Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-04-24
CHAPTER I-contInued.

m not so sure OF IL, SAID the cor
oner, shaking his head. IL have
feeling that she isn't one of the ordi-
nary type. 1t wouldn't surprise me II
she belongs lowell, you might say
the upper ten. Somebody's wife, don't
you see. That will make it rather diff
ficult, especially as her tracks have
been pretty well covered"
TT beats me, how she got away
without leaving a single sign behind
her." acknowledged the sheriff. shes
wonder, that's all I've get to say"
At that instant the door opened and
Mrs. Wrandall appeared. She stopped
short, confronting the huddled group,
dry-eyed but as pallid as a ghost. Her
eyes were wide, apparently unseeing;
her colorless lips were parted in the
drawn rightly that suggested but one
thing to the professional man who
looks: the "risis sardonicus" of the
strychnae victim. With low cry,
the doctor started forward, fully con-
WINGED that she had swallowed the
deadly 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
eyes narrowed in a curious manner,
and the rigid lips seemed to surge
with blood, presenting the effect of a
queer, swift-fading smile that fingered
long after her face was set and seri-
Gus.
Il neglected to raise the window, DR..
Sheet" she said in a low voice. ut
was very cold in there" She shivered
slightly. will you be so kind as to
tell me what l am to do now? What
formalities remain for me"
The coroner was at her side. Time
enough for that, Mrs. Wrandall. The
first thing you are to do is to take
something warm to drink, and pull
yourself together a bit"
She drew herself up coldly. 81 am
quite myself, DR.. Sheet Pray do not
alarm yourself on my account. l shall
be obliged to you, however, if you will
tell me what | am to do as speedily as
possible, and let me do it so that l
may leave this-this unhappy place
without delay. No! I mean it, sir.
am going tonight-unless, of course"
she said, with quick look at the sher-
iff, "the law stands in the way"
You are at liberty to come and 90
as you please, Mrs. Wrandall," said the
sheriff, "but it is most foolhardy to
think Of"
Thank you, Mr.. Sheriff." she said,
for letting me go. l thought perhaps
there might be legal restraint" She
sent swift glance over her shoulder,
and then spoke in a high, shrill voice,
indicative of extreme dread and uneas-
mess:
Close the door to that room"
The door was standing wide open,
just as she had left it. Startled, the
coroner's deputy sprang forward to
close it. lnvoluntarily, all of her lis
teners looked in the direction of the
room, as if expecting to see the form
of the murdered man advancing upon
them. The feeling, swiftly gone, was
most unCanny.
Close it from the inside" COM
manded the coroner, with unmistaka
BILE emphasis. The man hesitated, and
then did as he was ordered, but not
without a curious look at the wife of
the dead man, whose back was toward
him.
He will not find anything disturbed,
doctor" said she, divining his thought
Il had the feeling that something was
creeping toward us out of that room"
You have every reason to be nerv-
JUS, madam. The situation has been
most Xtraordinary-most trying"
said the saroner. Il beg of you to
come dc Sastairs, where we may at
tend to few necessary details with
out delay. 1t has been most ia
tiguing matter for all of US, Hours
without sleep, and such wretched
weather"
They descended to the warm little
reception room. She sent at once for
the inn keeper, who came in and glow
cred at her as if she were wholly re-
sponsible for the blight that had been
put upon his place.
will you be good enough to send
some one 10 the station with me In
your depot wagon?" she demanded
without hesitation.
He stared. I'VE don't run bus
in the winter time" he said, grufhy.
She opened the little chatelaine bag
that hung from her wrist and abstract
ed card which she submitted to the
coroner.
you will find, Doctor Sheet, that the
car my husband came up here in be-
longs to me. This is the card issued
by the state. 1t is in my name. The
factory number is there. You may
compare it with the one on the car.
My husband took the car without OBJ.
tanning my consent"
"Joy riding" said Burton, with an
,sgly laugh. Then he quailed before
eae look she gave him.
IF no other means is offered, Doc.
Cor Sheet, | shall ask you to let me
bake the car. | am perfectly capable
of driving. I have driven it in the
country for two seasons. All | ask is