The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-05-03
CHAPTER xvli-continued.


other note waiting for him. In a hand
writing that his heart recognized with
sensation of wretched apprehension.
He cOmprehended its. contents with
difficulty. half blinded by a swimming
mist Of foreboding.
My Dear: find my strength unequal
to the strain of seeing you tonight. In
deed, am SO worn out and nerve-racked
that have had to consult my physician
He orders me Immediately to sanato-
rium to rest for week or two. Don't
worry about me. I shan't fail to let you
know as soon as I feel strong enough to
see you. Forgive me. / love you dearly
MARY.
The paper slipped from Whitaker's
trembling hand and f1uttered unheed-
ed to the floor. He sprang to the tele-
phone and presently had the Waldorf
ON the wire; 1t 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 forwarding address for her
mail.
He wrote her Immediately, and per-
hapS not altogether wisely, unCer
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
cied 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
the 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."
"It's possible, but T."
"Oh. don't mean that foolishness
about her love being mans death
warrant. That may have something
to do with 1t, but-but-I conquered
that once. No; somebody has
got hold Of her, worked ON her SYM
pathieS, maligned me
"Do you object to telling me whom
you have In mind"
'"The man you suspect as we'll as T.
the one man to whom her allegiance
means everything-the man you named
70 me the night we met for the first
Slime. as the one who'd profit the most
by keeping her from leaving the
stageI"
"WeIl. If it's Max. you'll know In
time !.
'IlI know before long. AS soon as
he gets back in town" :
$50 you've been after him"
"Why not7 But he's out on the Pa
cific coast; or so they tell me at the =
theater. Expected back about the
middle Of July-they say In his Office" !
"Then that lets him out"
"But It's lie."
"WeIl-~
T've just remembered: Max was at q
the F'iske place, urging her to return,
the night before you caught Drum
mOnd at the bungalow. I saw them,
walking up and down In front of the a
cottage, arguing earnestly: l could II
tell by her bearing she was refusing
whatever he proposed. But 1 didn't q
know her then, and naturally I never r.
connected Max with the fellow / saw, n
disguised In q motoring coat and cap. b.
Neither of 'em had any place In my tC
thoughts that night"
Ember uttered a thoughtful "Oh?" tt
adding: "There may be something In A
whit you say-suspect, that Is. Ii l ce
,gree to keep an eye on him, will you al
promise to give me a free hand?"
'MeanIng-T hi
'Keep out of Max's way: don't risk tn
Wrangle with him." th
"Oh-go ahead-to blazes-as far
Is you like" le
"Thanks," Ember dryly wound up to
he conference; "but these passing i'll
irtations with your present-day tenn WI
er leave me with no laundering for
reater warmth" he
Days ran stoIldly on into weeks, and we
Iese into a month. Nothing happened. ed
az did not return; the whispered ru- mt
or played wildfire in theatrical cir Do
Is that the eccentric manager had
icountered financial difficulties insu- stii
'rable. The billbOards fanking the be
trance to the Theatre Max conrin- [
q to display posters announcing the pas
opening early in September with a $
uSical comedy by lyman Dodd: but exp
e comedy was not even in rehearsal we
: September 10. II
Ismber went darkly about his vari- "W,
Is businesses taciturn-even a trace -
-