The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-05
A Mystery
Romance
"
8@BB88@ 8@888
Copyright. 1909, by Dodd.
Mead e. Co.
.tcontlnuea from Yes.eraay.l

Iected. she took seat near the light
and started mentally TO place her house
once more In order. Item after item
she checked OFF from her memorandum
upon her household pad.
There was an almost unheard tinkle
Of an altogether unseen bell. and be
fore its sound died away Stevens had
! gone TO answer.
What Is Il ?" asked Mrs. Challonar
when she summoned Foster. u don't
want to see anybody. | can't see any
body. | WON'T. 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 Bioodgood followed
on her heels.
81 just simply couldn't stay away
from you any longer. Miriam" she de-
clared. 81 know you don't want me
here. but can't leave you"
Miriam Challoner sank weakly at a
table. Finally she leaned toward her
visitor and asked. a world Of pnthos In
the question:
Isis there any news outsider"
Shirley hesItated impereeptibly.
None IL haven't seen the papers.
No. there's nothing new"
Mrs. Chalioner threw her arms about
| the girl
SHIRLEY. Shirley. I'd have gone mad
| think, If you hadn't Gomez she cried
and fell to sobbing, but after a mo
| ment she Strengthened up again. There
was q defiant look In her face now, 8
| trefrfor In the voice that said: ~ dont
care what he's done. want Laurie Il
! come back, do you understand?
| want him back--I want him"
| Shirley Bloodgood bit her lips.
~ know, ! know, Miriam--I do IN
derstand''-
| "Oh, but you can't understand" she
| persisted. Ton haven't husband
| and you don't know"
Yes, yes. Miriam. know" wcrt
the only words that rose to the girls
lips 10 comfort her. for at that mo
nlent the faint sound OF the insistent
doorbeIl broke In upon them
Mrs. Chalioner's slight frame shool
with sudden agitation as she exciairn
| ed
THAT doorbell Will drive me crazy =
And. almost instantly recovering heI
composure, she gasped:
"lf 1t should be Laurie"
The girl glanced at the smolderins
FIRE In the crate. where to her excitet
fancy In all their hideousness rose be
fore her the headlines she had read IL
the evening papers, ''Challoner Caught
In Chicago.'
How are we going to break ths
news to herr" sighed Shirley as sh.
quickly left the room Just outside o.
the door she encountered Stevens, and
quickly placing her finger on her lips
she motioned him TO be silent WheI
they were well out of hearing he an
heahced IN confidential tone:
mir Murgatroyd, Miss Bloodgood."
"Mr Murgaroyd. William Murga
troyd? What does he want, Stevens? 7
She was plainly excited.
s.ssh-h hn' warned Stevens gently
Hes the prosecutor Of the pleas
"Oh. then 1t is Mr.. William Murga
troyd. But what does be wantr'
Stevens shook his head The mex
moment Shirley Bloodgood had enter
ed the dra wing room and stood gazing
Into the face OF William Murgatroyd.
shirley Rloodgood" The name fel
incredulously from his lips. ''Yo,
here?"
Shirley held out her hand
And you-what are you doing
here?' she asked quickly. Il dldn'
know that you were a friend of thu
family"
Tall, well built. with a smooth shaw
en- face, square chin aud nose tina
stood well our into the air. Murgatroyt
was man who appeared to be with
out enthusiasm: bnt. although shnrY
and businesslike. his manner was easy
Turning to Shirley. he came to thu
point at once
announced. "But I'm glad you're here
for don't know her very well. and
You can't very well see her now.
Shirley interrupted. shaking her head
"She's frightfuIly unstrung. She's I'll
You know it's utmost three weeks nov
since Laurie tirst went away. and
II know he broke In just bit i'm
patiently.
.Whatr' Shirley gasped. the truth a
last dawning upon her. You dom
mean to say that you're here fn-iI
your ofilcial capacityr
Murgatroyd smiled grizzly.
ITS the only capacity In which Tn
likely to be here. Shirley" he remind
\ ed her.
But" she protested. Il thought the,
left these things to-
'sThe police" be finished and aGaiI
smiled grimly, They do, but there
are reasons, xeu sse." he went on t
explain, ''sincs | was appointed prose
cutor Of the pleas I've turned up
thiag Or two IN the police department
| md, well. the police department. and
are somewhat out Of fust. This cas'
they have put up TO me and my men"
Surely you cant mean 70 imply tina
you have to do this kind Of thing your
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