The Forrest City times., 1912-10-11
CHAPT ER l.
Into the Maels.ron,.

their shadows before. but certainly | had 10 intimatiOn when left my office fin the afternoon of April twelfth. Of the maeistrom Of mystery and tragedy into which l was about 10 plunge. I was worried and anxious. II 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 ny felloW-man. and left it's mark sozdeep upon my memory that do not believe time ever can wholly efTace fl.
 Even now that it is all ended, and the shadow which hung SO heavily over the household of my sweetheart has been dispelled and the hand whose devilish ingenuity brought shame and grief and wreck 10 so many innocent lives Is paying the penalty behind prison tars-eTen noW l shudder at the sight of anything yellow. A scrap of yellow paper viyidly recalls-and fear always will reeall-the painful events of the last few weeks
 had been waiting ever since my re turn from court for q telephone mes. sage that had not eome-the word from Louise which felt would decide my fate. had written to her the night before. asking II I might 20 to her in the afternoon to speak on q suh. ject ot importance. l knew che would understand the object of my letter. though all that I had asked was that she would telephone me earlier than four whether she would he at home
 From ny window l had watched the great hand on the Metropolitan tower clock creep slowly to twelve As the chimes began to sing the hour of four felt that l could bear the suspense no longer. Message or no message. | would so 10 her al once Before Inc vibrant note of "On-n-nn-e" had died away closed my desk with bang. As the fourth stroke reverberated stood wi5h hat and oFercoat on. my hand on the knob Of my office door hoping yet to hear my telephone ring Empatiently waited minute and then dashed toward the elevator. The telephone. l learned afterward. rang almost the minute l was out of the room and Louse's voice called fran. tically for me. but was not there to hear.
 T. vas only short walk up Madison avenue 10 the home Of General Far rjsh. the father Of Louise. With the doubt that possesses every lover on such q mission as this, walked it. now laggardly, as misgi .ings filled my heart. now QuiCkening ny pace as hope routed my fears. As | turned the corner into the street where the FesrlsR home is situated my steps were leaden. What right had to ask Louise Parrish to be my wifeo The daughter of a man worth many mil liens. girl of exquisite beauty and of many accomplishments. one who could choose a husband where she wii.eG-Hhat right had 10 hope tAal she would ever consent to become the Wife af a struggling young lawyer such ae r To be sure. mE family Maz ot the best With my earnings aHt the modest little fortune my fathei had leu me would be able t0 urayft', for her. But as vet. though my pres poets were bright. amounted 10 roth ipg iu my prolession l. would D, years before I could hope 10 give m, wife the luguries to which Louise Far Tish had been accustomed
 On the other hand. felt that witl Louise as my wife I could do A.ea things. l loved her with great 4uye felt that her affection aud conps4Ion ship would be inspiration enough fo any man 10 conquer the world.
 hoped that she loved me. rIcallct the lgt1es which seemed to show. q least. that she found pleasure fin m society. l tried to comfort myself. toc by remembering that General Farris' was a self made man. that when h married he was as poor as l. If no poorer I knew that he liked me an had confidence in me Was 1t ther after all, asked myself presumin in me 10 hope that Louia4 would lis len 10 nc and that her father woul consent 10 her becoming my wife vet. ~hF had she not telephoned?
 AS ! dragged my Lesitatins fec across the street l MAS aroused ffof my reEerie by the rush Of an automt bile that all but knocked ne oYe With aa angry imprecation at sue fech'ess driving ! glanced up an recognized the men who occupied i He Vas standing beside his chaufleu as if ready to leap out lt was Dot tor Wilcox, Q noted practitioner wh intended the Parrish family. and whor had met al their homo. l plunge forward in anxious dismag as l sa' the machine halg before inc Paris door and the doctor jump -It and tu up the steps.
 M, first. my only thought. was { Louise. What could lafe happened She must be ill-desperately ill. as ih
 L.