The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-09-07

He had accomplished much. working
as mole works, in the dark. Could
he not accomplish more by declaring
himself; could he not by one bold
stroke lay bare the heart of the mys-
terry?
Seating himself again at his desk,
he took the telephone receiver from
it's hook and called up Anita Lawton
at her home-not upon the private
wire he had had installed for her, but
on the regular house wire.
"Oh, Mr.. Blaine, what Is it! Hav>
you found him? Have you news for
me of Ramona" Her voice, faint and
high-pitched with the hideous sus-
pense Of the days just past, came to
him tremulous with eagerness and an
abiding hope.
mo, Miss Lawton, / am sorry to
say that l have not yet found Mr..
Hamilton, but / have definite informa-
ton that he still lives, at least" he
returned 81 hope that in a few days,
at most, may bring him to you"
Thank heaven for that!" she re-
sponded fervently. Il have tried so
hard to believe, to have faith that he
will be restored to me, and yet the
hideous doubt will return again.
These days and nights have been one
long, ceaseless torture!'
you have taken my advice in re-
gard to receiving your visitors?"
"Oh, yes, Mr. Blaine. My three
guardians have been unremitting in
their attentions, particularly Mr..
Rockamore, who calls daily. He has
just left me-"
Miss Lawton, have decided that
the time has come for us to declare
ourselves openly-not in regard to the
mystery of your fathers insolvency,
but concerning the disappearance OF
Ramon Hamilton. l want you to call
his mother up on the telephone as
soon as ring off, and tell her that you
have resolved to retain me, on your
account, to find him for you. Should
she put forward any objections, over
rule her and refuse to listen. | will
be with you in any hour. In the mean
time, should anyone call, you may tell
them that you have just retained me
to investigate the disappearance of
everyone; the more publicity we give
to that fact the better. The moment
has arrived for us to carry war into
the enemy's camp, and | know that
we shall win! Keep up your courage,
Miss Lawton! We're done with ma
neuvering now. You've borne up
bravely, but | believe your period of
suspense, in regard to many things,
is past. Before this day is done, they
will know that we are in this fight to
the finish--and to fight to win"
Henry Blaine was allowed scant op-
portunity for reflection. in the hour
which interviewed between his tele-
phone message to Anita and the time
of his appointment with her. Scarce
ly had he hung up the receiver once
more when his secretary announced
the arrival Of Fifine Dechaussee.
Had not Blaine been already aware
of her success with Paddington, as the
scene in the park an evening or two
previously denoted, he would have
been instantly apprised by her manner
that something OF vital import had oc-
Cured There was an indefinable
CnanSe, SuDlle lnela1nOTpnOSlS,
which was conveyed even in her ap-
pearance. Her delicate, Madonna-like
face had lost its waX-like pallor and
was flushed with faint, exquisite
rose; the wooden, slightly vacant ex-
preston was gone; she walked with
a handsome, conscious grace which he
had not before observed, and the slow,
enigmatic smile with which she greet
ed him held much that was significant
behind it.
you did not keep your appointment
with me yesterday-why, mademo-
iselle?" asked Blaine, quietly.
Because it was impossible, m'sieu,"
she returned. II could not get away.
Madame--the wife of M'sieu Franklin
would not allow me to leave the chill
dren. This is the first opportunity l
have had to come"
And what have you to report?" he
asked, watching her narrowly.
She shrugged her shoulders.