The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-26

Van Dyke grim, alert, master or the
moment, his lean face set in lines Of
unwonted sadness.
And it was Van Dyke who broke the
brief silence. His precise dry voice
was tinged by note of something al
| most solemn as he addressed Robert
son.
Mark" he said, Miss Kelly has
told us that she promised the-the
Woman not to tell. When did she
make that promise?"
What does that matter now?" snap
ped Mark. we"
she never heard of the affair until
early this evening. So it must be
since then that she talked with the
Woman about it. Miss Kelly has been
| on duty downstairs ever since six
o'clock. She has not left this hotel
How could she have communicated
with the Woman"
by telephone. If"
Il think not" denied Van Dyke, the
cold sorrow in his voice now apparent
to every one. The Woman is here
in this house"
so much the better!" declared
Blake, again picking up the telephone
Van Dyke, in gloomy wonder, turn
ed on his chief.
"You have often boosted, JIM" said
he, that you owe your success to the
fact you see things just second soon
er than other people. Don't you I'M
derstand-even YETI"
"Nn +" orrnulod
with it, man! What are you trying to
get at? Don't beat about the bush
You're wasting time that we haven't
got"
Van Dyke faced Robertson; his lean
face working.
Mark" he said, tapping the dupli-
cate telephone list, your house in
New York is charged here with two
calls. We thought it was a mistake
-"
A wordless gurgle from Jim Blake
interrupted him. The telephone was
| set down by a hand that shook as
though from palsy. For a single in
slant the heavy-lidded eyes were Who'll
ly, starkly unveiled in a glare of IN
believing horror. Then they turned
stupidity upon Grace who bowed her
head in spasm of hysterical uncheck-
ed weeping before the panic query in
their gaze.
Wanda Kelly wound her arms tight
er about the heavy body. But Grace
neither felt the contact nor heard the
whisper of eager futile comforting
Blake stared open-mouthed, his face
greenish and fabby, the stern jaw
| loose, the keen eyes bullying Mark
Robinson was still frowning perplexed-
| ly at Van Dyke.
Don't you understand" pleaded the
| latter.
mo, don't" returned Mark. What
have the two phone calls to my home
got to do with-?"s
Suppose the second call were not
a mistake-?" hesitated Van Dyke
Robinson's face went purple. The
| big veins near his temples swelled
grotesquely. He took an involuntary
step toward Van Dyke. The latter
raised protesting hand.
Mark" he said, f1inching not at all
before the bloodshot fury in the hus.
bands little eyes, I'VE are here as law
yers, making an investigation. At last
we have struck the right trail. l am
| sorry it leads where it does. L"
| He got no further. At stride Rob-
ertson was beside his wife. Roughly
brushing aside Wandas embracing
arms he caught Grace by the shoulder
and held her.
You hear what this man insinu-
ates?" he cried thickly 81 don't ask
you to foul your lips by denying it.
I'll attend to him later. But give me
the right to do that by telling the
| Woman's name at once"
"Gracew croaked Blake, his throat
sanded with a horror that he would
not confess, don't you hear what
| they're saying. giri?"
In his harsh eagerness, Mark forci-
| lily lifted his wife's bent head and
] forced her eyes to meet his.
I What's the natter" he demanded
sharply why don't you speak? Tell
Van Dyke he lies. Tells him he lies, I
say! Obi"
His fierce appeal broke of in a cry
of pain. He had at last raised her
| face and had read it. For the briefest
moment he stood stupefied, expression
less. Then, cautiously, half-cringing-
", as if expecting a blow, he moved
! hack to Van Dyke.