The Arvada enterprise., 1913-01-02
CHAPTER |.
Into the Maelstron.


had no intimation when left my office
In the afternoon of April twelfth, of
the maelstrom of mystery and tragedy
into which | was about to plunge. l
was worried and anxious, it 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 my fellow-man, and left It's
mark SO deep upon my memory that l
do not believe time ever can wholly
efface it.
Even now that It is all ended, and
the shadow which hung so heavily
over tic household of my sweetheart
has been Gispelled and the hand whose
ueyilish ingenuity brought shame and
grief and wreck to so many innocent
lives is paying the penalty behind
prison bars-even now | shudder at
the sight of anything yellow. A scrap
or yellow paper vividly recalls-and
fear always will recall-the painful
events of the last few weeks.
had been waiting ever since my re-
turn from court for telephone mes
sage that had not com the word
from Louise which felt yt0uld decide
my late. | had written 'to her the
night before asking if | might go to
h@r IN the afternoon to speak on a sub
1ect OF importance. knew she would
understand the object OF my letter,
though all that had asked was that
she would telephone me earlier than
four whether she would be at home
From my window | 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 | could bear the suspense
no longer. Message or no message, |
would go to her at once Before the
vibrant note of "On-n-n.n-e" had died
away | closed my desk with a bang.
AS the fourth stroke reverberated
stood with hat and Cvercoat on, my
hand on the knob of my office door.
hoping yet to hear my telephone ring.
lmpatiently I waited minute and
then dashed toward the elevator The
telephone, I learned afterward. rang
almost the minute l was out Of the
room and Louise's voice called fran
tically for me. but l was not there TO
hear.
1t was only short walk up Madison
avenue to the home of General Far
rish, the father of Louise. With the
doubt that possesses every lover on
such a mission as this, walked It,
10 nY,ll lat.
heart, now quickening my pace as
hope routed my fears. AS | turned
the corner into the street where the
Parrish home is situated MY steps
we're leaden. What right had | to ask
louise Parrish to be my wife? The
daughter of a man worth many mil
lions, girl of exquisite beauty and
OF many accomplishments, one who
could choose husband where she
willed-what right had to hope that
she would ever consent to become the
wife OF struggling young lawyer
such as /? To be sure, my family was
OF the best. With my earnings and
the modest little fortune my father
had left me l would be able to provide
for her. But as yet, though my pros.
poets were bright, amounted to moth
ing in my profession 1t would be
years before | could hope to give my
wife the luXuries to which Louise Far
rish had been accustomed.
On the other hand. felt that with
Louise as my wife | could do great
thlngs. | loved her with great love.
! felt that her affection and companion.
ship would be inspiration enough for
any man to conquer the world
hoped that she loved me. recalled
he trifes which seemed to show, at
least, that she found pleasure in my
society. | tried to comfort myself, too
by remembering that General Parrish
was a self-made man, that when he
married he was as poor as !, IL not
poorer. l knew that he liked me and
had confidence in me. Was It then
after all, | asked myself. presuming
IN me to hope that Louise would lis
ten to me and that her father would
consent to her becoming my wife
yet, why had she not telephoned?
AS | dragged my hesitatlng feet
across the street | was aroused from
my reVerle by the rush OF an automo
bile that all but knocked me over
With an angry imprecation OF sucf
reckless driving ! glanced up anC
recognized the man who occupied II
lie was standing beside his chauffeur
as II ready to leap out. 1t was Doc
'o' wilcox, noted practitioner VIII
attended the Parrish family. and WHOM
nau met at their home. plunge
.pr"aru In anxious dismny as say
me machine halt before the Farris
door and the doctor jump out and m
up the steps. ""O -
My first, my only thou,h, r,,,
louise. What could have ba,nonod
She must be ill-desperatelv N as ~
DOCTORS haste suggested. D,d No, -
explain her failure to telephone, ~ ron, -,
II - that she was deadT W.,