Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-02-05

nameless dread Of tho Black Hand |
first SEXES them until finally they are
put to death for refusing the society's
II is this evil spirit that
Kills kings. burns witches, destroys
property and lynches negroes. The
Parrish mystery. however, is OF the
second class-the crime OF the pair.
am certain OF IT,"
The important thing then for us
to do" said /, trying to bring him
from the abstract to the concrete, SIS
to find Hugh Crandall and also TO dis
cover who was his closest associate
man or woman"
DO you think so?" he asked eng
matically, adding a second later,
Cant you take me to sec Miss Far
rish?"
Hardly another word passed be-
tween US as the taxicab whirled US up
Madison avenue to the generals home.
was thinking about Davis strange
theories Of crime and his opinion that
this was a crime Of the pair. felt
sure that he, as well as |, must be
convinced Of Crandalls connection
with the matter and surely his fight
did not argue innocence. But IL this
was a crime Of the pair. who was the
other guilty person? Whom did Davis
suspect? He had said that 1t might be
either two men or a man and WON
an. A woman? Could It be that he
suspected Katharine Parrish of snar,
ing Crandalls guilt?
No, no 1t was impossible. too alb
surd. Yet certainly the yellow letter
seemed a link between her and Elser.
It was she who for a long time had
been Crandalls closest associate. That
association apparently had been re-
Gently renewed in secret. Was 1t DOS
sible that back of the mystery there
was some crime and that Katharine
was guilty?
For a moment l was tempted to or.
der the chauffeur to stop. 1t seemed
almost DESPERATION to take this heart.
less analyzer Of crime into the home
where death stalked so close. Sup
post Katharine was-No, had pledged
my word to Louise that would
solve the mystery and | would keep
my promise, no matter where 1t led
me. After all, the important thing
was my beloved ones peace Of mind.
AS long as the shadow hung over her
father and sister, her happiness must
be married. Better the knowledge of
evil than the terror OF mystery.
Davis wasted little time In cere.
mony. AS soon as | had introduced
him to Louise, he said abruptly:
I'D like to see the room where it
appened-alone"
AS Louise called one of the serv.
ants to escort him upstairs was re
jdicing at the opportunity to be alone
with her The cold formality Of her
greeting would have troubled me had
| not attributed 1t to the inspectors
presence. AS soon as he had left US
with the memories Of the evening be
fore glowing in my mind, | turned tC
embrace her.
Don't, please don't!" she said cold
ly.
why, dearest!" l stammered IL
amazement.
She offered no explanation but sale
in the most matter-of-fact tones-toC
matter-of-fact to be natural, | though
Tell me, Mr.. Kent, what yol
learned at the place where Mr.. Else
lived"
l was dumfounGed. What ha,
come over her? What could hay,
happened to make this sudden chang,
in her attitude toward me? Coul,
this cool, distant young woman be tn.
same girl who only few hours befor,
had chung so desperately to me ami
had wept out her sorrows in my arms
Had she overnight forgotten the kis
with which we pledged our joint ell
forts to solve the mystery?
Tell me, Mr.. Kent" she persiste
quietly, is there a yellow letter i
that case, too? Do you believe Their
can be any connection between Nj
Elser and-and what Katharine did
Greatly perturbed, yet trying to col
vince myself that her attitude wa
only a girls natural reaction as sh
recollected the events Of the evenin
before, l was just beginning to rehearn
what little we had learned in III
, boarding house when Davis came ruI
ming down the stairs.
Tell me-" he said abruptly to Lo1
! Use, what color are Mr.. Crandan
eyes?"
! Blue" said Louise, "gray-blue."
J "Humph!"
= I could see she was as much puzzle
/. at his question as l had been, but /
+ offered no explanation and made I
t comment.
] Was Crandall left-handed?" I
t snapped.
? 81 don't think So" said Louise aft,
r. a minutes thought 81 never notice
= that he was"
: "Humph!" he repeated, his eyes 70
ing about the room. Take me in
y sec General Parrish"
The young doctor whom Doctor "
:, cox had left in charge happened to
s passing through the hall, and stoppt
= as he heard the request.
/. at can do no HARM" he said, in I
e ply 10 Louise's look of inquiry.
/, The four Of us-the doctor, Dav
s Louise and myself, in the order name
= tiptoed into the generals room. Nv
l. prepared for a great change in hi
E. but his appearance was really terri
e ing, Perceptibly thinner. aged as
E. many years, all shriveled and shrun
en-, he lay chained to his bed by /
II affection, unable to lift leg or arm,
e lips fallen nervelessly apart, /