If Louise
Armstrong had 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. l was
connected most unpleasantly with a
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
lines, Louise must have started east,
and Fanny is alarmed about her"
Yes" I said
Louise is not here" Mrs Fitzhugh
went on, "and none of her friends
the few who are still in town-have
seen her. l called you because Sunny
side was not rented when she went
away, and Louise might have gone
there"
Il am sorry, Mrs. Fitzhugh, but l
cannot help you" l said, and was i'm
mediately filled with conjunction.
Suppose Louise grew worse? Who
was | to play Providence in this
case? The anxious mother certainly
had right to know that her daughter
was in good hands So I broke in on
Mrs. Fitzhughs voluble excuses for
disturbing me-
Mrs. Fitzhugh," I said. q was 60
ing to let you think l knew nothing
about Louise Armstrong, but 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 you would wire her
mother that she is with me, and tell
her not to worry. No, I 90 not know
why she came east"
But my dear Miss Innes," Mrs.
Fitzhugh began. cut in ruthlessly.
Il will send for you as soon as she
can see you" | said NO, she is not
in critical state now, but the doctor
says she must have absolute quiet.
When | had hung up the receiver
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
ly girl to take refuge in flight under
such circumstances. She had always
been high-spirited, with the we'll
poised head and buoyant step of the
outdoors girl. 1t must have been much
. more in keeping with Louise's char
acter, as | knew it, to resent vigorous
ly any unwelcome attentions from DR..
Z Walker. 1t was the sutton whom I
should have expected to see in head
. long flight, not the lady in the case.
u The puzzle was no clearer at the
, end of the half hour. l picked up the
l morning papers, which were still full
I of the footing of the Traders bank,
THE interest at fever height again, on
account of Paul Armstrong; death.
| The 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
uwould arrive Sunday and would be
, buried from the Armstrong town
Gnouse. There were rumors that the
rdead mans estate had been a COM
0 paratively small one. The last para
ltgraph was the important one.
ii Walter P. Broadhurst of the Ma
airline bank had produced 200 American
ATTRACTION bonds, which had been placed
aias security with the Marine bank for
Iloan of 100000 made to Paul Arm
tstrong, just before his California trip.
nThe bonds were a part of the missing
! traction bonds from the Traders
a bank! While this involved the late
n president of the wrecked bank, to my
amind it by no means cleared its
1cashier.
ITO BE CONTINUED