Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-04-24

l-have brought you on FOOLS errand.
You see, IL have seen Mr.. Wrandall
but once, in town somewhere, and l
may be wrong. Still. the coroner-and
the sheriff-seemed to think you
should be notified might say Ques-
toned. That is why l called you up.
trust, madam. that ! am mistaken.
YES" she said shrilly, betraying the
intensity OF her emotion. 1t was as
IL she lacked the power to utter more
than a single word, which signifed
neither acQuiescence nor approval.
He was Ill at ease, distressed. 81
have engaged a room for you at the
inn, Mrs. Wrandall. You did not bring
a maid. l see. My wife will come
over from our place to stay with you
II you. Ha
She shook her head. Thank you,
Mr.. Drake. It will not be necessary.
I came alone by choice. shall re-
turn to New York tonight"
But you-why, you can't do that"
he cried. holding back as they started
toward the door. mo trains stop here
after ten O'Clock. The locals begin
running at seven in the morning. Be
sides"
She interrupted him. May we not
start now, Mr.. Drake? l am-well.
you must see that l am suffering. !
must see, l must know. The sus-
pense-" She did not complete the
sentence, but hurried past him to the
door, throwing it open and bending
her body to the gust that burst in upon
them.
| He sprang after her, grasping her
arm to lead her across the icy plat
form to the automobile that stood In
the lee of the building.
Disdaining his command to enter
the tonneau, she stood beside the car
and waited until he cranked it and
took his place at the wheel. Then she
took her seat beside him and permit
ted him to tuck the great buffalo robe
about her. No word was spoken. The
man was a stranger to her. She for
got his presence in the car.
Into the thick of the storm the mo-
tor chugged. Grim and SILENT the
man at the wheel, ungoggled and
tense. sent the whirring thing swiftly
over the trackless village street and
out upon the open country road. The
woman closed her eyes and waited.
You would know the month was
March. He said: 1T comes in like
a lion." but apparently the storm swal
lowed the words for she made no re-
Spouse to them.
They crossed the valley and crept
up the tree-covered hill. where the
force of the gale was broken. II she
heard him say: Fierce. wasn't it?'
she gave no sign. but sat hunched for
ward, peering ahead through the snow
at the blurred lights that seemed 81
far away and yet were close at hand.
els that the inn!" she asked as he
swerved from the road a few moments
later.
Yes, Mrs. Wrandail. We're here. .
Isis he in there?"
where you see that lighted window
upstairs" He footed the horn Wig
orously as he drew up to the long. Low
porch. Two men dashed out from the
doorway and clumsily assisted hel
from the car.
4 Go right in, Mrs. Wrandall." sait
Drake. Il will join you in a jiffy."
She walked between the two mer
into the feebly lighted Office Of the
inn. The keeper Of the place. dreary
looking person with dread in his eyes
hurried forward. She stopped, stool
still. Some one was brushing the
stubborn, thickly caked snow from hel
long chinchilla coat
"You must let me get you some
thing hot to drink. madam" the land
lord was saying dolorously.
She struggled with her veil, finall!
tearing it away from her face. Thel
she took in the rather bare, cherries
room with a slow, puzzled sweep o
her eyes.
mo, thank YOU" she replied.
1T WON'T be any trouble, madam.
urged the other. TITS right here Tn,
sheriff says it's all right to serve II
although 1t is after hours. run ,
respectable, law-abiding house.
wouldn't think Of offering it to any
one II 1t was, in violation"
Never mind. Burton" interposed
big man, approaching. Let the lad
choose for herself. II she wants II
she'll say 90. l am1the sheriff. madam
This gentleman ID the coroner, Dl
Sheet. We waited up for you ate
Mi. Drake eaid you'd got the fast trail
to stop for you. Tomorrow morninl
would have done quite as well. In
sorry you came tonight in all thi
blizzard"
He was staring as II fascinated q
the white. colorless face Of the woman
who with nervous fingers unfastene
the heavy coat that enveloped he
slender figure. She was young an
strikingly beautiful. despite the in
tense pallor that oyerspread her face
Her dark. questioning. dreading eye
looked up into his with an expression
he was never to forget 1t combines
dread. horror, doubt and . smolderin
anger that seemed to overcast q
other emotions that lay revealed I
him. q
This IL a-what 10 commonly calle
road house'?" she asked DULY. he
eyes narrowing suddenly a. II in pair
1T is an inn during the winter, Mn
Wrandall, and . road house in tn
summer, II that makes 1t plain to you
/ ID ~ hn