The Holly chieftain., 1914-07-24
CHAPTER ~.

Dunham listened as long as his ear
could catch the sound. then strange
desolation settled down upon him.
The little station behind him was
closed, though light over the desk
shone brightly through its front win
dow and the telegraph sounder was
clicking busily.
Turning impatiently from the dark
ness, Dunham sought the bright win
dow. in front of which lay newspa-
per. He could read the large headlines
OF column-no more. for the paper
was upside down, and bunch Of bill
heads lay partly across 1t. 1t read:
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF
YOUNG AND PRETTY WOMAN
His heart stood still. and then went
thudding on In dull. horrid blows.
Vainly he tried to read further. He
followed every visible word of that pa
per to discover its date and origin.
but those miserable bill-heads frus-
trated his effort. He felt like dashing
his hand through the glass. but reflect
ed that the act might result in his be-
Ing locked up in some miserable coun-
try Jail. He tried the window and
gave the door another vicious shake,
but all to no purpose. Finally he turned
on his heel and walked up and down
for an hour, tramping the length of the
shaky platform, back and forth. till
the train rumbled up.
Az ho Nyct or NAV II ~a4
out. leaving a newspaper in the seat.
With eager hands, Durham leaned for
ward and grasped 1t, searching its col.
umns In vain for the tantalizing head
lines. But there were others equally ar
restive. This paper announced the
mysterious disappearance OF a young
actress who was suspecting Of poison
ing her husband. When seen last, she
was boarding train en- route to Wash
ington. She had not arrived there,
however, SO far as could be discov-
cred. 1t was supposed that she was
lingering in the vicinity of Philadel-
phia or Baltimore. There were added
few discriminating details concerning
her relationship with her dead hus-
band, and brief sketch OF her sensa-
tional life. The paragraph closed with
the statement that she was an accom-
plished musician.
The young man frowned and, open
ing his window. flung the scandalous
sheet to the breeze. He determined to
forget what he had read. yet the lines
kept coming before his eyes.
When he reached the city he went
to the news stand in the station,
where was an agent who knew him,
and procured a copy of every paper on
sale. Then, instead of hurrying home,
he found seat in a secluded corner
and proceeded to examine his pur-
chases.
In large letters on the front page Of
New York paper blazed:
HOUSE ROBBED OF JEWELS
WORTH TEN THOUSAND DOL
LARS BY BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
ADVENTURES MASQUE-
RADING AS A PARLOR
MAID.
He ran his eyes down the column
and gathered that she was still at
large. though the entire police force
of New York was on her track.
He turned to another paper, only to
be met by the words:
ESCAPE OF FAIR LUNAT1C
and underneath:
Prison walls could not conf,ne. Miss
Nancy Lee. who last week threw a light
eo lamp at her mother. setting fire to the
mouse. and then attempted suicide. The
young woman seems to have recovered
nor senses. and processes to know MOTH
ing OF what happened. but the physicians
say she Is liable to another attack of in
sanity. and deem 1t safe to keep her con-
lined She escaped during the night. leay-
ing no clew, to her whereabouts. How
she,, she managed to get open the window
| mystery.
In disgust he flung the paper from
him and took up another.
FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED! BEAUT1.
Full YOUNG HEIRESS MISSING.
His soul turned eick within him. He
looked up and saw a little procession
OF late jewellers rushing out to the last
suburban train, the girls leaving a
trail of orris perfume and and vision Of
dainty opera cloaks. One of the men
was city friend Of his. Durham half
envied him his unperturbed mind. To
be sure, he would not get back to the
city TIL three in the morning, but he
would have no visions of robberies and
fair lunatics and hard pressed maid.
ems unjustly pursued, to mar his rest
Dunham buttoned his coat and
turned up his collar as he started out
into the street, for the night had
turned cold. and his nerves made him
emily. As he walked tho hlnnd I