Gunnison news-champion., 1914-02-20


bus once. In town somewhere. and
may be wrong. stiil. the eoroner-and
the sheriff seemed to think you
should be Eotiiied-I might say ases-
TONED. That is why called you sp.
! trust. madam. that I am mistaken"
Yes" she said shrilly. betrayins the
Intensity of her emotion. IL WAS as
II she lacked the power to utter more
than q single word. which sienified
nsi5her acquIsseenee nor approval
he Was i'll si ease. distressed. a
have engaged . room for yos At the
inn, Mrs. Wrsnaan You did not bring
over from eur place TO stay with you
il you"
She shook her head. THANK you.
MIR. Drake. II will not be necessary.
came alone ~ choice. l shall re-
turn to New Tork tonight"
But yea-why. you esnt Do that"
he cried. holding bach - they sssrted
toward the d0Or. No trains stop here
after ten scbOck- The locals begin
running ct seven N the morning. BE
sides"
She intesvxDted him. Nay we not
start now, Mr.. Drake? I am-well.
you must - that I am suffering. I
must see. I must know. The sus-
pense-" SAe did not conplete the
sentence. but hurried past him to the
door. throwing 1t open and bending
her body 10 the Gvst that burst in upon
them.
lie sprsnG sstsr her. grsspinS her
arm to lead her scrOss the icy plat
form to the automobile that stood in
the lee Of the building.
Disdaining his command to enter
the tonneas, she stood beside the car
and waited until be cranhe1 II and
took his plaes ct the Wheel Then she
took her seat besiAs hin and permit
ted him to tsck the great buasls psSe
about her. NJ wsrd ~ spoksa- TAe
man was . stranger TO hss. 0hs 1sr-
got his Dssssacs IN The car.
1nts The thick q The steen the -
tor eAHGOs1. Grin aad stlsaA, shs
nan ct tAo whsel, uA0e0Glsl anl
tease. ssat tAs wAirrinG tAiaG swiftly
ever TIE traeklsss village strsst end
out upOa tAs oDsa c0Sntry road. The
woaan cIbsel her eyes anl waitsl.
rea would know ths nOatA yes
March He sail: 1T cones n b1he
. lion." but apparently The storm swal
lowed the words for sAe made - re-
spOnse TO then.
They crossed the valley anl crept
mp the tree-covered hill. where the
force Of the gale was broken. II she
heard him say: Fierce, wasn't n?"
she gave no sign, but sat hunchel for
ward. peering ahead through the snow
at the blurred lights that seemed so
far away and yet were close at hand
is that the inn?" she asked as he
swerved from the road few moments
later.
Yes, Mrs. wrandall We're here"
%s-is 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 her
from the car.
Go right in, Mrs. wrandall." said
Drake. Il will join you in a jiffy."
She walked between the two men
into the feebly lighted office of the
inn. The keeper of the place. a dreary
looking person with dread in his eyes
hurried forward. She stopped. stock
still Some one was brushing the
stubborn, thickly caked snow from her
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, finally
tearing it away from her face. Then
she took in the rather bare, cheerless
room with a slow, puzzled sweep of
ner eyes
mo. thank you" she replied
1T won't be any trouble, madam"
urged the other. Its right here. The
sheriff Gays it's all right to serve IL.
although it is after hours. l run a
respectable. law-abiding house. I
wouldn't think of offering it to any
one If ii was in violation"
Never mind. Burton" interposed a
big man. approaching. Let the lady
choose for herself II she wants it.
she'll say SO. | am the sheriff. madam.
This gentleman is the coroner, Dr.
Sheet. We waited up for you after
Mr.. Drake said you'd got the fast train
10 stop for you. Tomorrow morning
would have done quite as well lin
sorry you came tonight in all this
blizzard"
He was staring as IL fascinated at
the white. colorless face of the woman
who with nervous fingers unfastened
the heavy coat that enveloped her
slender figure. She Was young and
etrikingly beautiful. despite the in
tense paRor that overspread her face
Her dark. questioning. dreading eyes
looked up into his with an expression
he VS. never to forget It combined
dread. horror. doubt and q smolderine
anGer hat seemed to overcast Al