The Forrest City times., 1914-03-20

tense pallor that overspread her face
Her dark, questioning, dreading eyes
looked up into his with an expression
he was never to forget 1t combined
dread horror, doubt and smoldering
anger that seemed to overcast all
other emotions that lay revealed tc
him.
This is a-what is commonly called
a road house," she asked DULY, her
eyes narrowing suddenly as If in pain
1T is an inn during the winter, Mrs
Wrandall, and road house in the
summer, If that makes it plain to you
will say however, that Burton has
always kept well within the law.
This Is the first er real bit OF
trouble he's had. and l won't say it's
his fault Keep quiet, Burton. No one
is accusing you OF anything wrong
Don't whine about 1t.
But my place is ruined" groaned
| the doleful one. It's got black eye
now. Not that blame you. madam,
| but you can see how"
He quaied before the steady look
in her eyes, and turned away mum
| bling.
There Is a fire in the reception
room, madam said the coroner; and
the proprietors wife to look out for
you if you should require anything.
| VIII you go in there and compose
yourself before going upstairs? Or,
| if you would prefer waiting until
H.
er-ordeal tonight"
Il prefer going up there tonight, /"
said she steadily.
The men looked at each other, and
the sheriff spoke. Mr.. Drake is quite
confident the-the man is your hus-
dali. We had no means OF Identifying
him until Drake came in this evening
out of curiosity YOU might say. For
your sake, | hope he is mistaken"
Would you mind telling me some
thing about it before | go upstairs?
am quite calm. am prepared for any
thing. You need not hesitate"
AS you wish, madam You will go
into the reception room if you please
Burton, is Mrs Wrandall's room quite
ready for her."
Il shall not stay here tonight" in
terposed Mrs Wrandall You need
not keep the room for me"
But, my dear Mrs. Wrandall-"
Il shall wait in the railway station
until morning if necessary. But not
here"
The coroner led the way to the cosy
little room off the office. She followed
with the sheriff The men looked worn
and haggard in the bright light that
met them, as if they had not known
sleep or rest for many hours.
The assistant district attorney was
here until eleven but went home to
get little rest. It's been hard case
for all of us-a nasty one" explained
the sheriff as he placed a chair in
front of the fire for her She sank into
it Imply.
Go on. please, she murmured, and
shook her head at the nervous little
woman who hustled up and inquired if
she could do anything to make her
more comfortable.
The sheriff cleared his throat Well
it happened last night. All day long
We've been trying to find out who he
is, and ever since eight o'clock this
morning we've been searching for the
woman who came here with him She
has disappeared as completely as if
swallowed by the earth Not sign
of a cleW not a shred There's moth
ing 10 show when she left the inn or
by Nha, means All We know is that
the door 10 that room up there was
standing half open when Burton
passed by it at seven o'clock this
morning that is to say. yesterday
morning for this is now Wednesday
1t is quito clear from this, that she
neglected TO close the door tightly
when she came out probably through
haste or fear and the draft in the hall
1 blew it wider open during the night
/ Burton says the inn Vae closed for
the night at half-past ten. He went
| to bed She must have slipped out
after everyone was sound asleep
| There were no other guests on that
/ floor, Burton and his wife sleep OF
this floor, and the servants are at the
top OF the house and in a wing. Nc
one heard a sound We have not the
remotcst idea when the thing hap
peued, or when she left the place DR.
Sheet says the man had been dead sil
or eight hours when he first saw him
and that was very soon after Burton!
discovery. Burton, on finding the doc
open, naturally suspected that hi.
guests had skipped out during thu
night to avoid paying the bill. and los
no time in entering the room.
He found the man lying on the bed
sprawled out, face upward and al
dead as mack should say. quit,
dead, He was partly dressed Hi
coat and vest hurg over the back o
a chair. A small service carvin,
knife, belonging to the inn. had beer
driven squarely into his heart and wa
found sticking there Burton say,
that the man, on their arrival at tn,
inn, about nine O'Clock at night. OF
|, Gered supper sent up to the room
| The tray OF dishes. with most OF IN