Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-11-03

Barton who inquired at the close OF
the meal what had become OF Miss
Hayman.
Indeed. don't know what to think
OF It," said Mrs. Waythe, with mother
ly anxiety. She never come in at all
last night, and it's the only time she
ever stayed away"
She was in her room last night.
Mrs. Waythe," asserted Baton.
"Oh, you are mistaken" said his
landlady. I've knocked and knocked
at her door this morning without get
ting any answer"
Well. ! heard her up there about
three o'clock this morning." insisted
Baton. Her room being just over
mine | distinctly hear any noise there"
he continued.
harrington shook his head. Il don't
believe she came in last night. She
and were pretty good friends and I
think she would have told me il she
were going to any frolic," he said
Il tell you | know what | am talk
Ing about" Baton repeated. "She must
have come in very quietly, but she was
up there and she worked on the type
writer q little, just before three
o'clock. Id take my oath on It,"
Il know she writes little stores and
| articles for the papers," Mrs. Waythe
said. She works at 1t evenings and
has just bought machine so she can
typewrite her own manuscripts. Oh
what if something has happened TO
her up there all alone." she cried
TREMENDOUSLY. Il hadn't smeled any
gas, but-or. excuse me-"
She hurried up the stairs, Baton and
harrington following after a moments
hesitation while the rest of the board
ers awaited developments at the
table.
BY the time the two men reached the
top floor Mrs Waythe was shaking
Miss Hayman's door and calling her
name and after two or three minutes
OF this without sound in reply the
poo" woman was ready TO cry with
nervousness.
Haven't you key TO this door,"
Bates asked.
i have one somewhere, but | don I
seem to find it with the other keys. |
looked this morning" she answered.
Shall force the lock- A strange
foreboding of evil had seized upon
Baton. He could not have told why,
but it seemed imperative that the door
be opened.
Such foolishness, Darlington
broke in. She'll probably be back
all right tonight"
Mrs. Waythe?" Baton repeated
questioningly, neither seeing nor hear
ing harrington.
oh, Just as you think best. Mr.
Baton" she faltered Il don't know,
really"
Ii was matter of few moments
for Baton to pry back the bolt and
swing open the door. Then he stood
aside for Mrs. Waythe to enter. while
harrington in the background glared
at both of them for the liberty they
were taking.
There, cried Mrs. Waythe in a
tone OF relief. Just as said, Not
a sign of her here and she hasn't been
here, either. Come in and see for
yourselves. Oh, | believe she's all
right elsewhere"
Baton, as in a dream, heard Mrs.
! Waythe's voice running on. He was
so positive that Iva Hayman had been
there. had been so strangely certain
that he should find hereunder some
unnatural conditions-behind that
closed door that for the moment he
was unable to comprehend the facts
as they were. In half-dazed way he
obeyed the summons and walked into
the room, while harrington fingered
resentfully on the threshold.
Suddenly. without knowing why he
did it. Baton crossed the floor and
lifted the cover from the typewriter.
There was sheet of paper set in
place and as his eyes fell on the words
written at the top of the page an nm.
earthly chill ran over him.
He tried TO speak, but not sound
would come, so he silently held out
his hand to Mrs. Waythe and pointed
her to the words.
Ihls was the message She read
Neil, come to me- / am in trouble .
During the tense moment thar fol.
lowed. harrington came silently into
the room and when he, too had read
the mysterious appeal the three faced
each other wordless.
Mrs Waythe was the picture Of sii.
perstitious horror. Baton. too had
turned a gray color, but il was NOT
fear that chilled his heart il was the
fact of that name Neil" written al
the beginning of the strange message
Neil Baton was the first to speak
Il heard those words written on the
typewriter last night" he said slowly
"and was certain she had not come in
until suddenly ! heard this machine
working carefully as II she was afraid
OF disturbing some one surely
couldn't be mistaken In the sound
That north window of mine was omen
and you see it's right under hers n
she wasn't here herself she managed
somehow, to send that message,
But, Mr. Baton, you surely don't