Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-26

N1ONued, AO one ldu nodrQ the report
of the shot, and no one was seen car
rying rife. The conclusion was that
he had been shot by somebody using a
gun with Maxim silencer, from a
window on the south side of the
square. There were no clues
and now Drummond ~ Whitaker
exclaimed in horror. Poor fellowI
Poor wOman!'
A slightly sardonic expression modi-
fed the lines of Ember's mouth. $50
far as Mrs. Whitaker is concerned"
he said with the somewhat pedantic
mode of speech which Whitaker was to
learn to associate with his moments of
most serious concentratfon-"I echo
the sentiment. But let US suspend
Judgment on Drummond's case until
we know more. It is not as yet an es-
tablShed fact that he is dead"
You mean there's hope"
There's doubt" Ember corrected
acidly-"doubt, at least, In my mind.
You see, [ saw Drummond In the flesh,
alive and vigorous, a good half hour
after he is reported to have leaped to
his death"
"Where?"
Coming up the stairs from the
downtown subway station IN front of
the Park Avenue hOt.l. He wore a
hat pulled down over his eyes and an
old overceat buttoned tight up to his
chin. He was carrying a satcheI bear
ing the initials G. S. D., but was other
wise pretty thoroughly disguised, and,
| fancied anxious enough to escape
recognition"
You're positive about this?'
1.-THE man was Carter S. Drummond
l don't think | can be mistaken"
(Which way did he go?"
Toward the PENNSYLVANIA station, I
fancy; that is, he turned west through
Thirty-third street. l didn't follow
was getting into taxi when I caught
sight of him.
But what did you think to see him
disguised? Didn't it strike you as
curiOus?'
Very" said Ember dryly. "At the
same time, it was none of my affair
then. Nor did it present itself to me
rs a matter worth meddling with until,
later, my suspicious were aroused by
the scene in the theater-obviously the
result of your appearance there-and
still later, when heard the suicide re-
port"
But" Whitaker passed a hand
across his daZed ewes. "What can it
mean? Why should he do this thingT''
There are several possible explana-
tons. How long has Drum
mond known that you are alive?"
"Since noon today"
MAY I ask, what was the extent Of
your property in his trust?"
"A couple of hundred thousands"
sand he believed you dead and was
unable to find your widow -
ooh, don't think thatr Whitaker
expostulated.
''NOr do I. We're merely consider
ing possible explanations. There's a
third :"
"WellY
'He may have received q strong hint
that he was nominated for the fate
that overlook young Custer, Hamilton
and ThurstOn; and so planned to give
his disappearance the color of a SINH
lar end
"YOu don't mean to say you think
there was any method in that train of
tragedies?"
I'm not in the least superstitious,
my dear man. / don't for an instant
believe, as some people claim to, that
Sara Law is a destroying angel, hound
ed by a tragic fate: that her love is
equivalent to the death warrant of
the man who wins it."
"But what do you think, thenw
81 think" said Ember slowly, his
gaze on the table, that someone with
q very strong interest in keeping the
young woman sfngle-and on the
stage"
Max ImpOssible!"
Ember shrugged "In human nature
no madness is impossible. There's not
shred OF evidence against Jules Max.
And yet-he's a gambler All theatre
cal managers are, of course; but Max
is card-fend. The tale of his plung-
ing runs like Wildfire up and down
Broadway, day by day. A dozen times
he's been on the verge Of ruin, yet
always he has had Sara Law to rely
upon; always he's been able to fall
back upon that asset, sure that her
popularity would stave off bankruptcy.
And he's superstitious he believes she
is his mascot. | don't accuse him-I
suspect him, knowing him to be ca
pable of many weird extravagances.
Furthermore, it's a fact that
Max was a fellOw-passenge with Billy
Hamilton when the latter disappeared
in midocean."
Ember paused and sat up, prepare
tory to rising. "AII of which," he con-
Guided, explains why l have tres
passed upon your patience and your
privacy. 1t seemed only right that you
should get the straight, undistorted
story from an unprecedented onlooker.
May I venture to add q word of ad-
Weep
"By all means"
Have you told Max of your rela.
tons with Sara Law?'
'No."
"Or anybody e1seT"
"No."
'Then keep the truth to yourself-at