The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-14

may be wrong. Still, the coroner-and
the sheriff-seemed to think you
should be notified might say Ques-
toned. That is why l called you up.
l trust, madam, that l am mistaken"
YES" she said shrilly, betraying the
intensity of her emotion. 1t was as
If she lacked the power to utter more
than q single word, which signified
neither acquieecence nor approval
He was i'll at ease, distressed. II
have engaged a room for you at the
inn, Mrs. Wrandall. You did not bring
maid, l see. My wife will come
over from our place to stay with you
If you"
She shook her head. Thank you,
Mr.. Drake. 1t will not be necessary.
l came alone by choice. 1 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? l am-well.
! you must see that 1 am suffering. l
must see, l 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 to the automobile that stood in
the lee of the building
| Disdaining his command to enter
the tonneau, she stood beside the car
and waited until he cranked it 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 stranger to 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: "1t comes In like
a 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 it?'
she gave no sign, but sat hunched for
ward, peering ahead through the snow
at the blurred lights that seemed sc
far away and yet were close at hand
els that the inn?" she asked as he
swerved from the road 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 mon dashed out from the
doorway and clumsily assisted hel
from the car.
Go right in, Mrs. Wrandall," sais
Drake. Il will join you in q jiffy."
She walked between the two mel
into the feebly lighted Office OF TIT
inn. The keeper Of the place. a drear.
looking person with dread in his eyes
hurried forward She stopped, stool
tstill. Some one was brushing tn
, stubborn, thickly caked snow from he
| long chinch1lla coat.
you must let me get you some
l thing hot to drink. madam" the land
lord was saying dolorously.
She struggled with her veil. hnal1
) tearing it away from her face. The
t she took in the rather bare, cherries
/. room with a slow. puzzled sweep Q
8 her eyes
mo. thank you" she replied.
Q ct won't be any trouble, madam,
: urged the other. ITS right here. TIL
u sheriff says It's all right to serve i
although it is after hours. / run
respectable, law-abiding house.
wouldn't think of Offering it to an!
one If it was in violation"
i Never mind, Burton" interposed
big man, approaching. Let the lad
choose for herself. II she wants /
Il she'll say SO. l am the sheriff, MADAM
I This gentleman is the coroner, D
Sheet. We waited up for you afte
4 Mr.. Drake said you'd got the fast trai
/ to stop for you. Tomorrow mornin
would have done quite as well. II
sorry you came tonight in all tn
4 blizzard"
He was staring as If fascinated !,
the white, colorless face Of the woma
| who with nervous fingers unfastene
| the heavy coat that enveloped hi
/ slender figure. She was young an
j strikingly beautiful, despite tho Il
/ tense pallor that overspread her fac
h Her dark, questioning, dread1ng cyl
" looked up into his with an express1o
| he was never to forget. It combine
dread. horror. doubt and a smolderin
anger that seemed to overcast q
other emotions that lay revealed
" him
y This is a-what Is commonly Gale
J. road house'?" she asked DULY, ht
e eyes narrowing suddenly as If in pal
n ut is an inn during the winter, Mr.
Wrandall, and a road house In tt
=. summer. If that makes it plain to 20
e. I will say, however, that Burton hs
always kept well within the la'
e. This is the first - er - real bit
r trouble he's had, and l won't Say 1t
,e his fault Keep quiet, Burton. No OF
is accusing you of anything wron
8, Don't whine about It"