Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-20


again But i'm a few moments she regained
her self-control and told US her story.
took her to lunch. He came downtown to the
wholesale millinery store where she was
Of the trimIners. and on that gala day Miss
Ryan proudly went out for her noon meal
the arm OF Mr.. McCabe.
George was u nice looking chap and Mary
always thrilled with JOY when the other girls
saw him come for her He was steady
and dependable. On that ,partieulas day
some people at nearby table in the res
taurant sat and stared at him.
At first Mary had merely gloried in ,he
clean. good looks that always attracted such
favorable attention. Then her woman's jeai-
opsly stirred. for the girl who was watching
him had cheap and hashy prettiness and
she seemed much more Interested in George
than in the hard faced man at her side.
Fairfax. he said he didn't. but that was the
girl saw him with later. and he stared at
me as il he'd never seen me before"
Al five she left her place of employment and
hurried home. She stopped at a little neigh
she met George and the fiashy looking girl
she had seen in the restaurant. Her lover
he still wore his uniform and badge. She
stihed her quick impulse Of jealousy and
expressioniess eyes that had in them II"
trace of interest.
walked along next to that painted UP thing
and cut me dead. She took him by the arm
try to stop her. But whatever he did is her
fault. I'm sure. George is honest and love
hiin so. on. wont you find him for me. Mis-
teri
Here's his photograph" cried Mrs. Ryan;
looking. we'll set up young chap. which
cupied place OF honor on the mantel.
Mary had fallen to sobbing again and had
caughtyone of my hands and was holding 10
it as r she could not bear her unhappiness
without the warmth and comfort Of the help
she kept begging me to give her.
Suddenly I noticed Jimmy studying the
picture-then he asked Mary to lend it to
him. and she tcarfully consented. My first
DTOteSt-H10
that Jimmy Barton had n plan. What it was
night have heped mope ana had we
might all have escaped very torturing ex-
Miss Fairfax. won't you stay here with
your little fricnd?" asked Jimmy. I've a
plan. and think We'll get results from It
pretty quickly"
will you stay?" asked Mary eagerly
"If You don't hear from me by dark. como
10 the office" ordered Jimmy Barton rather
masterfully. Thanks for the Photograph
Then ne hurried and left me to puzzle
over the best way to help Mary Ryan endure
her long hours Of uncertainty.
Hours passed and there word from
Jimmy. | realized that Marys strained and
tortured nerves could no longer endure in
action. The only thing for us to do was to
get out in the fresh air and walk over to the
street on which she had met her lover and
the mysterious young woman whose part in
her life was SO puZZing.
Coincidence is very often kind. We wan
dered up and down for almost half an hour.
and just when Mary was beginning to yield
q
the corner and hurried on ahead of us. with
bold and staggering walk and manner
A second later Mary touched my arm des-
peratciy was not at all surprised when
she whispered. That's the grl-the very
girl
We hurried after the girl and watched her
vanish through door at our left.
We must go. too cried Mary.
knew that to follow her on our INSULT
cent evidence was sheer bravado. but who
can refuse tortured desperation when it
visions one chance in a thousand OF finding
relief?
The girl we were following had entered
aPartment on the first floor of the dark and
little brass sign pricked out in black letters.
IL read. DIR. Schuze." There seemed no
Ii folly in entering doctors office.
and turned the knob. 1t yielded. We entered
room which carried out the promise of the
sign on the door. 1T was distinctly doctors
Office OF the type one finds in poor neigh
borhoods. There were charts and diagrams
magazines. y great many shabby chairs
stood asSu ut the ar, room and the air was i'm
form and other medicines.
Mary had dropped her knees and was
p pc ,na through keyhole which gave view
girl we were following had gone.
Miss Fairfax. that girls in there and
they've got whole suitcase full Of money
she interrupted herself suddenly and cried
aloud with real joy vibrating through her
found YOU"
| turned and faced the young man to whom
she was speaking. For second his express
sion was one Of blank unrecognition Then
he laughed coldly and with cruelty which
did not attempt to disguise Itself
second later the door OF the inner room
burst open and in quick panorama !
the mysterious girl close the money filled
suitcase and realized that one OF the biggest
most brutal looking men had
was tairly learing into the room where Mary
and had so foolishly ventured.
He was followed by a man knew at once
must be the DIR. Schulze' Of the sign
the door. There was a levelled gun in the
Doctors hand. ! caught Mary's wrist and
other girl stood there smiling unpleasantly
that it produced the effect Of snarl
Mary Ryans letter had brought me into
strange company!
The big man caught Mary in his strong
arms and dragged her into the inner room
moment later the doctor and the man who
looked like Mary's missing sweetheart had
with strong ropes which held our bodies
manacled to chairs and quite helpless ! had
feeling that was trussed up like Christ
surprise had queer desire to laugh at the
absurd figure 1 knew l was cutting
/ wondered where Jimmy was-what the
end OF this whole absurd business was going
about her daughter, and. above all, what had
become Of George McCabc.
second later wonder gave way to dizzy
ing horror: The Doctor had walked over
to his medicine chest and took out q Jar and
glass retort. He poured some dark crys-
tails from the jar into the retort and then
moistened the crystals with a glass of water.
AT once dense cloud OF white vapor arose.
I saw through 1t face leering at mo with
almost satanic fury. Then the doctor" COW
cred his mouth and nose with his hand and
stranglng fumes that were filling my lungs
with choking vapor and binding my smart