The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-21
CHAPTER I.-Continued.

nav. NraDdall. 1t appears, ndO lea
q g.s dfe and neglected his wife.
CHAPTER I.-Continued.
"Y,n not so sure Of it," said the cor
oaer. shaking his head. Il have a
feeling that she isn't one of the Ordi-
aary type. 1t wouldn't surprise me If
he belongs to--well, you might say
the upper ten. Somebody's wife, don't
Won see That will make it rather diff
fcult. especially as her tracks have
heen pretty we'll covered"
~ beats me, how she got away
without leaving a single sign behind
her" acknowledged the sheriff. "She's
q wonder, that's all I've get to say"
At that instant the door opened and
Mrs Wrandall appeared. She stopped
short. confronting the huduled group,
jry-eyed but as pallid as ghost. Her
D,cs we're wide, apparently unseeing;
her c0l0rless lips were parted in the
drawn rigidity that suggested but one
thing to the professional man who
looks: the "risis sardonicus" of the
strychnae victim. With a low cry,
the Doctor started forward, fully con-
VlireI That she Hdu SW dllOW6u Tue
deadly drug.
For Gods sake, madam" he began,
But as he spoke her expression
changed; she seemed to be aware of
their presence for the first time. Her
eyes narrowed in a curious manner,
and the rigid lips seemed to surge
with blood presenting the effect of
queer, swift-fading smile that fingered
tong after her face was set and seri-
Gus.
Il neglected to raise the window, Dr.
Sheet" she said in low voice. ut
vas very cold in there" She shivered
slightly will you be SO kind as to
tell me what l am to do now? What
formaiittes remain for me-"
The coroner was at her side. Time
euough for that, Mrs. Wrandall. The
first thing you are to do is to take
something warm to drink, and pull
yourself together a bit"
She drew herself up coldly. Il am
quite myself, DR.. Sheet. Pray do not
alarm yourself on my account. l shall
be obliged to you, however, if you will
tell me what | am to do as speedily as
possible, and let me do it so that l
may leave this-this unhappy place
without delay. No! l mean it, sir.
/ am going tonight-unless, of course, -
she said, with quick look at the sher-
IL the law stands in the way"
You are at liberty to come and go
as you please, Mrs. Wrandall," said the
sheriff, but it is most foolhardy to
think Of"
Thank you, Mr. Sheriff." she said,
for letting me go. ! thought perhaps
there might be legal restraint" She
sent a swift glance over her shoulder
and then spoke in a high, shrill voice,
indicative of extreme dread and uneas-
mess:
Close the door to that room"
The door was standing wide open
just as she had left it, Startled, the
coroDer's deputy sprang forward tc
close it. involuntarily, all of her lis
teneTs looked in the direction OF the
room. as if expecting to see the form
OF the murdered man advancing upon
them. The feeling, swiftly gone. was
most uncanny.
manded the coroner, with unmistaka
SIC emphasis. The man hesitated, anC
lien did as he was ordered, but no
Without a curious look at the wife O
the dead man, whose back was towar&
him
He will not find anything disturbed
Doctor said she, divining his thought
bad the feeling that something wa
creeping toward us out of that room.
You have every reason to be nerv
oOs, madam. The situation has beef
m"Rt extraordinary trying,
said the coroner. Il beg of you t.
come downstairs, where we may al
TEND tc few necessary details with
ous delay. 1t has been a most fa
ngaIng matter for all of US. Hour
without sleep, and such wretche
weather"
Ihey descended to the warm littl
reception room. She sent at once 70
The inn keeper, who came in and glow
ereS at her as if she were wholly RI
Sponsible for the blight that had bee
put upon his place
viii you be good enough to sen
some one to the station with me
your depot wagon" she demande
without hesitation.
he stared. I'VE don't run a blu
IN the winter time" he said, gruffly.
She opened the little chatelaine ba
mat hung from her wrist and abstrac
"a a card which she submitted to til
coroner.
You will find, Doctor Sheet, that th
car MY husband came up here in b
longs 20 me. This is the card issue
oy the state. 1t is in my name. TIL
factory number Is there. You ma
compare it with the one on the ca
MY husband took the car without o
aiming my consent"
soy riding" said Burton, with q
dgiy laugh. Then he quailed befo1
me look she gave him.
II no other means is offered, Do
10Y Sheet l shall ask you to let II
'@he the car. l am perfectly capab
q driving, l have driven it in tt
1ohhtry for two seasons. All / ask
nat some one be directed to go wit
me 70 the station. No! Better tha
'aat, If there is some one here who
"'iiing 10 accompany me to the cit
"e snail be handsomely paid for goin
u IS nut little more than 80 miles