News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-12-06

! IlSIu. Anu Tie OVHer-E
"Martha's Vineyard. That's Ga!
head-the headland with the light
house. Off to the north Of 1t, tn,
Elizabeth islands. II we're lucky
Wen be at anchor off East Twenty
J fourth street by nine o'clock tomorrow
morning. Any Kick coming?"
"Not for me. You might better con
sult-my wife," said Whitaker with al
embarrassed laugh. "Look here: I've
told you how things were with us, In
brief; but I'm hanged If you've dis
gorged 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.
1T 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 sleuthing; traced
you as far as Sag Harbor. There I
lost you-and there borrowed this
outfit from a friend, an old-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 1 picked up 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 sug-
gestion that Whitaker be disturbed.
The note Ember handed him was brief,
but in Whitaker's sight eminently ade-
quate and compensating.
Dearest Boy: I won't let them wake
you, but must run away. It's early and
I must do some shopping before people
are about. My house here is closed; Mrs
Secratan iS in Maine with he mi kau
aside from those at Great West Bay; and
I'm positive fright in a coat and skirt
borrowed from the stewardess don't
want even you to see me until I'm decent
ly dressed. 1 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 serene and shining
face to the 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 hand |
writing that his heart recognized with |
a sensation of wretched apprehension. |
He cOmprehended it's contents with |
difficulty, half blinded by 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 have had to consult my physician. |
He orders me Immediately to a sanato-
rum, to rest for a week or two. Don't |
worry about me. I shant fail to let you
know as soon as I feel strong enough to |
see you. Forgive me. 1 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 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 baffled.
IF you ask me-" he commented at
the conclusion of his report, "the an
swer is she means to be let alone until
she's quite ready to see you again."
Whitaker ragged. "She-she loved
me there on the island. She couldn't
change SO quickly, bring herself to
treat me so cruelty, unless some in
fernal influence had been brought to
bear upon her."
Its possible, but I"
ooh, l don't mean that foolishness
about her love being a mans death
warrant. That may have something