The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-02

There's light burning in there still"
he said; 'you can see it beneath the
door. Better see if perhaps Mr.. Rip
ley hasn't fallen asleep over his work,
Martin. &. No-go ahead; I'll an
Swer this"
The doOrbCll had just rung. As the
aged negro sculiicd off toward the Ii
brary, Parr turned, opened the front
door, and admitted an urchin wearing
the livery of well-knOwn telegraph
company. This last delivered an
envelope addressed to Miss Patria
Claiming, pOcketed tip, and returned
to the street. Captain Parr cooked an
attentive ear toward the library while
the girl hastily scanned her telegram.
what nonsense! Captain Parr-will
you please look at thiS?'
He took the telegram from her quiv-
ering hand-and knitted annoyed
brows over it.
Newport, June 10, 1916.
Miss Patria Claiming.
East Tenth Street. y. Y. City.
Distracted. Why did you run away to-
night without explanation? Rodney fol-
low. by first morning train. Please wire
prompt denial. Rumors current here you
eloped with Captain Parr
AMELIA wRENN.
A smile. half-rucful. half of amuSe-
ment, replaced PARIS frown. He re-
turned the message. The girl impa-
| ticntly tore II up and committed its
offensive fragments to the floor.
She was startled by a cry throaty
with terror. Martin tottered out of the
] library door, his limbs trembling, his
! face ashen beneath its bronze.
"NIiss Patty! o Lawd, my
Lawd"
PARIS fingers closed imperatively up
on the servants wrist.
"What is It? What's happened? Stop
that bowling and tell us!'
ITS Mistuh Ripley daid in there
/.
Common impulse moved the two
young people toward the rear of the
hallway, but half way to the library
door Parr checked the girl.
"Spare yourself, Miss Claiming. Let
me go first and have q look around
please"
1t was a spacious chamber, soberly
If richly furnished in an Outaged mode
and dominated by massive chimney
piece of marble deliberately carved
Parr, however, only subconsciously reg
istered an impression of its character
His interest centered upon the body
of a gentleman of'advanced years that
occupied an ARMCHAIR at one end of the
table. And it needed no more than q
glance to assure him that the man was
dead beyond dispute.
His head and arms rested upon the
table. One hand still gripped an auto
matte pistol. Near his head rested an
overturned telephone instrument, the
) receiver dislodged He had been muir.
dered-shot down while telephoning
But he had not died so quickly as to lei
his assassin escape; he had lived long
enough to discharge his own weapon
with deadly effect.
Half dozen feet aside the corpse OF
the assassin law asprawl-in the cast
Of those dead features Parr read ire
futable confirmation Of his grimmest
suspicious; the assassin was-haC
been-a japanese.
, Turning on the servant sharply, Par
) stilled his lamentations with brusqu'
; command.
"Stop that horrible noise, Martin
: Do you wish Miss Claiming to heal
you? Now tell me: where cal
{ we put these bodies out of her sight?"
The negro designated the drawing
room which communicated with the Ii
brary by sliding doors; thither the!
, bore and there left the bodies. TheI
returning, Parr ordered the communi
eating doors closed, and for a momen
hesitated obviously examining a fa
sealed envelope which he had foun'
in the pocket of the dressing-gowl
worn by the ill-starred Mr.. Ripley.
1t was superseded in the firm, min
ute writing of a strong old hand: "Fo
Miss Parria Channing-Private & Con
fidential."
He returned to the hallway. At sigh
of his gravely troubled countenanc
Patrla rose quickly frop a chair an
came to him with an imploring ges
ture.
"Prepare yourself" he said, "you
guardian has been asSassinated-by
japanese. He left you this; perhaps
explains.
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
Ny Dear Ward: Tomorrow, you
| tUenty-frsr birthday, Will find you III
] last of 1.-THE Fighting ChanningS." O
| that day you will legally become you
| own mistress and win be relieved c
| the guardianship of yourself and YOU
| fortune-onc of the greatest fortune
\ in the United States if not in all tn
4 world.
! / write, rather than wait to con
municate what have to sly, because
live in the shadow of death. l ma
k not live to see you, personally TO a.
count to you for my stewardship
r may not live to see tomOrrOw'S dawl
Ny life is strangely menaced-even q
s your life may be when you have take
d over sole control of your inheritanc
your lands and estates. ChanninSS. lnt
l. that greatest of arms and ammun
a ,io,, ;pJuSrrioS putCiIn Epr,u1nv-aD