Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-04

have engaged a room for you at the
inn. Mrs. Wrandall. You did not bring
q maid, see. My wife will come
over from our place to stay with You
II you"
She shook her head. Thank you.
Mr.. Drake. It will not be necessary.
I 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. "No 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. II
must see. ] must know. The sus-
pense-" She did not complete the
sentence, but hurried past him to the
door, throwing 1t open and bending
her body to the gust that burst in upon
them. I
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
q 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 so
far away and yet were close at hand.
rs that the inn?" she asked as he
swerved from the road few moments
later.
Eyes. Mrs. wrandall. We're here"
Isis 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. Il will join you in jitfy."
She walked between the two men
into the feebly lighted office Of the
inn. The keeper Of the place, a dreary
looking person with dread in his eyes.
hurried forward. She stopped. stock
still Some one was brushing the
stubborn, thickly caked snow rom 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 it away from her face. Then
she took in the rather bare, cherries
room with slow, puzzled sweep Of
her eyes.
mo, thank YOU" she replied.
TT won't be any trouble, madam"
urged the other. Its right here. The
sheriff Gays it's all right to serve it.
although it is after hours. run a 4
respectable. law-abiding house. II
wouldn't think Of offering 1t to any
one II it was In violation"
Never mind, Burton" interposed a i
big man, approaching. Let the lady
choose for herself. II she wants it,
she'll say so. i am the sheriff, madam.
This gentleman is the coroner, DR..
Sheet. We waited up for you after
Mr.. Drake said you'd got the fast train
to stop for you. Tomorrow morning
would have done quite as we'll. 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 heavysgcoat that enveloped her
slender figure. She was young and
strikingly beautiful. despite the IN
tense pallor that overspread her face.
Her dark. questioning. dreading eyes
looked up into his with m expression !
he was never to forget, It combined
dread, horror, doubt and . smoldering
pnger that seemed TO overcast all
other ssnotious thAk by revealed to
him. ~.
"This Is a--what ID commonly called
. road house'7~ she asked duly, her
eyes narrowing suddenly - IL in pain.
1T is an inn during the winter. Mrs.
Wrandall. and q road house in the
summer. II that makes II plain to you.
will say, however. that Burton has
always kept well within the Law.
This 10 the nrst er real bit Of
trouble he's had, ant won't cay rs
his fauit. Keep quiet Burton. No one
il accusing you Of anything wrong
Don't whine about 1t. )"
But my place 10 ruined" groaned
the doleful one ITS got black eye
how Not that blame you, madam.
but you can SEQ how"
He Quailed before the steady look
IA her eyes. ana turned away mum
bling.
"There = . llro - IL focepeion
room. madam !" said u ocseoar::- -a.A