The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-12-26
CHAPTER TX.
a New Mystery.

morning and downstairs to find a
train schedule. The only thought in
my mind was that l must go to Lou
Use at once. I could not understand
her sudden amazing change of front.
Why, after pledging me to solve the
mystery, should she all at once be as
insistent that | should Immediately
stop all inquiry? ] had lain awake
the whole night, bordering the situa-
ton and seeking a solution. What rea-
son could she have? Who could have
influenced her to such action?
The first train, / found, left two
minutes before six. I ordered break
fast, though in no mood for eating,
and went to Davis room. ] felt that
/ needed his advice. / found him
awake, smoking a cigarette in bed.
Briefly / related to him the amazing
telephone conversation had had with
Louise the night before
What possible reason could have
influenced hersto make such strange
request?" | concluded.
"A woman doesn't have to have a
reason" he -flippantly. 1t
seemed to me. 49,
You don't understand" ! cried.
Louise is not the ordinary Eighty
girl. She has the finest, best-balanced
mind of any woman I ever knew. She
never acts on impulse"
Davis looked at me with that exas-
perating smile of his.
Kent" he replied, when you have
been married as long as | have, when
you know women as well as do, you
will realize the folly of trying to find
reasons for the things women do.
Their minds are not governed by rea-
son, but by impulse. Every sane wom-
an knew that the hobble skirt was an
absurdity, yet when Fashion decided
in favor of the bobble skirt it was
worn. | doubt very much if Miss Far
IRISH herself could tell you why she
asked you to discontinue your inves-
tigation. Probably she acted on i'm.
pulse. BY this time she undoubtedly
is just as eager as she ever was for
you to go on"
what would you adviser"
I'D go on" said Davis laconically,
as he lighted another cigarette.
For a moment | was almost shaken
in my determination to do nothing un-
til had seen Louise. 1t seemed as if
Davis might be right. Perhaps she
had acted only on impulse. Perhaps
her love for me had made her feel
that the investigation might lead me
into danger. But / reconsidered. She
had given me her love and trust and
confidence. She surely was entitled
to full confidence from me. I could
not honorably continue the investiga-
ton without first seeing her.
Il am going to town on the first
train / said decisively. Il shall do
And / shall go on with the inves-
tigation," said Davis with that exas-
perating smile of his.
Impatiently turned and left him
! choked down a cup of coffee and hur-
ried to the station. The Journey
seemed miles and miles long, though
the train made few stops. AS soon as
the ferry landed me in New York /
sprang into a taxi and ordered the
driver to take me at once to the Far
IRISH house Not until we. had turned
into their street did / realize that 1t
was still too early for me to try to see
Louise, even on Such an urgent mis-
sion as mine. few doors away from
the house | stopped the chauffeur and
babe him drive up the avenue to the
entrance of Central park
| dismissed him there and strelaed
aimlessly into the park would wait
until ten O'Clock before | tried to see
Lonise. Still bordering the situation,
/ strolled along one of the park walls
and flung myself On a bench by the
little lake where the swan boats are.
There was no one about at that early
hour and / was glad of it. / wanted
to be alone and think
How long sat there do not know.
was so deep in thought that there
was neither sight in my eyes nor hear
ing in my ears Yet the eyes will not
be denied their rights. A feeling came
over me that some part of my brain
was trying to tell me something. 1t
came more and more forcefully. My
eyes were seeing something which
they we're trying to compel me to no.
tice.
What was it?
pulled myself together with start
and looked about me.
With an exclamation of horror
sprang from the bench and gazed into
the lake just in front of me. Floating
on the surface. not fifty feet from