The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-10-21
CHAPTER XVII.
Who Is Nina Darlington?

Who Is Nina Darlington?
The four days, from Saturday to the !
following Tuesday, we lived, or ex' |
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 l1iddy
cried all day, and because she knew
| objected to tears, SMILED audtbly
around the corner.
For heavens sake, smile
snapped at her. And her CHASTITY at
tempt at a grin. with her swollen nose
and red eyes, made me hystericai- 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, graylsn-
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 OF his
| hat do you know where Alex, the
gardener, isl"
Why. no. Isn't he here?" l asked.
He has been gone since yesterday
afternoon. Have you-employed him
long,"
only a couple OF weeks.
rs he efficient? A capable man."
az hardly know" l said vaguely.
1.-THE place looks all right. and know
very little about such things. l know
much more about boxes of roses than
bushes of them.
This man." pointing to the assis'
tant, says Alex isn't a gardener Ihat
he doesn't know anything about
plants"
That's very strange" said, think
ing hard. Why. he came to me from
the Brays, who are in Europe.
"Fxactlv." The detective smiled
Every man who cuts grass isn't
gardener. Miss lines, and just now II
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 hi
helped me in. however. the detective
said something further.
Not a word or sign to Alex, If hi
comes back he said cautiously.
went first to DR.. Walkers, l wa
tired of beating about the bush. and
felt that the key to Halseys dtsap
pearance was here at Casanova. II
spite of Mr. Jamieson's theories.
The doctor was in. He came a
once to the door of his consultint
room. and there was no mask of col
diality in his manner.
please come in he said curtly.
81 shall stay here, | think, doctor,
did not like his face or his manner
= there was a subtle change in both. II
had thrown off the - of friendlines;
s and I thought. too, that he looked am
l ious and haggard,
DIR. Walker" l said. 4 have com
m ynu to ask some questions. | hop
9 Won will answer them. As you know
Q NV nephew has not yet been found
SO l understand" stifiy-
81 believe. if you would, you Coul
Il help us. and that leads to one of m
questions. Win you tell me what wa
. the nature of the conversation yo
y held with him the night he was a
| tackled and carried off?''
| Attacked. Carried off," he SAT-
with pretended surprise. Really. Mis-
| Tnnes don't you think you exaggerate
understand it is not the first tim
Mr. Tnnes has-dtsappeared.
| You are quibbling. doctor, This
| a matter OF life and death. Will 80
answer my question:
| Certainly. He said his nerves Wei
bad and gave him prescription fl
| them. am violating profession
| ethics when tell you even as much
| that"
| ! could not tell him he lied, thin
4 | tO1ABu Il. laktt 1 AitNs-sLs ~ = NN-N4N-H
shot. 49,
L. Il thought perhaps" said, watc
| ing him narrowly. that il might
about-Nina Darlington.
For A moment thought he was s
| ing to strike me. He grew hvid, and
1 small crooked bIood,vessel in his tel
nile swelled aud throhbed curtousi
| Then he forced a short laugh.
| Who is Nina CaTington?" he aske
| Il am about to discover that, 7
piled. and he was quiet at once,
| was not difficult to divine that
| feared Nina. Darlington a good. de
I more than he did the devil, Our lea'
1 takine was brief; in fact, we mere
1 stared at each other over the wa'ul
4 room table, with its litter of year-o
1 magazines. Then turned and We
out.
Y To Richaeld." told Warner al