El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-18
The Seasons Serial Sensation
= In the Web ofLife =
John Hale Has Talk With Tom and Finds Out low He
Was Mistaken IN Constance
VAN DE WATER.


I will leave him with you, as he wants
/ to talk with you. Ring II you want
( me"
As soon as the two men were alone
; Tom turned eagerly to John Hale.
/ You have been so kind to me always"
I he said. that I want you TO answer my
I questions frankly. And I Will speak
I the truth to you"
Then he asked eagerly, first of all
about Constance Dr. Sheffield had told
{ him that II was she who had found
him. How had she known that he was
hurt2 What was she doing out alone
at that time Of the night2 Listening 10
I the questions OF this man who had just
returned from the brink Of the grave
John Hale knew that he was not decelV-
/ ing him. knew with a swift insight that
he had always been the honorable gen
ueman that he had believed him TO be
before Ralph Morton had maligned him.
So he himself replied directly, honestly,
relating the story of Constance's be-
haviOr asf ar as he knew It. making no
haviOr as far as he knew it, only CIV
ing the facts. The honesty Of the
sufferer drew from him similar hon
esty-
John Hale still Greatly Puzzled.
Il could not understand the girls
actiOn-and I do not understand it
since she had had no message from
you that you were coming Unless
struck by an Illuminating idea-"she
heard me telephone you"
she may have done So Tom 7ur-
INJURED. Then he was silent The other
watching him. saw the lips take on a
moved. tender curVe-the expression
that man might wear who appreciated
what a good, pure woman had done to
save him. As this thought came to the
elderly man IL was followed by the
swift mental query: save him from
what2 Who or what could harm htm2
Who else knew that he was on the road
10 HomeWood that night2 Who besides
Martha and Edith2"
And as startling came the recollec-
ton that Ralph was aware that the
master Of the house had summoned Tom
that evening. For an instant he was
glad that his companions eyes were
bandaged, for he felt the color leave
his own face. At last he broke the
silence with a question to which he
tried to give a casual sound
VIII you tell me what you remem-
Der Of your ACCIDENT
Tom spoke reluctantly. Not very
much" he said 'T was driving rapidly.
saw the light Of an automobile at the
roadside I sounded my horn I saw
a figure leap forward, the hand raised
in the air. felt a flash as Of fire across
my eyeS-and all went black"
Did you recognize the figure7'
asked the older man hOarsely-
7 am not sure" Tom replied. 7
would rather not think Of it II is done |
now"
There is one thing more you must !
tell me-" insisted John Hale. Z promise !
not to use it What did the figure hold l
in its appraised hand2i
Z did not see" replied Tom. But I l
did not send for you to talk about NY /
self but TO ask you about Miss AIedfOrd. /
Where is she2'
Tom Insists He Must Recover.
The nurse found her patient strange
" excited when she returned to him
after his callers departure.
I must get we'll" he told her fever
shly- Everything depends upon it,
ooh. no." she soothed. her fingers on /
his pulse. Not everything"
''Tes-everythi he insisted And Z
as she did not want TO excite him fur !
Their she did not contradict him.
You must try TO keep calm and |
patient If you would be well soOn," she
warned him.
He started TO speak fmpetuously. then
thought better Of it.
Il viii try" he promised. meekly.
(TO Be COntinued.)