Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-19

! DrummOnd; but I'd ike to know why
the deuce you couldn't let a fellow
know how i'll You Were"
That's so. And you never heard-r'
Merely a rumor ran round. More
than that nothing-until we heard that
| the Adventures had been lost, half a
| year later"
I'm sorry" said Whitaker contritely.
| 1T was thOughtless :"
But that isn't ALL" Drummond OBJ
! jected, fourishing another paper. "See
here Exhibit B-came In a day or 80
| later"
Yes" Whitaker recognized the
| document. Il remember insisting on
writing to you before we turned In
| that night"
He ran through the following COM
munication:
Dear Drummond: married here, to
night, Mary Ladislas. Please look out for
her while I'm away. Make her an allow
ance out OF my money-fve hundred a
| month ought to be enough. 1 shall die
intestate, and she'll get everything then.
of course. She has your address and will
communicate with you as soon as she
gets settled down in town. Faithfully,
Hugh Morten Whitaker
eff 1t hadn't been so much In char
acter," commented Drummond, 'rd've
thought the thing forgery-or a poor
joke. Knowing you as well as I did,
however I just sat back to wait
for word from Mrs. Whitaker"
"And you never heard, except that
once!" said Whitaker thoughtfully.
Here's the sole and only evidence
[ ever got to prove that you had told
the truth"
Drummond handed Whitaker a sim
gle, folded sheet Of note-paper stamped
with the name of the Waldorf-Astoria.
Dear Sir: I inclose herewith a bank
note for $500, which you will be kind
enough to credit to the estate of Your
late partner and my late husband, MI
Hugh Morten Whitaker
Very truly yours,
Mary LadisIas Whitaker
dated, you see, the day after the
report of your death was published
here"
But why?" demanded Whitaker,
dumfOunded. "Whyf"
Mrs. Whitaker may have desired to
marry again Immediately. If I'm any
Judge of human nature she argued
that repayment of the loan wiped out
every obligation. Feminine logic, per-
haps, but"
Whitaker nodded in somber abstrec-
ton.
you may not" continued Drum
mond with light malice, "have been
so generous, so considerate and
chivalric, after ALL
"Oh, cut that!" growled Whitaker,
unhappily, 81 never meant to come
back"
'Then why did youf"
"Oh [ don't know. Chiefly
because | caught Anne Presbury's
sharp eyes on me In Melbourne-as I
said a while ago. At the worst-if
what you suggest has really happened
its an Open-and-shut case; no ones
going to blame the woman; and ID
ought to be easy enough to secure a
separation or diyorce-"
You'd consent to thatf" inquired
DrummOnd intently.
tits the only decent thing I can
do"
Drummond laughed quietly. 'sIf
that's how you feel" he said, "T can
only give you one piece Of professional
advice"
whats that?"
Find your wife,"
After a moment Of puzzled thought,
Whitaker admitted ruefu.ly: you're
right. There's the rub
I'm afraid you won't find 1t an
easy job. did my best without uncov.
ering a trace Of her."
did you try old Thurlowf"
Her father died within eight weeks
from the time you ran away. He left
everything to charity, by the way.
Unforgiving Brighter"
"Well, there's her sister, Mrs. Petit"
Address," observed Drummond,
dryly: "the American Embassy, Ber-
Liz cult got some sort OF
minor diplomatic berth over there"
so the devil! But, anyway,
I can write"
He moved to q window and stared
rudely at the Post Office Building for
time. I'm going to find her just the
same-if she still lives" he announced,
turning back
would you know her if you saw
herr"
Il don't know" Whitaker fs.wned
with annoyance. "She's six years
older"
well, but what was she llke?"
Drummond pursued curiously.
Whitaker shook his head. "Its not
easy to remember. Matter of fact,
don't believe I ever got one good
square look at her. It was twilight
in the hotel when I found her; we
sat talking In absolute darkness, to-
ward the end; even In the minister's
sturdy there was only a green-shaded
lamp on the table; and On the train
we'll, we were both too much worked
up, I fancy, to pay much attention to
details"
Blonde or brunei"
81 swear I don't know. She wore
one Of those funny knitted caps, tight
down over her hair, all the time.'
Drummond laughed quietly.