Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-04-09

| looked up into his with an expression
he was never to forget. 1t combined
dread, horror, doubt and smolderinf
anger thas seemed to- overcast al
other emotions that lay revealed tt
him.
I This is a-what is commonly called
a road house'?' she asked duly, hel
eyes narrowing suddenly as II in pain
1T is an inn during the winter, Mrs
! Wrandall, and a 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 OIL
trouble he's had, and won't say it's
his fault. Keep quiet, Burton. No one
is accusing you Of anything wrong
Don't whine about it,"
But my place is ruined, groaned
the doleful one. TITS got a black eye
now Not that blame you, madam
| but you can see how"
He quailed before the steady look
in her eyes, and turned away mum
bling.
There is fire in the reception
room, madam" said the coroner; and
the proprietors wife to look out for
| you If you should require anything
Will you go in there and compose
yourself before going upstairs? Or
liz you would prefer waiting until
morning. I shall not insist on the
er--ordeal tonight"
4 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 bus.
band. It's an ugly affair, Mrs. Wran.
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 1t 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. WrandalFs room quite
ready for herr"
Il shall not stay here tonight" in
Iterposed Mrs. Wrandail 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 II
she could do anything to make he'll
more comfortable.
The sheriff cleared his throat. We'll
| 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 II
swallowed by the earth. Not sign
of clew-not a shred There's moth
ing to show when she left the inn OF
by what means. All we know is that
| the door to that room up there was
standing half open when Burton
passed by it at seven o'clock thie
morning that is to say, yesterday
morning, for this is now Wednesday
1t Is quite 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 hal
blew it wider open during the night
Burton says the inn was closed fol
the night at half-past ten. He wen
to bed. She must have slipped GU
after everyone was sound asleep
There were no other guests on tina
floor. Burton and his wife sleep OF
this floor, and the servants are at tn,
top Of the house and in wing. NJ
one heard sound. We have not tn,
remotest idea when the thing hap
| pened, or when she left the place DR.
Sheet says the man had been dead 81,
or eight hours when ne first saw him
and that was very soon after Burtoni
discovery. Burton, on finding the doc
open, naturally suspected that hi.
guests had skipped out during tn,
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 a,
dead as mack should say, quit,
dead. He was partly dressed. Hi
coat and vest hung over the back o
a chair A small service carvin,
knife, belonging to the inn, had beer
driven squareiy into his heart and wa.
found sticking there. Burton says
that the man. on their arrival at tn,
inn, about aine o'clock at night, or
dered supper sent up to the room
The tray OF dishes, with most Of tn,
food untouched, and an empty cham