Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-03-05
CHAPTER VII.
Two plsannearanoes


had not yet called up Louise as !
had intended to do the very first thing
that morning. What a laggard lover
she must think mel How heartless II
must seem to her for me to leave her
alone 80 long in the mansion where
here father and sister lay dying, per
haps dead, with the black shadowy
mystery still hanging over her and
theml What must she think Of me?
Filled with self-reproach ! sprang up
without a word OF apology OF explana-
ton to the others and FASTENED to the
telephone booth had observed in the
hall.
"Give me o141 Madison" demand
ed Of central
What's the natter" she repeated,
with surprise in her tone, which struck
me peculiarly until l considered that
long-distance calls from Ardway must
be such rarity as to surprise even
the operator.
i want long-distance-Ne York"
! explained, enunciating distinctly,
"O141 Madison"
Again" central replied, hippantly,
It appeared to me.
/ repeated the number. more than
annoyed by her response. "Oh, I've
got your number all right by this
time"
1t was a good thing for her that she
tried no more POPULARITY with me, or
the rules Of the company against pro
family would have been shattered
There was a wait OF several minutes
filled with the usual false alarms Of
long-distance telephoning, during
/ which l stood and fumed At last ]
heard my dear Louise's voice and has
tened eagerly to ask after her vel
fare. Her voice seemed strong anC
cheerful, though she admitted that she
had slept little the night before.
Rpologized for not having called up be
fore. She told me that while her IA
theirs condition was unchanged, the
doctor thought he was in no immedi
ate danger, and that Katharine wal
much improved. The doctor believed
now that she could live. She was con
scious, but very weak, and Louise haC
been forbidden to speak to her anC
was allowed in the room only for {
minute at time. hastily sketcheC
for her the events OF the morning.
"Oh, Mr.. Kent" said Louise's vote.
how wished she would call me b,
my first name-"who do you suppos,
called up7"
"WhoT
Hugh Crandall"
Whats that?" l exclaimed, hardl,
believing my ears.
Hugh Crandall," she repeated a III
tie louder and more distinctly. III
asked for Katharine, and the mai
called me to the telephone. told hin
my sister was Ill and could not com
to the telephone. He seemed great
agitated and insisted on knowing wha
the matter was. He was 30 agitate
and persistent finally told him sh
had met with an accident. He wa
silent for so long l thought he ha
left the telephone, but all of sudde
he asked, Did she shoot herself?' an
before l thought l answered Yes
} Then he cried out, oh, my God!' G
something like that and asked II sh
was fatally injured. told him this
E she was alive but unconscious, an
then, Harding, he asked II l had sec
anything Of yellow letter. l though
had better tell him nothing abo,
} that, so l answered No. and then b
, rang off,"
, "That was right" said. "Whel
: did he call up FROM
, 81 have no idea"
when was It? How long aRoY'
mot very long-within the hour.
I Hastily explained to Louise that
J, man that believed was Crandall W,
!. here in the hotel with me and that
would find him at once and make hi
d explain the mystery. Before left Il
a booth got the Ardway central aga
+ and from her learned what had b
gun to suspect-that "O14s Madison
had been called from the very boot
Il In which stood, not over an hour b
;. fore. There was no longer any dou'
t. about It in my mind-Cook was era
e dali. He evidently had gone straigI
t to the telephone booth afte: Blippi.
]. out Of the room as l had asked Il
question about the yellow letter. Fro
y the questions he put to Louise,
s must have been suspecting that Kat
v arine would try suicide. Why ell
had he asked II she had shot herseI
Hs must have known her motive. I
n surely could explain the dark mystic
s that burdened her father and herself
II l resolved to seek him at once an
even II / had to have him arrested (
some pretext, or II had to use ply
n cal force, 70 make him disgorge all
, knew. felt in my pocket to ma
A sure that the revolver Davis had 81
! en- me wAs there. and hurried back
tAs ONCE.