The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-09-20

death OF your father They are he as
sures me, of sufficient importance to
require your attention. You have
! heard Of Resilius Marvel?"
Il have read about him." was the
reply, shrinking and muffled.
IF you knew Mr. Marvel as | knew
him, you would trust to his earnest
desire to be always helpful" | con-
tinued He seeks only to protect the
family honor"
Stop" cried Miss Ludington sud
denly, sharply interrupting me. throw
ing aside her veil and presenting
colorless. defiant face. What do you
know-what does he know?"
Il, nothing" l stammered, fairly
abashed at the resolute challenge
he, everything, probably. From two
to four-you will see him?"
Il will see Mr.. Marvel" she said
slowly, and passed on her way.
She was adamant to every attack
l made to win one intimation, the
faintest clew as to what she and her
mother are holding back" Resilus
Marvel narrated to me the next morn
ing. This girl is spanning ten years
of her life with the agony, the resolve
of one: She IS under some terrific
stress, and there is some influence
that is holding these two women I'M
der a dreadful thrall"
She would tell you nothing?" I
asked
Until the last, absolutely nothing,
except to beg that l would not disturb
condition that only she and her
mother could remedy. She arose to
leave. Suddenly she fixed her eyes
upon me. l saw her studying me as
if to search me through and through.
l noted the flush of some impelling
force in her face. Mr.. Marvel she
said, you claim a wish to be helpful
to US, and l believe you. but this is a
case where help from your viewpoint,
instead of assisting US, might precipi-
tate a direful catastrophe But you
are said to be man who can find
where others fail, who from the
shadow can evolve a reality. You can
do something for us, imperative vital.
If you can inform US what we cannot
learn-the whereabouts Of a certain
Person-you will bring US nearer to
the light for the end
And the person." l inquired.
Resilius Marvel handed me a worn
/ photograph. 1t was that of a woman
loud Of dress. bold Of face wicked Of
eye. She had a certain wild beauty,
but her smile was that of one who
/ lures only to destroy. On the reverse
of the card were these words: Al
ways as uow-Idalia"
l wondered what was passing in the
mind of my friend at this new element
injected into the Ludington case. He
did not see fit to enHghten me He
called for me at the bank the next
. day
A witness is sometimes handy" he
observed and as We went spinning
along the boulevard south he briefly
told of his success in locating this
new woman in the case.
The name of the Photographer was
q guiding cIew,' he advised me. He
did not know Idalia but he knew a
friend OF hers an actress. From this
friend l learned the whereabouts Of
the original OF the picture. She is the
inmate Of the reformatory, on a sen
tence for robbery. We are going
there"
A woman clad in light blue cotton
uniform was called to US. after we had
reached the place in question She
came into the room where We awaited
her her eyes roaming everywhere in
an attempt TO surmise the motive Of
our visit. Promptly Marvel drew the
/ photograph Miss Ludiugton had sup
Piled him from his pocket.
Il have come to ask you a Ques-
ton, he said How long have you
known the man to whom you gave
this Photographic
In an instant the prison restraint. the
/ forced reserve Of discipline. all self
control went to the winds The wo-
man first attempted to wrest the pic
turc from the hand that held it to-
wards her to tear it to atoms Her
eyes g.ared like a tigers, her face
/ became distorted, she rayed, she
/ trembled from head to foot. she
poured out curses upon the man
memory Of whom the photograph had
evoked
Listen, she cried. Mark me,
1 swear 1.-THE day l am freed from
here be it when it may will kill
him"