The Springdale news., 1912-10-25


 letter had disappeared. More likely he had come here just to get that scrap of yellow paper lest its evidence might bring home his crimes.
 Who has been in the house?"
 No one but the doctors and nurses and the servants" said Louise, flush ing uneasily as she spoke.
 1 waited, expecting her to mention Crandall's visit. but though she hesi- tated for a second she said nothing of it.
 T wonder who could have taken it?" she said after an awkward pause.
 What motive could any one have?" I asked, determined to direct her thoughts to Crandall The only per son who would have a reason for mak- ing away with 1t would be some one who feared that it might be used against him."
 There was silence while We both pondered the situation.
 You remember" said Louise sud denly, "the agitation my father showed at sight of that paper If he were not lying paralyzed upstairs l think he would have tried to gain possession of it'
 How is your father, and your sis ter?" asked, suddenly recalling that 1 had asked after neither of them.
 Katharine is much better" said Lou- ise. She is entirely conscious, though very weak, but the doctor says that she will in all probability recover quickly My fathers condition remains the same, though he seems to have regained tie Use of his right hand. about his business.
 Are you sure of all the servants 9" I asked.
 All of them have been with us for years; all but one, ever since before my mothers death. 1 would not think of distrusting any of them
 Are you certain the house has not been entered in the night?"
 was asking these questions with a view of convincing her that it was impossible for any one but Crandall to have taken the yellow scrap-for any one else to have even a motive for taking it.
 That would be impossible" she said. All the doors and windows are protected by burglar alarms and know they are in working order or would have heard about it.
 There is or there must have been." I said slowly, some traitor in the house. some thief, some one who had an object in getting hold of that pa- per"
 There has been no one here" said Louise with painful effort, no one answering that description
 How did you come to look for the paper in your desk ?"
 .I wanted" she stopped short.
 MT Kent" she said, her entire manner toward me stiffening as she withdrew her hands from mine, T asked you last night if you would not cease your inquiries at once.'
 "But-but-" l pretestingly began
 .1 asked you to do what I requested without any questions. You have told me that you loved me. If that is the case l know you will do what ask without trying to force my confidence. Isn't 1t enough for you to know that l wish you to do it ?'
 Louise, dear" said firmly, "a mys- terious trail of hidden evil in some way has crossed your home It has stricken your sister and your father. You yourself asked me to try to find the secret and vowed that I would l don't know what your motive Is in making this strange request. but can't believe you are doing it of your own yolition. l am certain that you are influenced by fear-fear lest some greater evil will befall. if my efforts to unmask the criminal are success ful. Is it not so?"
 Don't ask me. Harding" she begged piteously. T can't tell you It is not my secret. I can tell you nothing. Please don't ask me"
 More than ever now l was convinced that fear of Crandall dominated her. Quickly following on his telephone message he had come to the house and had cast over her the same mys- terious spell as had fallen on her sis ter. More than ever was determined to follow the trail of mystery to is end. no matter where il lay or what 1t cost. What was life to me if the wom- an l loved was to be for ever under shadow, i'll the power of some hid den criminal who might prey on her as he had done on tie other members of her family? felt it my duty toward her to go on and, if I could, compel her to divulge something of what she was holding back from me.
 Why did you want that bit of the yellow letter? What were you going to do with it?"
 T can't tell you Please don't ask me"
 Why do you want me to stop my in- quiries?"
 T can't tell you. Please don't ask ;"
 What was Hugh Crandall doing here this morning."
 The question, direct and blunt as put it. had almost the same effect as