News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-10-18

tablished fact that he is dead"
"You mean there's hope
"Theres doubt" Ember correcte,
acidly-"doubt at least, in my mind
! You see, l saw Drummond in the flesh
| alive and vigorous, good half hou
after he is reported to have leaped tt
his DEATH"
"Where?"
"Coming up the stairs from the
downtown subway station in front O.
the Park Avenue hotel. He wore
hat pulled down over his eyes and al
old overcoat buttoned tight up to his
chin. He was carrying satchel bear
ing the initials G. S. D., but was other
wise pretty thoroughly disguised, and
fancied, anxious enough to escan,
recognition"
You're positive about this?"
"The man was Carter S. Drummond
1 don't think | can he mistaken"
(Which way did he go?"
"Toward the Pennsylvania station. ]
fancy; that is, he turned west through
Thirty-third street. I 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
curous?'
"Very," said Ember dryly. "At the
same time, it was none of my affair
then. Nor did it present itself to me
as matter worth meddling with until,
later, my suspicious were aroused by
the scene in the Observation-Disclosures the
result of your appearance there-and
still later, when l heard the suicide re-
port"
"But-" Whitaker passed hand
across his dazed eyes. "What can it
mean? Why should he do this thing?"
There are several possible explana-
lions. . How long has Drum
mond known that you are alive?"
"Snce noon today"
MAY | 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 :"
sob, l don't think that" Whitaker
eXposruIated.
"N0r do 1. We're merely consider.
ing possible explanations. There's
third -
"Well?"
"He may have received 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
I'm not in the least superstitious,
my dear man. 1 don't, for an instant
believe, as some people claim to, that
Sara Law is 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 then?"
81 Think" said Ember slowly, his
gaze on the table. that someone with
a very strong interest in keeping the
young woman single-and on the
Max. Impossible!"
Ember shrugged. "In human nature
nc 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 a card-tiend. The tale of his plung-
ing runs like wildfre 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
would stave off bankruptcy.
And he's superstitious he believes she
s his mascot. l don't accuse him-I
suspect him, knowing him to be ca
)able of many weird extravagances.
Furthermore, it's fact that
Max was fellow-passenge with Billy
Hamilton when the latter disappeared
n midocean."
Ember paused and sat up, prepare
DRY to rising. "All of which," he con-
GUIDED, explains why 1 have tres
passed upon your patience and your
privacy. 1t seemed only right that you
should get the straight, undistorted |
story from an unprejudiced onlooker.
Nay 1 venture to add word of adj
7iceT
"By all means"
"Have you told Max Of your rela- |
ions with Sara Law?"
"No."
'Or anybody elseT
"No."
'Then keep the truth to yourself-at |
east until this coil is Strengthened
)ut."
Ember got up. "Good night" he |
said pleasantly.
Whitaker took his hand, staring. |
Good night" he echoed blankly. But |
Il say-why keep it quiet7"
Ember, turning to go, paused, his
,lance quietly quizzical. you don't |
mean to claim your wife?"
"On the contrary, l expect to offer |
10 defense to her action for divorce"
Grounds of desertionT
81 presume So"
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