The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-14

snatched something from the floor While
Eve strangers peered into every absurd
nook and corner OF the two rooms and bath
hich comprised the Widow oKecfes top floor
suit. The object a small snapshot or June
The deserted husband Of pretty June Warner was
at the hall door with his hand reached out for the
knob. and In smother instant Ned Warner and June
would have been face 10 facet In that instant the
Widow OKeefe whipped the snapshot under her
apron, and the very swiftness OF the motion struck
INTO the corner Of Ned Warmers restless eyes. He
;urned ard be and the father Of June glanced u
@ach other There was something suspicious H. tn.
eeat and warped and wthered Widow O'keete and
ser tail slip Of a Ned came abruptly from the
deer and renewed his search AT that very moment
Iaae Just outside. had paused on the third step
rem the bottom to retie the bow upon her saucy
flse slipper and TO give II vigorous pat to make
behave and stay In place
Si.ur Young Sammy OKeefe walked to the win
35v wlistinS and glanced ont with an air of great
Indifference. on the other side Of the street stood
tfficcr Tuolp and his eyes roved anxiousy from
window 10 window Of the narrow. dingy slice of u
ao,l>e " hch was the Widow Okeefes, Al sight OF
sammy Ohcer Tooe pointed energeucaiy toward
lie door lie waved both and pointed toward
lie doorway.
sammy then slipped quietly ont Of the room
June The listleSs Sammy used the next quickest
method to wireless. With noiseess spring he
.traddIed the baniser rail whizzed around the curve
md down to June who halfway ~ the stairs
ium} I'd on with footstep as light as feather
grabbed the aStounded girl by the wrist and dragged
her down the steps at the risk OF both their necks
sammy showed June into the second floor hail closet
sammy locked the door and stuck the key in his
pocket aud the springs In his thin legs to work
aud was sitting azly on the top step, bored aud
whiStling softly, when Ned Warner aud Mr.. and
Mrs John Moore and Bobby and Iris Bletheriug
anne out Bobby extremely detected and Iris ex-
n1aiung yolubly that it all mistake. June
soudn't possibly have been here. Bat she must
aaee teen, after ALL because Still how could IT be:
June Ia the dark closet shut of from all light and
.ound, stond hewidered, her eyes distended in the
Igrkness While Ned stood two feet away from
aer. He had paused before that very door, az II
ONE delicate magnetism had caught and held him
here No trace of her any where: trace OF Marie,
lie French anadian maid with the high cheek
ones: no Of the mysterious black Nandy ked
nan whom Of them had cared to mention to
he Widow O'keefe. Gilbert Blye. Ned ciinched his
sta and his brow grew black as his mind hsied
With the image OF that dark, handsome face with
Is glowing eyes and suave smile. That image had
never been absent from Neds mind since the dis
appearance of his beautiful bride thousand times
hat succession Of incidents bad flashed upon MS
memory with vivid clearness-June asleep in the
tsuIimsn drawing their honeymoon trip,
while he up forward, happily smoked: the finding
ser gone after the train had left Tarnyllle the dis
.overy that she had been helped by the black Van
lyked man 10 board local headed to New YORK;
Nedts chase after them IN express train, and his
rain pulling alongside them In the approach to the
rand Central station; the sight. through the win
4oYs OF the parallel cars, OF that snafe stranger
ending over June with his internal smile. and her
milling up at him. Bye following June taxi in
mother from tie station, and Neds frultess pursuit
y third In xxi; the chase to Brynport that same
sighf. when June had stolen her clothes and Marie,
he return chase. where Ned had seen June and Ma
ie step into Blye's luxurious limousine and whrI
twaw with him Every here that Ned he'd found
trace OF June he had found trace Gilbert
istse and he wished to live for one thng~to meet
bye face face and with his bare. hands strange
hat scoundrel TO death,
Ned became aware Of the Widow 0Keefe eying
tira from midway OF the stairs. She frail
booking old woman, with her gnarled hands c!asped
6efore her but her beady hide eyes were as sharp
as the unexpected fires from duh jewels and there
,yas not one NEE Of Neds party which escaped
her sammy stI whisrng with overnonchalance,
vas SO persistent.y gazing at the closet door
bat it was wonder one ID for the key.
Were wasting time, finally said Irts Beth-
arin2 Were probably letting them get away
md June's friend took bet husband with her. The
est Of the party followed
Meanwhile Marie disguised in the suroeatlpgiy
ight black mourning outfit Of the Widow heete.
mans blocks out Of the danger zone. smothering
q 3 telephone booth and calling up the place where
tune had gone work Mrs. Willard was not In
her beautiful home up the Hudson, Miss
tune there. They had gone into the city, but the
maid gave Marie telephone number Mrs Willard
answered that call from gorgeously furnished
oorn where half dozen stununcty gowned young
women smoking. and her kindly face showed inl-
mediate concern when she learned that June must
not come home to the Widow OI<eefes.
"Whyt' she naturally wanted to know.
Well. you're friend OF hers sren't youf' hest
ated Marie
"0f course smiled Mrs. Willard, and before her
oee the fresh young face of pretty June,
We'll then I'll tell you" Marie threw Der thick
slack veil her shoulder for the twentieth time,
md drop of Precipitation trickIed down her nose.
I'm her maid Marie. and she mustn't come home "
But She's already started" worried Mrs, Willard.
She's probab bly, there by this time. Why mustn't
she home