Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER XVII.
THE ~

Fol- a moment I hesitated. Was it
best to tell him? But a glance at his
drawn face decided me.
THE search is over" I said Miss
Lawrence is home again. and l
handed him the message.
He read it at a glance, then started
to his feet.
will you come with me, MI. Les
ter?" he asked. 81 n I've given
you a lot of trouble. u this will be the
last, I Think
you haven't given me a bit Of trou-
ble." I protested. TN be glad to
come"
THANK you.' he said simply, and
held out his and to Royce.
You think it best to go?'' the latter
asked.
BEST! Oh. I'm not thinking of that.
I'm going to her-I've got to see her!
I can't watt! Il"
He wrung our juniors hand with
out finishing the sentence; too over
wrought. indeed. to finish it-and
strobe from the room.
Mr.. Royce held me back for a rapid
word of warning.
TN glad you're going" he said.
"FIe'll need some one There's no tell
ing what'n happen. Good luck!"
When we were in the train. with the
took occasion to examine Curtiss again.
He was lying Jack in the seat with his
yes closed, the posture made his
face seem even tanker and grimmer
than it had at first appeared. 1 saw
that I must keep my wits about me.
When he awoke to a full realization
Of the trick fate had played him, he
might, in his DESPERATION
But you said Mrs. Lawrence told
o h knew why Marcia mad run
away"
The voice fairly made me Jump, it
IN ma an 1,1ddan1v 0n 11noYnaCfo61v
"She did," I answered, turning to
ind his dark eyes open and strangely
bright. But OF course h vas mis-
taken. She fancied 1t was something
else. or she wouldn't have said what
she did"
What did she say? You've told me.
but I've forgotten.
'She said that the marriage wasn't
tmpossible-that the choice should be
left to you"
He pondered this a moment. then his
mo doubt another family secret!' he
said. lone would think we were in
Corsica or Sicily! Well, We'll try to
bear 1t. BY the way, who's this fellow
Godfrey. who sent you h a message?'
Hes q newspaper man, a friend of
mine-a mighty clever fellow"
His face grew grimmer still.
More food for the yellow press
he said, with a harsh laugh. "They
certainly owe us a vote Of thanks"
He was in a dangerous mood. I saw
his face harden M darken as he gazed
out through the window. His lips
moved, but no sound came from them.
Then they closed again, compressed
and %bloodless. and he settled back in
his seat as though he had taken a inal
resolution. I shuddered as I tried to
guess what 1t was. I could imagine
but one end for a drama 30 hideous as
this.
And then. as 1 lay back in the seat.
casing At him. q sudden ray Of light
flashed across ray brain. That con
tour Of the face-that poise of the
head-where had I seen them? Where
but in the portrait Of Ruth Endicott
which hung upon the wall Of the King
don cottage! Since he resembled his
father, he would. of course. resemble
her. Another link In the chain, I told
myself: and trembled to think how
strong Il was.
Nothing about the house had
changed. Az we drove up to the door.
saw that the blinds were still drawn.
a. they had bsen at the time Of my
1rst visit. and no ray Of light came
through them. Is seemed Q house Of