Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-01-29
Il lc,uAprEn " fcontinued).

832 3sf II saw Hugh Crandall leaving this
house not ten minutes ago" I said. =
t'Really!' b 5- .., ~
Her tone was cold, hard, forced.
though she tried to make It sound nat
Sural. u. &. =
& * III was he who broke open your
desk i cried. "He wanted to regain
possession of that scrap Of paper and
thus remove all evidence of his guilt"
II II am afraid" said Louise with the
manner Of offended dignity, that you
are entirely mistaken. was not
aware that you knew Mr.. Crandall by
sight
IF that wasn't Hugh Crandall who
\ came out Of your house Just now, who
was it?"" asked, my anger at this
man whom believed responsible for
the chain Of evil getting the better
Il OF me. .I don't know Crandall, but I
know the evil he is responsible for.
4 for, the tragedy of your sister, the
plight Of. your father, the suicide Of
old Andrew Elser, the suicide Of that
poor woman out in Ardway. Why, not
an hour ago helped drag from the
park lake fifth victim, poor young
d girl, driven to death by another Of his
accursed yellow letters. ] found the
Z fragments of it, water-soaked and illeg-
4ble, in the lake"
asS tilss'"Mr. Kent, interrupted Louise, "you
q were kind enough to undertake mis-
h sion on my behalf and I appreciate it
4 greatly. Certain circumstances have
X arisen that have entirely altered mat
4 tiers. called you up last night and
Z asked you to drop all Investigations.
You have said that you love me. By
4 that love you say you hold for me
now ask you, no-more--1 order you
to make no further attempts to solve
& the mystery-please, Harding, please. :"
Her voice broke, and with one last
# gesture Of appeal she flung herself
4 into a chair and covered her face with
h her hands.
Perplexed beyond measure with the
turn affairs had taken, with my heart
& aching with sympathy for her, stood
watching her slender form as it shook
with sobs, trying to make up my mind
what to do. Ny heart babe me prom
ise her anything, everything If It
would bring her peace Of mind. yet.
my brain told me that.i was best for
4 her, best for every one, if I should go
ahead as my friend, the inspector,
had advised. IS fr,a3.ss& ra
Louise" began, trying to keep
x my voice steady, III you will answer
me one question"
Don't, Harding, please DON'T" she
4 sobbed, lifting her tear-stained face
I TO me in entreaty. "You mustn't. You
4 mustn't ask me any questions. If you
\ love me, please do just as say"
Louise" replied almost sternly,
8s' '''you are not yourself. Can't you rely
on me? Can't you trust me? Don't
you know that I will do nothing that
{ is not for the best?'
gathered her into my arms and
held her close. I pressed my lips
against her fragrant hair where it
Z strayed from under her automobile
\ bonnet. AS she lay unresistiing in my
arms her sobs decreased and she be-
Il came calmer.
my darling" I said, II know that
y Hugh Crandall has been here. feel
that he has been influencing you
against me. Won't you do what your
L heart bids you and tell me every
\ thing about it," ais g.
She drew long deep breath and
gently freed herself from my encir-
cling arms and, facing me, looked at
4 me with firm resolution written all
over her lovely face. .'5.'j
"'You must do what I tell you. I
can answer no questions. I wish I
could, but can't You. mustn't ask
me 1t isn't my secret"
"The car is waiting, Miss Louise"
s AS the maids voice interrupted she
gave a start, and reaching her hands
out impulsively to me, in more like