The Springdale news., 1912-08-16
CHAPTER 1.
Into the Maelstrom.


 the maelstrom of mystery and tragedy into which I was about to plunge. was worried and anxious. 1t is true, 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 fellowman. and left its mark so deep upon ny memory that do not believe time ever can wholly efface it.
 Even now that 1t is all ended and the shadow which hung so heavily over the household of my sweetheart has been dispeIIed and the hand whose deFilish ingenuity brought shame and grief and wreck to SD many innocent lives is paying the penalty behind prison bars-eyen now shHdder at the sight Of anything yellow A scrap of yellow paper viYidly reealls-and l fear always Will recall--the painful events of the last few weeks.
 had been waiting ever since my re turn from court for telephone mes sage that had not come--the word from Louise which felt would decide my fate. I had written to her the night before, asking if might go 10 her in the afternoon to speak on a sub. i.zt of importance. l knew she would r, derstand the object Of my letter, ,egh all that 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 10 twelve. As the chimes began to sing the hour of four l felt thar could bear tie suspense no longer. Message or no message. I would go 70 her at once. Before the vibrant note of "0n=n-nn-e" had died away 1 closed my desk with bang AS the fourth stroke reYerberated I stood with hat and overeoat on, m hand on the knob Of my office door. hoping yef to hear my telephone ring ImpatientIy waited q minute and then dashed toward the elevator THe telephone, l learned afterWard, rang almost the minute I was out of the room and Lou!ses voice called fran tically for me. but I was not there 70 hear
 IL was only short walk up Madison avenue 10 the home of General Far rish. the father of Louise With the doubt that possesses every lover on such mission as this. walked r, now iaggardly, as misgiyings filled my heart, now quiekening my pace as hope routed my fears. As I turned the corner into the street where the Parrish home is situated my steps were leaden What right had l to ask Louise Parrish to be my wife, The daughter Of q man worth many mil lions, a girl Of exquisite beauty and of many accomplishments. one who could choose q husband where she willed-wha. right had 70 hope that she would ever consent 10 become the wife Of struggling young lawyer such as E? To be sure. my family was Of the best With my earnings and the modest little fortune my father had left he would be able 10 provide for her But as yet. though my pros peets Were 5ri sht amounted 70 uota= ing in mg profession t would De years before could hope TO give my wife the lnx445es Q which Louise Far rish had been accustomed
 On the other hand I felt that with Louise as my wife could do great things loved her Bith great love. felt that her affection and companions sh'p would be inspiration enough for any man 70 conquer the world I hoped tha. she loved me. recalled the triies @6iaa seemed 70 show, st least, that she found pleasure in mg society. tried to comfort myself. too. by remember.a. hal General Parrish Was seIfmade man. that when he married he Was as poor as l. if not poorer ] knew mat he liked me and had confidence in ne. Was il then. after all, asked myself, presaming in me to hope that Louise would lis ten 10 me and that her father would consent 70 her becoming my wife yet. why lad she not telephoned2
 As l dragged my hesitating feet across tae street i vas aroused from my reyerie b. the rush of an automo- bile that all ba, knocked me over. With an angry imprecaeon at such reckless driving glanced up and recognized the man who occupied l.. He was standing beside his chauffeur. as if ready 10 leap out. Il was Doc tor Wilcox. a noted practitioner who attended th. Parrish family, and whom I had met al their home. I plunged forward in anxious dismay as saw the machine halt before the Parrish door and the doctor jump out and run up the steps
 My first. my only thought, was of Louise. What could have happened She must De ill-desperately i'll. as the doctors haste suggested Did not this explain her failure 10 telephone? Could 1t be that she was dead? What