The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-27
MeMAN>m the.e.
BROWN DERBY
20 -
Wells HASTINGS ~
s0o Author of GEO
The Professors Mystery
(OgshtBllsy Bobbdle~a "a
CHAPTER VII.
(contlnued)

mo. heard nothing at all. she re-
piled dryly. I've been making all the
noise myself could hear at one time.
Why?' she added. Has anything hap
pened?"
saw she had no information for me
and decided against letting her know
or Nancy's disappearance.
mo" stammered, nothing has
happened. | really must apologize"
Numbered on. feeling that was lying
clumsily, but | am afraid that really
did shut that door. You see. I'm very
absent-minded. | don't remember do
ing II, but | suppose must have. We
had o closet at home very much like
this, and We had to keep continually
locking II TO keep the cat out. | must
have just shut the door and turned
the key from force OF habit, when
went through the kitchen; but | give
you my word of honor, Mrs. Blake,
that | didn't see you"
Clumsy as the falsehood was, 1t
struck a fortunate chord.
That's just like my father used to
be-" she said, long about when he
was ninety. He was so absent-minded,
he'd go upstairs to change his shoes
and go to bed right in the middle OF
the day" She launched into a long
series OF her fathers peculiar and alb
sent-minded doings, which in my
agony | had to strive TO listen TO
quietly; for | was very anxious TO get
her out OF the house, suspecting moth
ing. feat which | finally accomplish
ed by saying that Nancy was tired out
and resting and that she wanted Mrs.
Blake TO be home in time TO cook her
own supper. Then | mounted the
stairs again to Nancy's room. The
late sun came levelly through the win
dows, lighting its farthest corner. One
chair lay on its side, lace window cur
tains were disarranged, and curtain
cord had been ripped away with a
force that had broken its old-fashioned
hook. That was all. But that all was
enough. Nancy had not gone of her
own free will, and with murder in my
heart laughed aloud in the silent
room.
This, then, was the errand OF the
midnight prowler, this the accomplish
ed aim of the man, for he must have
been the same, who had inquired for
US at the county clerks office, Who
he was, whether an agent OF Ephraim
Bonds or not, whether or not this was
all part of the original plan, could
not know, and for the instant did mol
care. II was enough for me thai
Nancy was gone and that she had
been taken roughly. knew that
should find her again, IL hGd to Kill
some one 10 do 1t; find her and bring
her home The next time this man
came under my hands he should not
escape so easily.
But on Nancy's bureau lay some
thing white, hooking sheet OF paper
that looked up at me. read:
Il have changed my mind, luckily In
time for us both. You must forgive
me, but | find that l am unable to
overcome an innate repugnance oil
physical Disagreement. | did not wish
the pain Of seeing you again, which
/ am sure, you will see would have
been a pain for us both, and so | am
taking the afternoon train for Phila
delphia. There shall spend the night
with friends, and In the morning take
up the rest of the journey home. tor'
give me and believe me, am sorry
You are not to try TO follow. That is
absolutely final.
NANCY BOND
Even as | read II, knew the thing
was a lie. had never seen her writ
ing; but whether this letter was
forced or whether she had written II
herself, under the necessity OF some
compulsion, | could not decide; al
ready was too sure OF her to be-
lieve it. Whatever she might do, OF
had done, she would certainly never
have made my hands the excuse for
running away. nor indeed would she
have run away at all.
The thing was outside the POSSIBLE
ity OF her moral courage. IL, in my
absence, she had decided for any rea
son that our proposed marriage was
wrong, | was sure she would have
waited for me, and told me that rea
son with gentle bravery.
folded the note and put II in my
pocket, then, with a sudden tardy
thought, cursed myself furiously and
aloud, for | remembered the gallop
ing horse that had so nearly run me
down, the swaying buggy. the lash
ing, cruel whip; Nancy must have
passed me almost at our very gates
and had stood gaping in the road
and wonderingly watched her out Of
sight. What hopeless fool | had