Charlevoix county herald., 1911-01-14
CHAPTER XxVIII.-Continued.

CHAPTER XXViII.-Continued.
Married" she said finally, in a
small voice why. | don't think it is
possible, is it? II was on my way
to Baltimore to marry him myself,
when the wreck came"
But you said you don't care for
him" I protested, my heavy mascu-
line mind unable to jump the gaps in
her story. And then. without the
slightest warning, ] realized that she
was crying. She shook off my hand
and fumbled for her handkerchief
and failing to find it. she accepted the
one I thrust into her wet fingers.
Then, little by little, she told me
from the handkerchief, a sordid story
of a motor trip in the mountains with
out Mrs. Curtis. of lost road and a
Broken car, and a rainy night when
They-she and Sullivan. tramped eter-
nally and did not get home. And of
Mrs Curtis, when they got home at
dawn, suddenly grown conventional
and deeply shocked. OF her own
proud, half-disdainful consent to
ltdhf IOoolDlt TIE HdChutNeu COLI
promising situation by marrying the
rascal. and then-of his disappearance
from the train. 1t was so terrible to
her, such a Heaven-sent relief to me,
In spite of my rage against Sullivan,
that | laughed aloud. At which she
looked at me over the handkerchief.
Il know it's funny she said, with
a catch in her breath. when | think
that | nearly married a murderer
and didn't cry for sheer joy" Then
she buried her face and cried again.
Please don't" | protested instead
lily. Il won't be responsible if you
keep on crying like that. | may for
y get that kzhave a capital charge hang
NnAS~over my head, and that | may be
arrested at any moment"
That brought her out of the hand
kerchief at once. II meant to be so
helpful" she said and I've thought
of nothing but myself! There were
some things | meant to tell you. If
Jennie was-what you say, then | I'M
derstand why she came to me just be-
fore ! left. She had been packing
my things and she must have seen
what condition ! was in, for she came
over 10 me when | was getting my
wraps on, to leave, and said, Don't
do it, Miss West, beg you won't do
it; you'll be sorry ever after And
just then Mrs. Curtis came in and
yenpie slipped out"
THAT was all?"
NO. AS we went through the sta
ton the telegraph operator gave Har
MIR. Sullivan, a message. He read it
on the platform. and it excited him
terribly. He took his sister aside and
they talked together. He was white
with either fear or anger don't
know which. Then, when we boarded
the train, woman in black, with
beautiful hair, who was standing on
4the car platform, touched him on the
ksTm and then drew back. He looked
At her and glanced away again, but
she l. ed as if he nad struck her"
Then what?" 1he situation was
growing clearer.
Mrs. Curtis and had the drawing
room. | had a dreadful night, just
sleeping a little Row and then
saw his Cigarette case III your nd1u.
] had given it to MIN. You wore his
clothes. The murder was discovered
and you were accused of it, What
could I do? And then, afterward,
when | saw him asleep at the farm
house. II was panic-stricken.
locked him in aud ran. / didn't know
why he did it, but-he had killed d
man"
Some one was calling Alison
through a megaphone, from the veran-
da. IL sounded like Sam. Alice"
ne called. "Ail-eel I'm going to have
some anchov'es on toast! All-ee!"
: Neither of us heard
II wonder" | reflected, "if you
would be wiling to repeat a part of
that story-tust from the telegram on
Ito a courle of detectives, say on
Monday. If you would tell that, and
how the end of your necklace got into
the sealskin bag"
MY neck ace!" she repeated But
II isn't mine. ! picked it up in the
car"
"All-eei" Sam again. 81 see you
down there. I'm making a julep!"