Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-23
CHAPTER xxxII.

Three weeks had passed since the bloody
cab had ben discovered on the dock, and
the fourth week began. On Saturday the
thirty days would expire; but so far from
there being any sign of the solution of the
mystery both the public and the police
seemed to have forgotten all about it. All
Johnson's efforts to locate the fugitive Paul
Maynard had failed, and he had to be
content to nurse his pet theory of the cab
murder in his own bosom. In spite of such
additional information as Mcbride cared
to give, the police professed to be unable
to find any trace of Milton Fletcher. Nc
Bride had not thought 1t advisable to fol-
low out Johnson's suggestion by asking
them to find Mr.. Paul Maynard
Helen ohlstrom still refused to believe
that Hardy Maxwell was either dead or
married, or had ever been in love with anz
other woman while she knew him, or had
ever committed any forgeries, or belonged
to any gangs. He had met with some acci-
dent, probably in another town, and when
he was able TO write to her he would. No
matter how unreasonable that theory might
be, it was hopeful, and on that hope she
lived.
Madge was no longer so anxious, APP
parently, to impress upon her friend the
desirability Of forgetting Hardy Maxwell.
Perhaps the reason for his change in her
attitude was that she had met Mcbride
These lovers are really very tiresome, -
she remarked to a girl friend one day. THE
last time was at Helen's, could hardly
keep from Yawnlng Mr.. Mcbride was there
and the one absorbing topic Of converse
ton seemed to be speoulations as to what
might have happened to that scamp Max
we'll"
What is Mr.. McBride's interest IN Mr..
MaxwelIf should not think he would care
to discuss the Englishman so much IL he
was as fond OF Helen himself as you i'm
agine he is"
Goodness knows! used to try TO bring
Helen to her senses by telling her that n
was ridiculous to believe that a man could
not find some means of writing a note OF
sending a message II he was alive. But
the only effect was to make Helen 60
over all the absurd possibilities again. When
l asked him why he humored Helen 81
much Mr.. Mcbride told me that the only
way he could make himself agreeable "a
her was to talk about Hardy Maxwell. As
long as he kept TO that subject no said,
she would listen forever"
Very good OF him TO make a MARTYR
OF himself that way. just to please her
don't you think?"
Well. told him / did not care TO hear
anything further about Mr.. Maxwell and
that he could talk 10 me about anything he
liked. And would you believe it, all he
could talk about was Helenl really think
he Is just as much in love with her as she
is with Mr. Maxwell"
In reaching this conclusion Madge was
perfectly correct. Mr.. Hartley's wish had
been fulfilled, and the mortgage he hoped
for on his confidential clerks attention wa,
ready for foreclosure. Mr.. Mcbride had
met Miss Right
The hopelessness of his passion was he
coming more apparent every day; but h,
could not tear himself from It, Every time
he saw her he became more madly in love
with her. Sometimes as he sat looking Al
her he would long for the good old days OF
the middle ages when he could have
snatched her from her home and carried
her off 70 some ancient fortress in some
lonely forest, bidding defiance TO her fam
lily and her feelings at the same TINA