Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-09
CHAPTER XVII,
Disappearance.

isolated island. whitaker delayed
only long enough to place a bill, bOr-
rowed from Ember, on the kitchen
table, in payment for what provi-
sions they had consumed, and to ex-
tinguish the lamps and shut the door.
Ten minutes later he occupied a
chair beneath an awning on the after
deck Of the yacht and, with a blessed
cigar tuning in the grip of his teeth,
stared back to where their rock of ref
uge was swiftly blending into a small
dark blur upon the face of the waters.
''Ember,'' he demanded querulouslg,
"what the devil is that placer"
You didn't known Ember asked,
amused. at is No Mans Land"
I'm strong for it's sponsors in bap-
tism. And the other-?
"Martha's Vineyard. That's Gay
head-the headland with the light
house. Off to the north of it, the
Elizabeth islands. # we're lucky,
We'll be at anchor off East Twenty
fourth street by nine o'clock tomorrow
morning. Any kick coming?"
gult-my wife," said Whitaker with an
embarrassed laugh. Look here: I've
told you how things were with us, in
brief; but I'm hanged if you've dis
g0rged a single word of explanation
as to how you came to let DrUmmOnd
slip through your fingers, to say Moth
ing of how you managed to find u.s."
"He didn't slip through my fingers"
Ember retOrted. HE launched young
earthquake at my devoted head and
disappeared before the dust settled.
came to some time later with a gag
in my mouth, handouts on my wrists,
behind my back, and rope round my
legs. Midnight the following night,
the owner happened along and let me
| loose.
ut was easy enough to surmise
Drummond had some pal or other
working with him-I was slungshot-
ted from behind, while Drummond was
walking ahead. And two men had
worked in the kidnapping of Mrs.
Whitaker. So went sIeuthing; traced
you as far as Sag Harbor. There
lost yOu-anS there [ borrowed this
outfit from a friend, an 0ld-time client
of mine. We kept cruising, looking up
unlikely places. And, at that, we were
on the point of throwing up the sponge
| when | picked up a schooner that re-
ported signal fires ON No Mans Land.
l think that clears everything
up"
yes" said Whitaker sleepily.
And SO strong was his need OF sleep
that it was not until ten o'clock the
following morning, when the yacht lay
at her moOring in the East river, that
Ember succeeded in rousing him by
main strength and goodwill.
His wife had gone ashore an hour
ago, after refusing to listen to a sug-
gestiOn that Whitaker be disturbed
The note Ember handed him was brief,
but in Whitaker's sight eminently ade-
quate and compromising.
Dearest Boy: I won't let them wake
| you, but I must run away. It's early and
| L must do some shopping before people
| are about. My house here is closed; Mrs.
| Secretan is in Maine with the only keys
aside from those at Great West Bay; and
| I'm positive fright in coat and skirt
| borrowed from the stewardess. I don't
| want even you to see me until I'm decent
ly dressed. L shall put up at the Waldorf;
| come there tonight, and we will dine to-
gether. Every fiber of my being loves
you. MARY.
Whitaker took Sc. enc and shining
face to tho breakfast in the saloon,
under the eyes of Ember. Toward
noon they parted ashore, each taking
taxicab to his lodgings. The under
| standing was that they were to dine
| together-all three, Whitaker promis-
ing for his wife upon the morrow.
At six that evening, returning to his
| rooms to dress, Whitaker found an
| other note waiting for him, in a hand
| writing that his heart recognized with
a sensation of wretched apprehension.
| He cOmprehended its contents with
difficulty, half blinded by a swimming
mist of fOreboding.
My Dear: I find my strength unequal
| to the strain of seeing you tonight. In
| deed, L am SO worn out and nerVe-racked
| that 1 have had to consult my physician.
! He orders me Immediately to I sanato-
| rum, to rest for a week or two. Don't
| worry about me. 1 shan't fail to let you
| know as soon as I feel strong enough to
| see you. Forgive me. I love you dearly
] MARY.
The paper slipped from Whitaker's
! trembling hand and fluttered unheed-
ed to the floor. He sprang to the tele-
| phone and presently had the Waldorf
on the wire; it was true, he learned
Mrs. Whitaker had registered at the
! hotel in the morning, and had left at
| four IN the afternoon. He was refused
| information as to whether she had
left a forwarding address for her
| mail.
He wrote her Immediately and per-
haps not altogether wisely under
| stress of distraction, sending the let
ter by special delivery in care of the
| hotel. 1t was returned him in due
| course of time, embellished with a pen
| ciled memorandum to the effect that
Mrs. Whitaker had left no address.
He communicated at once with EN-
Der, promptly enlisting his willing
| services. But after several DAYS of
earnest investigation the detective
confessed himself baf1ed.
"If you ask me-" he commended Of