East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-04-14


snatched something from the HOor while
Ave strangers peered into every absurd
nook and corner Of the two rooms and bath
which comprised the Widow 0Keefes top door
suit The object was a small snapshot Of June.
The deserted husband OF pretty June Warner was
at the hall door with bis hand reached out for the
knob and In another instant Ned Warner and June
would have been face TO facet In that instant the
Widow 0Keefe whipped the snapshot under her
apron. and the very swiftness Of the motion struck
into the corner Of Ned Warmers restless eyes. He
turned and be and the father Of June glanced at
each other There was something suspicious in the
bent and warped and wlthered Widow oKeefe and
her tall slip Of son. Ned came abruptly from the
door and renewed bis search. At that very moment
June, Just outside, had paused on the third step
from the bottom to retie the bow upon her saucy
little slipper and to give Il vigorous pat TO make
behave and stay In place
Slim young Sammy 0'Keefe walked to the win
dow, whlslllng and glanced out with an air OF great
Indifference On the other side Of the street stood
0hlcer Toole, and bis eyes roved anxiously from
window to window Of the narrow, dlngy slice OF
house which was the Widow oKeefe's. AT sight OF
sammy oIicer Toole pointed energetcally toward
the door He waved both arms and pointed toward
the doorway
Sammy then slipped quietly out Of the room
June! The lstless Sammy used the next quickest
method to wireless. With nolseess spring he
stradded the banster rail- whIzzed around the curve
and down to June, who was halfway up the stairs
jumped on with a footstep as light as feather
grabbed the asounded girl by the wrist and dragged
her down the steps at the risk Of both their neckA
sammy showed June into'the second floor hall closet
sammy locked the door aud stuck the Key In his
peeket and set the springs in his thin legs to work
and was sitting lazily on the top step. bored and
Cd and
Mrs. John Moore and Bobby and Iris Bethering
came out Bobby extremely detected and Iris ex-
planning yoully that II was all mistake. June
couldn't possibly have been here. But she must
have been after a because still, how could Il bel
June in the dark closet shut OF from all light and
sound stood bewildered, her eyes distended In the
darkness while Ned stood not two feet away from
her He had paused before that very door, as II
some delicate magnetism had caught and held MN
there No trace Of her anywhere; no trace OF Marie
the French Canadian maid with the high cheek
bones; no trace Of the mysterious black Vandyked
man. whom none OF them had cared to mention to
the Widow O'Keefe Gilbert Blye! Ned clIncbed his
fists. and his brow grew black as his mind Oiled
with the image Of that dark. handsome face with
its glowing eyes and suave smile. That Image nad
never been absent from Neds mind since the dis
appearance Of his beautiful bride.
Ned became aware OF the Widow Okeefe eylns
him from midway OF the stairs. She was fran
looking old woman with her gnared hands clasped
before her. bot her beady little eyes were as sharp
as the unexpected fires from dull jewels. and there
was not one move Of Neds party which escaped
her Sammy still whistng with oyernonchalance,
was 80 persstently not gazing at the closet door
that II was a wonder no one asked for the key
Were wasting our time,' finally said Iris Bleth.
ering. Were probably letting them get away"
And June's friend took her husband with her The
rest Of the party followed
Meanwhile Marie. disguised in the sufiOcatingly
tight black mourning outfit Of the Widow O'keefe,
was many blocks out Of the danger zone, smothering
in a telephone booth and calling up the place where
June had gone to work. Mrs Willard was not In,
her beautiful home up the Hudson, nor was Miss
June there They had gone into the city, but theI
maid gave Marie a telephone number, Mrs WllaTdI
answered that call from gorgeousy Furnished
room where half dozen stunnlngly gowned young
women sat smoking. and her kindly face showed Inn
mediate concern when she learned that June must
not come home to the Widow 0'keefes
"WhyT she naturally wanted to know
"well, you're friend Of hers, aren't your hesi
tated Marie.
"Of course" smiled Mrs Willard, and before her
rose the fresh young face Of pretty June
"Well then III tell you" Marie threw her thick
black veil over her shoulder for the twentieth time
and drop Of persplraton triekled down her nose
"Tm her maid Marie, and she mustn't come home"
"But she's already started" worried Mrs Willard
"she's probably there by this time. Why mustn't
she come homer
"Has she9p And the voice of Marie cracked. "Ohl
Goodbyi How am to get her away from there"'
wait mlnutew This seemed TO be no time for
asking questions an come down in my carr
"oh yes. dor gasped Marie, nearly pulling the
transmitter of the wall. "Goodby have to hurryF
"wait a minutel Wait, Marie Where am | to
comoP
"Oh, yesr And Marie guped "Ifs the Widow
OKoefe's at the corner Of Deshley street and Duck
alley, right across from Tim Csurky's saloon Any
policeman can tell you the place. Hurry" And
Merle starting another seam in the Widow o'Keefes
mourning dress, plunged out OF the telephone BOOTH
battling for air
Mrs. Willard stood at the phone moment, with
musing smI growing upon her lips; then she gave
the number Of a magnificent club The man whom