The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-06-11
Miss Schuyler New York. Have post
ed reward five hundred pounds.
"FOTHERINGILL."
CHAPTER VII.
Deeper Matters.

Deeper waters.
This message, so condensed that for
a moment Van Vechten believed 1t to
be in code, contained more than n
incomprehensible but non the less
pregnant item. The line OF perplexity
between his brows ~deepened, as he
, continued to stare at II, while Tom
looked on and idgeted with curiosity.
whirlpool" Van Vechten voiced
his mystiication-"seems to me I've
heard that name Defore-Pm sure l
have-but hanged If | can associate 1t
with anything definite. And who the
deuce is Fotheringill?"
He handed the slip OF paper over to
Tom. The items began to appear
slowly by degrees.
"Withypool-Withypool," he repeat
ed In an effort to spur his memory
where and when did | ever hear that
toned. Must be some town in Somer-
set"
And two ladies'" supplemented
Tom in mock admiration, answering
to the description of your cousin and
Mrs. Devereaux were there some time
in July. What a ripping Sherlock
Holmes you are!"
Van Vechten surveyed him with I'M
seeing eyes. After a moment
Say" he began with considerable
energy. Tom. if they were Paige
and 10, why should it be so difficult to
determine their identities positively?
Were they trying to hide? And if so,
from whom"
You can search me-" Tom offered
dispiritedly.
Van Vechten took the message and
pored over it again.
Five hundred pounds reward" he
groaned after a minute. Great
Scott, Tom! How luridly the papers
will blossom now, for the blessed
puzzle is fair game at last for them.
Who has authorized anyone to offer a
reward, I'd like to know? And what
two weeks in July were these two mys-
ferrous ladies at whirlpool? Am l to
infer that they and Mrs. and Miss
Schuyler are the same?-that Paige
and Joe sailed home incog the eighth
CT last month";"
. That's what it says" replied Tom.
in a way, yes. Bat this sheet Of de-
formed intelligence is more remark
able for what 1t does not say than for
what it says. Schuyler, you know,
was Mrs. Devereaux's maiden name"
Toms eyes opened. by George!"
he exclaimed wonderingly. 80 it
was!"
Well" tartly, does the circum-
stance suggest anything to you?"
But Tom merely stood silent a sec
ond wagging his head. mo. It's only a
little more muddling, is all l can make
of It,"
Here 1t Is the fifth of September"
Van Vechten's summarizing went on;
where, in heavens name, have they
been all this time? Where are they
now"
Moses and green spectacles, Rud-
dy!" burst forth Tom in desperation.
You'll give yourself a headache II you
keep on asking questions that nobody
can answer! Here-let's sit down at
this table and have something to
drink; maybe thatll help. You can
think things over, anyhow"
Van Vechten all of a sudden expert
enced a let-down from the high ten
sion under which he had been labor
ing ever since the cablegram's arrival,
and Immediately the drawn lines about
his mouth, and the restless shifting OF
his eyes, disclosed his growing bur
den of anxiety; even to Toms unob-
servant regard it was laid bare how
deeply the battling mystery-the un-
certainty of his cousins fate-had af-
fected his whole being.
STEADY, old man." Tom muir
INJURED alphabetically. airy a little
nerve tonic. Brace up
They sat down.
II don't want anything 20 drink, -
Van Vechten declined the offer, but
! will gladly smoke a big black cigar
Perhaps 1t will clear ava some of
the cobwebs."
Tom, ever a model of abstemious,
ness, contented himself with a milo
and ladylike thimble of curacao.
Then they took up the subject of the
cablegram again. Van Vechten fat,
tened he paper upon the table
propped his elbows at either end and
grasped his hair firmly with both
hands, the cigar smoke forming a blue
halo about his head. He gave himself
up to the serious business of inter
u-o%t.~ o-J .u~s-gr- fl
ing, unfathomable information from
overseas.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)