The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-20

dance halls. and the wrap over her
bare shoulders was 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 M
the eyes, fixed and staring, assured
Lidgerwood instantly that he had TO
do with one who was either drink
maddened or demented.
"Where is hep the intruder asked I'm
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: II
told you / would come, Rankin. I've
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. IL
was quite evident that the woman did
not see him. But his thoughts were
busy. Though ii was by little more
than chance he knew that Hallocks
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 Hallock's wife? The
question had scarcely formulated it.
self before she began again.
'Why don't you answer me? Where
are your she demanded In the same
husky whisper You needn't hide.
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'll"
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 thing which had all the
earmarks of 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 TAX
en- two or three steps into the car. still
cropping her way as If the brightly
lighted interior were the darkest of
caverns, when some one swung over
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 IL with sudden chill.
Then she turned and darted away
like frightened animal. Leckhard
was drawing chair,up to face Lid
gerwood.
did she give you turnT he asked
when Lidgerwood reached up and
turned the desk lamp on full again.
Not exactly that, though 1t was
certainly startling enough. had no
warning at all. When looked up she
was standing pretty nearly where she
was when you came In. She didn't
seem to see me at all, and she was
talking crafty all the time to some
one else-some one who isn't here"
Il KNOW" said Leckhard. "She has
done il before"
WHO Is she trying to findY asked
Lidgerwood, wishing TO have his sus-
picion either denied or confirmed
Didn't she call him by name? She
usually does. It's your chief clerk,
Hallock. She is-or was-his wife.
haven't you heard the CHASTITY story
YETI"
mo, and, Leckhard, / don't know
that l care to hear it. 1t can't possi-
bly, concern me-"
Ihere Is another man mixed I'D in
1.-THE man whom she is always ask
ing II Hallock has killed. Curiously
enough, she never names the other
man. ana there have been a good
many guesses. believe your head
Doliermaker, Gridley, has the most
votes. He's been seen with her here
now and then when he's on one Of his
periodicals. BY Jove, Lidgerwood,
don't envy you your job over yonder
In the Red desert little bit. But
ABOUT the consolidation of the yards
mere. l got a telegram after wired
you making IL necessary for me to go
west on main line 81 early I'm the morn
ing, so l stayed up to talk this yard
business over with you tonight"
It was well along i'm the small hours
when the roll Of blue print maps was
hnaily laid aside and Leckhard rose
Wen carry it out as you
propose and divide the expense be-
tween the two divisions" he said in
''Frisbie has left 1t to us,
ma he will approve whatever we agree
ipon. VIII you 20 up to the hotel
Win me or bunk down here?'
Lidgerwood said he would stay with
MS car, or, better still, now that the
business for which he had come to Co
'ah was dispatched, he would have the
'oundhouse night foreman call a Red
suite Western crew and go back to his