The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-30

his work at the final slowing of the wheels, saw the masthead lights of the Copah yards. Taking it for grant ed that Superintendent Leckhard had long since left his office in the Pacific Southwestern building, Lidgerwood gave orders to have his car placed on the station spur and went on with his work
 It was after midnight, when he had pull at the short pipe which was his working companion. that the car door opened silently and he saw an appari- ton.
 Standing in the doorway and grop- ing with her hands held out before as if she were blind was woman. Her gown was the tawdry half dress of the dance halls, and the wrap over her bare shoulders was a gaudy imitation in colors of the Spanish mantilla. Her head was without covering, and her hair, which was luxuriant, hung in dis order over her face. One glance at the eyes, fixed and staring, assured
 
 do with one who was either drink maddened or demented.
 "Where is hep the intruder asked in a throaty whisper, staring, not at him, as Lidgerwood was quick to observe, but straight ahead at the portieres cut ting off the stateroom corridor from the open compartment. And then: "I foJd T Do T,rn been watching years and years for your car to come in. Look-I want you to see what you have made of me, you and that other man."
 Lidgerwood sat perfectly still. It was quite evident that the woman did, not see him. But his thoughts were busy. Though it was by little more than chance, he knew that Hallock's Christian name was Rankin, and in- stantly he recalled all that McCloskey had told him about the chief clerks marital troubles. Was this poor painted wreck the woman who was or who had been Halock's wife? The question had scarcely formulated it. self before she began again.
 
 are you?" she demanded in the same husky whisper. You needn't hide. I know you are here. What have you done to that man? You said you would kill him. You promised me that, Rankin. Have you done it?"
 Lidgerwood reached up cautiously behind him and slowly turned off the gas from the bracket desk lamp. With out wishing to pry deeper than he should into a thing which had all the earmarks of a tragedy he could not help feeling that he was on the verge of discoveries which might have an important bearing upon the mysterious problems centering in the chief clerk And he was afraid the woman would see him.
 But he was not permitted to make the discoveries. The woman had talk en two or three steps into the car, still groping her way as if the brightly lighted interior were the darkest of caverns, when some one swung lover the railing of the observation plat form, and Superintendent Leckhard appeared at the open door. Without hesitation he entered and touched the woman on the shoulder Hello. Mad gie," he said. not urgently. You here again? It's pretty late for you to be out, isn't it? Better trot away and go to bed if you've got one to go to. He isn't here"
 The woman put her hands to her face. and Lidgerwood saw that she was shaking as if with a sudden chill. Then she turned and darted away like a frightened animal. Leckhard was drawing chair up to face Lid gerwood
 Did she give you a turn?" he asked when Lidgerwood reached up an, turned the desk lamp on full again.
 Not exactly that. though it w: certainly startling enough. I had warning at all. When I looked up sh was standing pretty nearly where sh was when you came in. She didn seem to see me at all. and she wa, talking crazily all the time to somt one else-some one who isn't here"
 T know" said Leckhard. "She has done it before"
 "Who is she trying to find" asked Lidgerwood, wishing to have his sus- picion either denied or confirmed.