Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-10-10
"was 1t MIR. crandaII2" Asked Louise

succor Of my presence. AS soon as
Doctor Wilcox's assistants arrived
bringing with them a nurse, Louise
and l were both banished from the
room Gently I drew her into little
sitting-room, where, with the door
ajar, we waited to see If our aid might
be needed. fearless sorrow now
weighed heavily on her.
Tell me everything" I said, with
my arm about her. why did she do
it?"
q don't know" she cried out. 81
can't understand it at all! There is
some mystery, some terrible mystery
that l cannot fathom."
when did you see your sister last?"
I'VE had luncheon together. She
was sweet and kind, as she always
was, but I could see that something
was worrying her. We were to have
gone shopping together this afternoon
but she told me that she had an err
rand that would make it impossible
for her to go with me. l had re
ceived your note, so I told her that it
would suit me much better to put the
shopping of until tomorrow. Right
after luncheon she went Out-where, ]
do not know She did not use the car
or call a taxi. All 1 know is that she
was gone about two hours. When she
came in I was arranging the flowers
in the dining-room. heard her enter
and came out into the hall She
walked right past me without a word
and went upstairs to her own room. |
ran up after her, thinking she might
be ii, but just as I got to the door I
heard her turn the key. I understood
that she wished to be alone. About
half an hour later I heard a sound like
a shot and rushed upstairs, calling to
the servants. We found the door still
locked and we could hear her groan-
ing. l had the butler burst open the
door and there we found her, just
where she was when you saw her, still
as death. with her own little revolver
clutched in her hand"
What do you suppose made her
change her mind about going shopping
with you?" I asked. Did she receive
any letters or kilograms today?"
Louise thought for a moment be
fore answering, her slender form still
shaken with silent sobbing. Gently I
brushed away the tears that gathered
in her eyes and drew her to me until
her head was pillowed on my shoulder.
doubt that # in her distress she no
ticed my action, save in the sense of
comfort that it brought her. How ter
rible it is to see the woman that you
love suffer so much and to feel power
less to do anything to help her!
NO" said Louise, Il am positive
Katharine received no letter or tele-
gram today except an invitation or
two that we read at breakfast. We
were together practically all the time
until after luncheon
Perhaps some one telephoned to
her" l suggested.
Louise did not recall any message.
We summoned her sisters maid, who
was crouching outside the door like a
faithful animal, and put the question
to her. She was in such a hysterical
understand what we wanted, but final
~ she remembered that there had
been a telephone call just before
twelve.
who wanted herr" asked Louise
and I together.
'rhe girl shook her head as if be
wildeTed
Think. think" I commanded 'cVVba+
was the name? Who was it? If you
answered the telephone, whoever it
was must have given his name"
stupidity she shook her head again.
Was It Mr. CrandaIl?'' asked Lou
Use.
Light came into HiIda's face at once.
Nov I remember" she exclaimed
Dot was him. It was Mr. Crandall."
CTO BE CONTINUED