El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-05
The Season Serial Sensation
In the Web of
x Life x
John Hale Starts Off to Look for Constance.
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water.

had gone on some mysterious errand,
one which he had tried to conceal from
them Constance had gone somewhere
secretly Was there any connection
between these two circumstances?
NO. mother" the husband said,
soothingly. you try to keep quiet
Won and Edith-and don't talk about
this matter until 1 get back"
But where are you golng! asked
the wife TREMENDOUSLY
ITO the garage first, to tell Robert
to get out the runabout- shall have
him drive me to the station and TO
the-weu. to several places. Con-
stance may have decided to 90 to New
York. you know. won't be gone
Edith followed him into the hall
"Dad.' she pleaded IN a, low voice,
"mayn't I go, too, please!
NO" he replied with decision.
Your place is here with your mother"
But father'-her manner becoming
less cajolng, surely I nave a right
to know what you suspect-What you
fear Remember, please, father, that
since you are thinking things about
Ralph. I have right TO know at least
something Of what is in your mind"
He Regrets the InsinuatiOns.
q don't know what I think or fear.
as you phrase it." he retorted brusque-
". Yet as he reached the head of
the stairs he turned again TO his
daughter q confess my dear" he
not help remembering some Of the
insinuatiOns you and Ralph made this
afternoon I wish to God had never
heard themi"
Before the surprised girl could
gather courage to ask another cues
ton, he was gone. 4 minute later
standing at the window in the back
hall, Edith heard him summon Rob
ert the chauffeur, from his room over
the garage.
When she had returned to her
mother and was trying to talk with
her Of any matter except the one that
occupied the minds of both women.
the crunchlng OF gravel on the drive
way and the purring Of an automobile
engine notified the listeners that the
master Of the house and his man had
gone in search Of their missing rela-
tive.
why not go to bed now, mother2''
Edith suggested gently after a while.
But the matron insisted that she was
too nervous TO lie down.
Will however, put on a wrapper
and rest here on the lounge until
father comes back" she said And
you can sit here and talk to me"
Conversation languished, as il al
ways does when it is forced and not
spontaneous The daughter saw that
her mother was paying scant atten-
ton to the desUltOry remarks made
to her, and that every nerve was
strained for any sound that might in
dictate the return Of the missing girl
or Of John Hale himself The clock
on the mantel licked away more loud
" than ever, yet the hands moved
with maddening sloWness. Edith felt I
that if her mother would only talk she 1
could stand the suspense better.
Yet when at last by asking ques-
tons about people and events con- /
nected with the elderly woman's girl
hood, she led her on to talk of old I
times, the impatient girl felt as if the |
mOnologue would never end and that
If there was anything worse than the
periods Of silence which she had tried
to end II was this long story which ]
her mother was telling If something 1
did not happen soon, Edith Hale told 1
herself, she would 90 madi
ITO be Continued.