Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-06
COpZRlNW L9X

/ exclaimed. Il will not be content.
until we do. There is no doubt in
my mind that he is the author Of those
letters. We've got to find him. Davis,
and make him explain. 7 promised
she girl love would not rest until
had cleared away the mystery, until
had lifted the cloud that IS hang
ing over her father and her sister.
Nothing, nothing shall stand In the
way! Think what it means to me! The
one love. the one who is dearer TO me
than anything else in the world, is
living in constant dread Of an IN
known terror. feel that Crandall IS
responsible. am positive that he IS
guilty. Help ne find him. Davis! We
must find him"
AS spoke Davis sat regarding me
with unmoved countenance. lie pulled
leisurely at his cigarette two or three
times, and then, with cutting esper-
iiy, without the slightest indication
Of sympathy for my anxiety, said
slowly:
Harding, told you that one Of the
reasons for my success was that l
never undertake anything that l can
not accomplish. came out here TO
find the man who has been using the
mails illegally to terrorize people to
such an extent that they are driven
to suicide. l am confident that we
will quickly locate him and his &C.
complete in crime. Rest assured that
you can safely leave the plan Of &C
ton to me-"
"But-but," I stammered, what Is
your plan of action? What are you
going to do now?"
'T'm going to bed" he replied, yawn-
ing as he rose from his chair. There's
nothing more that can be done to-
night"
Impatient as I was, and anxious
though l was to alleviate Louise's
fears at the earliest moment possible.
l could not but feel that Re was right.
There was nothing that could he done
that night. | showed him wherc the
room was that l had engaged for him
next to mirc--and, feeling much de-
to turn in when l was startled by r
sharp rap on my door.
Come in" ! called, thinking. OF
course, it was Davis with some new
theory to suggest.
Instead it was the clerk from the
office below.
You're wanted on the telephone"
he said
l had already taken of my coat and
waistcoat and 1 did not wait to put
them on. Just as was sped through
the hall to the telephone booth. VINO
could it be that was calling mo at
this hour? 1t must be long after ten
I could ithink OF only two persons
who know Of my being IN this hotel
Louise and Hugh CrandalI felt that
1t must be Louise. Why should Gran
dali call me up? True, he could have
learned my name from the hotel reg
lister. and from my question about the
yellow letter he must know that I
was on his trail, but having escaped
from the village, why should he com
municato with me? No, It could not
be he. II must be Louise. Shn would
not call me at this time unless some
thing had happened. That was It..
Something terrible had happened!
Katharine was dead, or perhaps her
father. Perhaps both of them. Or
maybe Katharine had spoken again
Perhaps she had given some !nfor-
nation that Louise felt would aid ne
in the investigation that meant so
much for both Of us.
Isn't 1t strange how fast we can
think? 1t could not have taken NE
more than thirty seconds TO race from
nv room to the telephone booth in the
hall below, yet in that brief period
all these thoughts and q hundred
other queries and fears pursued each
other in mad tumult through my brain,
Breathlessly rushed into the booth
and grabbed the receiver. It was the
voice Of Louise that I heard. Faint
though It was, recognized it at once,
and was orerjoyed to note that there
was nothing In it of the sadness there
would have been If the worst had
=. come to her father or Katharine
as that you, Mr.. KontT" she asked.
4 eyes. yes" l cried. What is itG'
This is Louise Parrish speaking,
4 want you to promise me that you will
a drop your investigation at once and
81 return to the city"
"What's tkat?" cried. not belieV
ing my ears.
"If you love me"-she was speaking
slowly and enunciatinS with laborec
distinctness that there might be nc
mistake-"you will drop all inVestl
cation at once without any questions
DO YOU hear me? Repeat what have
said so l can be sure you under
stand"
Word for word I repeated her mes
sage. amazed beyond thought at It
import. AS 1 finished repeating II,
cried. "Why, tell ne why but