Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-03-19
Miss Schuyler New York. Have post
ed reward Ave hundred pounds.
"FOTHERiNGILL."
CHAPTER VII.
Deeper Waters.

DctpCF WdNCI7s
This message, 80 condensed that for
a moment Van Vechten believed 1t to
be in code, contained more than one
incomprehensible but none the less
pregnant item. The line OF perplexity
between his brows deepened, as he
continued to stare at II, while Tom
looked on and fldgeted with curiosity.
whirlpool" Van Vechten voiced
his ystifcation-"seems to me I've
heard that name before-Tm sure !
have-but hanged II l can associate II
with anything definite. And who the
deuce is Fotheringill?"
He handed the slip OF paper over to
Tom. The items began to appear
slowly by degrees.
"Wlthypool-Withypool," he repeat
ed In an effort TO spur his memory
where and when did ever hear THAI
name? It's not one that Paige men
toned. Must be some town in Somer>
set"
And two ladies'" supplemented
Tom in mock admiration, answering
to the description of your cousin and
Mrs Devereaux we're there some time
in July. What a ripping Sherlock
Holmes you are!"
Van Vechten surveyed him with I'M
seeing eyes. After a moment
Say" he began with considerable
energy. tom, II they were Paige
and 10, why should it be so difficult to
determine their Identities positively?
Were they trying to hide? And II so.
from whom?"
"You can search me-" Tom offered
dispiritedly.
Van Vechten took the message and
pored over 1t again.
Five hundred pounds reward" he
groaned after minute. Great
Scott, Tom! How luridly the papers
will blossom now, for the blessed
puzzle is fair game at last for them.
Who has authorized anyone to offer q
reward, I'd like to know? And whai
two weeks in July we're these two mys-
FERROUS ladies at whirlpool? Am to
infer that they and Mrs. and Miss
Schuyler are the same?-that Paige
and Joe sailed home incog the eighth
OF last month";"
That's what 1t says" replied Tom.
"In a way. yes. But this sheet of de-
formed intelligence is more remark
able for what 1t does not say than for
what II says. Schuyler, you know
was Mrs. Devereaux's maiden name
Toms eyes opened. by George!"
he exclaimed wonderingly. $50 II
wasl"
Well" tartly, docs the circum
stance suggest anything to your"
But Tom merely stood silent sec
ond wagging his head. mo. It's only g
little more muddling, is all can make
of It."
Here 1t is the fifth OF September
, Van Vechten's summarizing went on;
| where, in heavens name, have they
, been all this time? Where are they
! now?"
, Moses and green spectacles, Rud
, dy!" burst forth Tom in desperation
You'll give yourself headache II yot
keep on asking questions that nobody
can answer! Here-let's sit down a
this table and have something t
, drink; maybe that'll help. You car
think things over, anyhow"
Van Vechten all OF a sudden expert
enced a letdown from the high ten
, sion under which he had been labor
ing ever since the cablegram's arrival
and Immediately the drawn lines abou
his mouth, and the restless shifting o
: his eyes, disclosed his growing buI
;, den of anxiety; even to Toms unot
:, servant regard 1t was laid bare hoy
!, deeply the battling mystery-the vi
certainty OF his cousins fate-had a.
fected his whole being.
STEADY, old man." Tom mul
INJURED alphabetically. TRY a littl
nerve tonic. Brace up"
They sat down.
81 don't want anything to drink,
u Van Vechten declined the offer, "bu
= ! will gladly smoke a big black ciga
l. Perhaps 1t will clear away some c
- the cobwebs."
Tom, ever a model OF abstemiou
:, ness. contented himself with a mil
!, and ladyllke thimble of curacao.
u Then they took UP the subject OF tn
g cablegram again. Van Vechten fla
y tened the paper upon the tabl
. propped his elbows at either end an
grasped his hair firmly with bot
IL hands, the cigar smoke forming a blu
halo about his head. He gave himse
" up to the serious business OF int
u pretlng and assimilating the dls]uie
u ing, unfathomable information frol
o overseas.
ID CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ
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