The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-06-29


she would have done SO openly"
"But he telephoned her today" / per-
sisted.
That's So" admitted Louise And
I think he must have done so day be-
fore yesterday. too. Some one called
her. and she went out just as she did
today. Generally we tell each other
where we are going, and | thought II
peculiar at the time that she said moth
ing TO me"
In deep perplexity we both sat. ST.
lently bordering the mystery OF katha-
rines action. What could have made
her do IL? Was IL. / wondered. because
her father had learned something dis
creditable about her sutton and had
forbidden him the house? Had Gram
dali been trying 10 persuade her 10
continue TO see him despite her IA
theirs wishes? Was the conflict In her
heart between love and duty too much
for herr Louise turned TO me and laid
her hand gently on my arm.
Harding she said, there is some
deep mystery behind all this that has
been creeping like a black shadow
across the lives OF both Katharine and
my father In some way Hugh Gran
dali is concerned in H. | know IL. |
feel II. IL is something more than mere
~ the refusal OF my father 10 permit
her 10 marry Crandall. have watched
them both and | know. | have seen
this mysterious specter lowering over
my father, gradually crushing the very
soul out OF him. have seen kath-
arine's life, too. blighted by it's con
slant presence. Whether Katharine
lives or whether she dies. / must find
out what 1t is. l must, before 1t kills
my father. too. You'll help me, won't
your
There have been strange wooings
and strange betrothals in loves his
been brought 10 fuller realization Of
the depth OF a woman's affection for
him or her confidence and trust In him
than was at this moment when Lou
Use put this question to me- My arms
went about her and my lips met hers
I'm one long kiss that was a pledge-a
pledge that henceforth my life, my
heart, my mind, my powers, my every
thing were hers. All my abilities would
be devoted to clearing this mystery
that was stealing the JOY from her
I years, when they should be the pleas
ATTEST. But this was no time for love
1 dalliance. The mystery must be
solved. Suicides generally left letters,
/ Perhaps
Hand in hand, Louise and | went
into Katharine's apartments, where
the rooms disorder still told of the
| tragedy so recently enacted there. In
| one corner stood little open desk
/ It's contents bore evidence OF recent
careful sorting that limited very plain
ly OF generalization, but there was nc
note or letter there | looked next or
the mantelpiece, hoping to find among
the photographs and cotillion favori
that Uttered II some clue which nigh
solve the mystery, but there was moth
Ing there, either.
Ny eve fell TO the crate below
where a fire burned cheerily. Here
again was evidence OF reconciliation
in the ashes OF burned letters and thu
charred corner of a photograph.
blaekened bit OF paper that had faller
through the CRATE before II burned
caught my glance and | stopped e
pick II up. IL was just scrap OF vel
low, torn from folded letter, with III
edges burned TO fragileness. Careful
ly Louise and / unfolded 1t, for /
seemed the only thing in all the room
that might yield some explanation. Al
we pored over the meaningless frag
ments OF sentences, an exclamation o
horror came from the doorway. LOOK
ing up we saw the tall form OF Genera
Parrish tottering on the sill.
Clad In a dressing jacket, his whit
hair i'm wild disorder. he pointed witt
accusing finger at the yellow scrap o
paper in my hand. Never In morta
face have | seen such terror as ! say
i'm his. Ills eyes, dilated, seemed bulls
ing from their sockets. His countC
nance was white az chalk. His jas
had dropped I'm the paralysis OF terror
From his throat came horrible muml
llngs, as he tried 10 speak and coul
not.
Louise and i sprang 20 his side, bu
with almost aaniacal strength h
shook us of and. with finger sti
pointing to the yellow scrap had lie
fall 10 the floor. he managed TO gasp
THAT yellow letter. Where did"
Before he could finish the sentenc
he fell stricken TO tho floor. his vote
choking, his eyes glazing, paralyzed b
some hidden terror-we knew no
what.
CHAPTER III,