The Forrest City times., 1912-10-04
CHAPTER |.
Into the MaeIstrom.


 They say that coming events cast their shadows before. but certainly had no intimation when left my office in the afternoon of April twelfth, of the maelstrom Of mystery and tragedy Into which l was about to plungn was worried and anxious, 1t is M
 but only as every young man is who finds himself for the first time deeply in love. There was no portent of evil, no foreshadowing of the terrible chain of events that all but destroyed my belief in my feliow-man, and left it's mark so deep upon my memory that l do not believe time ever can wholly efface it.
 Even now that it is all ended and the shadow which hung so heavily over the household of my sweetheart has been dispelled and the hand whose devilish ingenuity brought shame and grief and wreck 10 so many innocent lives is paying the penalty behind prison bars-eYen now I shudder at the sight of anything yellow. A scrap of yellow paper yividly recalls-and I fear always will recall-the painful events of the last few weeks.
 had been waiting ever since my re turn from court for a telephone mes sage that had not come-the word from Louise which I felt would decide my fate. l had written to her the night before, asking if 1 might go to her in the afternoon to speak on sub 1ect Of importance. l knew she would understand the object of my letter. though all that I had asked was that she would telephone me earlier than four whether she would be at home.
 From my window had watched the great hand on the Metropolitan tower clock creep slowly to twelve. As the chimes began to sing the hour of four l felt that l could bear the suspense no longer Message or no message. I would go to her at once Before the vibrant note of "On-n-n-n-e" had died away l closed my desk with a bang. As the fourth stroke reverberated | stood with hat and overcoat on. my hand on the knob of my office door. hoping yet to hear my telephone ring. lmpatiently l waited a minute and then dashed toward the elevator The telephone, l learned afterward, rang almost the minute l was out of the room and Louise's voice called fran. ucally for me, but I was not there 10 hear.
 It was only short walk up Madison aVQnna tn tho hnr1n nf r:sh, the father of Louise. With the doubt that possesses every lover on such mission as this, I walked it. now laggardly, as misgiyings filled my heart, now quiekening my pace as hope routed my fears. AS turned the corner into the street where the Parrish home is situated my steps were leaden. What right had to ask Louise Parrish to be my wife? The daughter of man worth many mil lions, girl of exquisite beauty and of many accomplishments, one who could choose husband where she wiiled-what right had to hope that she would ever consent to become the wife of a. struggling young lawyer N'NNi fNh l U bt lily ldilllIN was of the best. With my earnings and the modest little fortune my father had left me l would be able to provide for her But as vet, though my pros poets were bright, I amounted to noth- ing in my profession. It would be years before l could hope to give my wife the luxuries 10 which Louise Far TiSh had hpgn grg1etay,,al
 On the other hand. felt that with Louise as my wife I could do ..sat things. l loved her with a great ,uye. l felt that her affection and conn. non. ship would be inspiration enough for any man to conquer the world l hoped that she loved me. recalled the trifles which seemed to show. at least, that she found pleasure fin my society. l tried 10 comfort myself too by remembering that General Parrish was a selfmade man, that when he married he was as poor as l. if not poorer. l knew that he liked me and had confidence in me Was it then. after all. l asked myself presuming in me to hope that Louise would lis, ten to me and that her father would consent to her becoming my wife yet. why had she not telephoned?
 As l dragged my hesitating feet across the street was aroused from my reverie by the rush of an automo- bile that all but knocked me over. With an angry imprecation at such reckless driving glanced up and recognized the man who occupied it. He was standing beside his chauffeur. us If ready to leap out It was Doc. tor Wilcox, a noted practitioner who attended the Parrish family, and whom l had met at their home. l plunged forward in anxious dismay as I saw the machine halt before the Parrish door and the doctor jump >at and run up the steps.
 My first. my only thought, was of Louise. What could lave happened? {? She must be ill-desperately i'll, as the doctors haste suggested Did not this explain her failure to telephone? Could