The Madison journal., 1914-04-11
CHAPTER I-Continued.

CHAb eH I-Contlnueo.
I'm not 30 sure of It," said the cor
oner, shaking his head. Il have
feeling that she isn't one Of the ordi-
nary type. It wouldn't surprise me u
she belongs to-well, you might say
lfhe upper ten Somebody's wife, don't
fou see. That Will make 1t rather diff
hcult, especially as her tracks have
pesn pretty well covered"
TT beats me, how she got away
Without leaving a single sign behind
Der" acknowledged the sheriff. She's
, wonder. that's all I've got to say"
u At that instant the door opened and
El1rs. WrandaIl appeared. She stopped
bhort, confronting the huddled group.
'&nry-eyed but as palfid as a ghost. Her
Byes were wide, apparently unseeing;
her colorless lips were parted in the
drawn rigidity that suggested but one
fhing to the professional man who
hooks: the "risis sardonicus" Of the
gtrychnae victim. With a low cry,
the doctor started forward, fully con-
Rfnced that she had swallowed the
headly drug.
FOR Gods sake. madam" he began.
But as he spoke her expression
changed; she seemed TO be aware OF
their presence for the first time. Her
ayes narrowed in a curious manner.
and the rigid lips seemed to surge
With blood, presenting the effect OF a
\ pueer, swiftfading smile that fingered
u long after her face was set and seri-
= pus.
4 Il neglected to raise the window, DR..
Bheef." she said in q low voice. 1T
was very cold in there" She shivered
slightly. viii you be 30 kind as to
tell me what am to do nowH What
tormalities remain for me"
The coroner WI at her side. Time
enough for that, Hrs. Wrandall The
nrst thing you are to do Is to take
something warm to drink. and pull
4 yourself together a bit"
She drew herself up co,dly. Il am
quite myself, DR.. Sheet. Pray do not
n1arm yourself on my account i shall
be obliged to you, however, II you will
tell me what am to do as speedily as
possible, and let me do It 30 that /
may leave this-this unhappy place
without delay. No! / mean 1t, sir.
I an going tonight-unless, Of course. "
she said. with a quick look at the sher-
Ia. the law stands in the way"
You are at liberty to come and go
- you please, Mrs. Wrandall." said the
sheriff, but 1t Is most foolhardy to
think Of"
Thank you, Mr.. Sheriff." she said,
for letting me go. l thought perhaps
here might be legal restraint" She
sent a swift glance over her shoulder.
and then spoke In a high, shrill voice,
Indicative of extreme dread and uneas-
lness:
-Close the door to that room!"
The door was standing wide open
3ust as she had left 1t. Startled, the
coroner's deputy sprang forward to
close 1t. Involuntarily. all of her lis
teners looked In the direction Of the
room, AZ II expecting to see the form
Of the murdered man advancing upor
them. The feeling. swiftly gone, wal
most uncanny.
"Close 1t from the inside" com
manded the coroner, with unmistaka
be emphasis. The man hesitated. ant
then did as he was ordered, but moi
without q curious look at the wife o.
the dead man. whose back was towart
him.
He viii not find anything disturbed
doctor." said she. dfvining his thought
81 had the feeling that something wal
creeping toward us out Of that room.
- You have every reason to be nerv
us. madam. The situation has beer
host extraordinary-most trying.
said the coroner. II beg Of you t
come downstairs, where we may at
A kend to q few necessary details with
out delay. 1t has been a most ia
tiguing matter for all Of US. Hour
without sleep. and such wretche'
weather"
They descended to the warm littl
reception room. She sent at once TO
the inn keeper. who came in and glow
cred at her as II she were wholly re
sponsible for the blight that had bee
put upon his place.
'Will you be good enough to sen
some one to the station with me 4
your depot vagonr~ she demande
without hesitation.
He stared. I'VE don't run a 'bu
In the winter time he said. grufhy.
She opened the little chatelaine ba
that hung from her wrist and abstrac
ed q card which she submitted to th
coroner.
You win find. Doctor Sheet, that tn
car my husband came mp here in b
longs to me- This is the card issue
by the state II Ii In my name. tn
factory number II there. You ma
compare It with the one on the ca
MY husband took the car without o'
taining my consent"
Joy riding" said Burton, with q
ugly laugh. Then he Quailed befoI
the look she gave him
IF no otha means Is offered. Do
tor Sheet. / shall ask you to let m
take the car. am perfectly capebl
of driving. I have driven It In th
country for two seasons. All ask
that some one be directed to 60 wit
Ime to the station. No! Better tina
that, II there is some one here who
willing to accompany me to the cit,
the shall be handsomely paid for goinl
krx A., A..x yS<<,> vv><rpo than IN y,fIoa