The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-14

be-denied-rfng of the telephone by the
head of his bed.
Still little stupid with sleep, he re-
CURED moment or two to grasp the
import Of the switchboard operators
advice, to the effect that Mr.. Cross,
representing the Evening World,
The message was repeated in accents
peremptory before he comprehended
that he had been run to earth.
ASK the gentleman to come up at
once" he said, and. Selling his hat,
left the room as soon as he had fin
ished speaking.
Ascending a single fight of the
stairway that wound round the ele-
vator shaft, he waited until the car
began to rise, then rang. AS he had
foreseen, it paused at the floor be-
low to discharge the newspaper man
before coming up for him. As he
stepped into the cage he pressed a
dollar into the operators palm.
Down." he demanded; ground
floor. And don't stop for anybody"
A single minute later he was in the
street. Haste being the prime essen
tial Of the situation, he lodged round
the corner into Sixth avenue, walked
q block uptown and turned through to
Broadway
There suddenly, as he paused at the
upper end of Longacre square, doubt
ing which way to turn, what to do, he
quickened to sensibility of his soil
tude, and knew himself more utterly
alone in that hour than ever he had
been throughout his days.
A passing handsom pulled in to his
signal. He entered, giving the address
of Katherine Thaxter's home.
There was a crimson glare of sun
set down the street when he alighted
and paid his fare.
Just in time" said Coast; Il was
to come to tea today begged the
privilege only yesterday.
He paused, silenced by a PRESENT.
ment bred of the aspect of the house.
At every window the shades were
drawn level with the stills. The flight
of brownstone steps, Uttered with
wind-swept dust and debris, ran up to
heavy oaken doors, tight-closed. The
seal of a burglar-protective concern
stared at him from corner of one
of the drawing-room windows. Only
In the old-fashioned basement were
there signs of life; the area-gateway
stood open; a gas Jet glimmered
through sash-curtains.
Heavily Coast turned into the area,
and rang the basement bell.
After some time the door was
opened to him and he entered, to have
his hand caught and fawned upon by
the aged butler who had smuggled
him sweets when Coast In the pride
and pomp of his first knickerbockers
her nursery.
"Oh, Mr. Garrett, Mr.. GARRETT" the
old voice quavered. God bless the
day, sir. I've seen the papers and
said that you'd be here, sir, as soon as
ever you got back home. knew
''twould turn out SO, sir, from the
first; I've never failed to stand up fol-
you and say you never done It,
But a black shame 1t LIS justice was
SO long in coming"
Soames rambIed ON, garrulous II
semi-senile JOY Coast leaned YEARLY
against the wall Of the gloomy base
ment hallway, with no heart to inter
rupt At length, however, he found
his voice
Thank you, Soames," he said, gent
IL. But-Miss Katherine?"
| The answer he had foreseen, hope
| lessly. Gone. sir-gone this many 9
| day. You know what hap
pened, sir?'
Il can guess. But tell me-" He
| steeled himself against the disclosure
| of what he already knew with intui
| tive certainty.
| Mrs. Gresham died-you knew that
| sir?" Soames named Katherine'i
aunt, with whom she had lived aftel
| her parents death.
/ During my triaI-yes. knew"
she never believed you guilty, sir
/ Perhaps you'd like to know
! But Miss Katherine?"
| The old man shook his head mourn
| fully Mad, sir, mad - he mum
| bled
Coast caught his wrist 6erceiy
What's that you says'
Il say she was mad, sir, to d.
! what she done, and that I'll sa!
| though it cost me my place.
It wasn't a decent three months ate