The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-08-06
CHAPTER XVII.
Once More at eurton's Inn.

Once More at Burton's Inn.
Again Sara Wrandall found herself
In that never-to-be.forgotten room at
Burtons inn. On that grim night In
March she had entered without fear
or trembling because she knew what
was there. Now she quaked with a
mighty chill OF terror. for she knew
not what was there In the quiet, now
sequestered room. Burton had told
them on their arrival after a long
drive across country that patrons OF
the inn invariably asked which room
It was that had been the scene OF
the tragedy. and, on finding out, re-
fused point-blank to occupy II. In
consequence he had been Obliged to
trahsform It into a sort Of store and
baggage room.
Sara stood in the middle OF the
murky room. for the shutters had long
been closed to the light OF day, and
looked about her In awe at the hetero.
geneous mass OF boxes, trunks, bun
dies and rubbish, scattered over the
floor without care or system. She had
closed the door behind her and was
quite alone. Light sneaked in through
the cracks in the shutters, but so
meagerly that It only served to in
crease the gloom. A dismantled bed
stead stood heaped up in the corner.
She did not have to be told what bed
rolled up and tied with thick garden
rope. She knew there were dull, ugly
blood stains upon II. Why the thrifty
Burton had persevered in keeping
this useless article OF furniture. she
could only surmise. Perhaps It was
held as an inducement to the morbidly
curious. who always seek out the grue-
some and gloat even as they shudder.
For a long time she stood immov-
able Just inside the door, recalling
the horrid picture OF another day. She
tried to imagine the scene that had
been enacted there with gentle. low
able Hetty Glynu and her whilom
husband as the principal characters.
The girl had told the whole story of
that ugly night. Sara tried to see II
as 1t actually had transpired. For
months this present enterprise had
been in her mind: the desire to see
the place again. TO go there with old
impressions which she could leave be-
hind when ready to emerge in new
frame OF mind. II was true that she
meant to shake off the shackles OF a
horrid dream, to purge herself OF the
last vestlge OF bitterness. to cleanse
her mind of certain thoughts and mem
cries.
Downstairs Booth waited for her.
lie heard the story of the tragedy from
the innkeeper, who GROSSLY maintained
that his business had been ruined.
Booth was vaguely impressed, he knew
not why, by Burton's description OF
the missing woman. 'Id say she was
about the size Of Mrs. Wrandall her;
self, and much the same figger," he
said, as he had said a thousand times
before. MY wife noticed 1t the min.
ute she saw Mrs. Wrandall. Same
height and everything"
A bell rang sharply and Burton
glanced over his shoulder at the indl
Gator on the wall behind the desk. He
gave great start and his jaw sagged
Great Scott!" he gasped. A curl
GUS grayness stole over his face. tits
Its the bell in that very room. My
soul, what can"
Mrs. Wrandall is up there. isn't
she?" demanded Booth.
1T amt rung since the night he
pushed the button for Oh, geel
You're right. She is up there. My
what a scare 1t gave me-" He wiped
his brow. Turning to a boy, he com
manded him to answer the bell. The
boy went slowly, and as he went he
removed his hands from his pockets
He came back an instant later, more
swiftly than he went, with the wore
that "the lady up there" wanted Mr.
Booth to come upstairs.
She was waiting for him in the oper
doorway. A shaft of bright sunlight
from window at the end of the hal
fell upon her, Her face was colorless
haggard. He paused for an instant t
contrast her as she stood there in thu
pitiless light with the vivid creatur,
he had put upon canvas so recently
She beckoned to him and turned
back into the room. He followed
This is the room. Brandon, wher,
my husband met the death he de
served" she said quietly.
Deserved? Good heavens, Sara
are you"
81 want you to look about you an,
try to picture how this place locke,
on the night of the murder. You hav
a vivid imagination. None of thi
rubbish was here. Just bed, tabl
= and two chairs, There was carpe
on the floor. There were two peopl
here, a man and woman. The won
an had trusted the man. She truste
: him until the hour in which he dice
lhSh hut louhu ulul Vuls che ia
: come to this place, believing it wa
: to be her wedding night. She foun
I no minister here. The man laughed q
: her and scoffed Then she knew.
+ horror, shame, desperation she trie
3 to break away from him. He wa
0 strong. She was good woman;
t virtuous, honorable woman. She save