The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-01-07

/ FA+-r-h@a"
Liberty theateF. Mr.. Ladiey had at
tackled Mr. Bronson with a chair anu
almost Drained him.
Eliza shaeffer went back to Horner
after delivering her chicks somewhere
/ In the city Things went on as before
The trial was set for May. The dis
trict attorneys office had all the things
we had found in the house that Mon
day afternoon-the stained towel. the
broken knife and its blade, the slipper
that had been floating in the partor
and the rope that had fastened my
boat to the staircase. Somewhere
wherever they keep such things-was
the headless body of a woman, with
hand missing. and with a curious scar
across the left breast. The slip OF
paper. however. which l had found
behind the Dashboard, was still in Mr.
IIolcombe's possession. nor had be
mentioned ii to the police.
Mr.. Holcombe had not come back.
He wrote me twice asking me 10 hold
his room. once from New York and
once from Chicago. To the second let
ter he added a postscript:
Have not found what I wanted but am
getting warm. If any news. address me
at Des Moines, Ia, general delivery II.
It was nearly the end of April when
I saw Ida again. l had seen by the
newspapers that she and her mother
were coming home. l wondered if she
had heard from Mr.. Howell, for | had
not. and | wondered. too, if she would
send for me again.
But she came herself. on foot, late
one afternoon. and. the school teacher
being cut. | took her into the parlor
| bedroom. She looked thinner than be-
fore and rather white. My heart aehed
for her.
Il have been away she explained
Il thought you might wonder why you
did not hear from me. But. you see.
my mother'-she stopped and flushed.
Il would have written YOU from Ber-
Inuda. but-my mother watched my
correspondence. SO could not"
No. | knew she could NOT. Alma had
once found letter of mine to Mr..
Pitman. Very little escaped Alma.
81 wondered if you have heard any
Ihin-" she asked.
I have heard nothing. Mr.. Howell
was here once just after | saw you.
! do not believe he is in the city.
Perhaps not, although-Mrs. Pit
man. | believe he is in the city, hid
mgr
Hiding. Whyi"
81 don't know. But last night I
thought ] saw him below my window.
1 opened the window, SO if it were he
he could make some sign. But he
moved on without word. Later. who
ever it was came back. Tput out my
/ light and watched Some one stood
there, in the shadow. until after 2 this
morning. Part of the time he was
looking up"
Don't you think, had it been he, he
would have spoken when he saw your,
She shook her head He is in trou-
bic" she said. lie has not heard
from me, and he-thinks | don't care
any more. Just look at me, Mrs. Pit.
man. Do look as if don't carer"
She looked half killed, poor lamb.
He may be out of town searching
for better position" tried to COM
fort her HE wants to have some
thing to offer more than HIMSELF
4 only want him. she said, looking
Mt me frankly. Il don't know why
tell you all this, but you are so kind.
and must talk to some one.'
She sat there in the cozy corner the
schoolteacher had made, with a por-
there and some cushions, and | saw she
was about ready to break down and
cry. | went over to her and took her
hand, for she WINS my own niece. al
though she didn't suspect 1t. and had
never had a child of my own
But, after all, | could not help her
much. l could only assure her that lie
would come back and explain every
thing and that he was all right and
that the last time l had seen him he
had spoken of her and had said she
was the best ever" My heart fairly
yearned over the girl. and l think she
felt it, for she kissed me shyly when
she was leaving.
With the newspaper files before me