The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-02-21

have brought you on q fools errand.
! You see, IL have seen Mr.. Wrandall
but once, In town somewhere. and l
may be wrong. Still. the coroner-and
the sheriff-seemed TO think you
should be notified might say ques-
toned. That is why | called you up.
/ trust. madam, that ! am mistaken"
Yes" she said shrilly. betraying the
intensity OF her emotion. II was az
IL she lacked the power to utter more
than a single word, which signihed
neither acquiescence nor approval.
He was III at ease. distressed. II
have engaged a room for you at the
inn, Mrs. Wrandall. You did not bring
a maid. see. My wife will come
over from our place to stay with you
II you"
She shook her head Thank you,
Mr.. Drake. II will not be necessary
came alone by choice. shall re-
turn TO New York tonight"
But you-why. you can't do that"
he cried. holding back as they started
toward the door. mo trains stop here
after ten o'clock. The locals begin
running at seven In the morning. Be
sides"
She interrupted him. MAY we not
start now, Mr. Drake? | am-well.
you must see that | am suffering.
must see. | must know. The sus
pense--" She did not complete the
sentence, but hurried past him to the
door, throwing It open and bending
her body to the gust that burst in upon
them.
He sprang after her. grasping her
arm to lead her across the Icy plat.
form 10 the automobile that stood In
the lee OF the building.
Dlsdaining his command to enter
the tonneau she stood beside the car
and waited until he cranked II and
took his place at the wheel. Then she
took her seat beside him and permit
ted him TO tuck the great buffalo robe
about her. No word was spoken. The
man was a stranger 70 her. She for
got his presence In the car.
Into the thick OF the storm the mo-
tor chugged. Grim and silent the
man at the wheel, ungoggled and
tense. sent the whirring thing swiftly
over the trackless village street and
out upon the open country road. The
woman closed her eyes and waited
You would know the month was
March. He said ut comes in like
lion," but apparently the storm swal.
lowed the words for she made no re-
Spouse TO them.
They crossed the valley and crept
up the tree-covered hill, where the
force OF the gale was broken. II she
heard him say Fierce, wasn't TT"
she gave no sign. but sat hunched for
ward, peering ahead through the snow
at the blurred lights that seemed so
far away and yet were close at hand.
rs that the inn2" she asked as he
swerved from the road a few moments
later.
Yes. Mrs. Wrandall. We're here"
"Is--ls 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. II will join you In q Tiny"
She walked between the two men
into the feebly lighted ONCE OF the
inn. The keeper of the place. dreary
looking person with dread in his eyes.
hurried forward. She stopped, stock
still. Some ono 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 Il away from her face. Then
she took In the rather bare. cheerless
room with a slow, puzzled sweep OF
her eyes
NO, thank YOU" she replied.
1T won't be any trouble. madam"
urged the other IT'S right here The
sheriff says it's all right to serve Il,
although II Is after hours. | run a
respectable. law.abiding house. /
wouldn't think OF Offering It to any
one II II was In violation"
Never mind. Burton" interposed
big man. approaching. Let the lady
choose for herself. II she wants Il.
she'll say SO. am the sheriff. madam.
This gentleman Is the coroner. DIR.
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. I'm
sorry you came tonight in all this
blizzard"
He was staring as II fascinated at
the white, colorless face OF the woman
who with nervous fingers unfastened
the heavy coat that enveloped her
slender hgure. She was young and
etrikingIy beautiful. despite the In
tenee pallor that oyerspread her face.
Her dark. questioning. dreading eyes