Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-03-31
I THE 1
| DESTROYING
N ANGEL 0|
- By #
H LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE III
CHAPTER xVlI-Continued.

otber note waiting for him, in hand
writing that his heart recognized with
O sensatfon of wretched apprehension.
He comprehended its contents with
difficulty. half blinded by swimming
mist of foreboding.
Nv Dear: I find my strength unequal
"a the strain of seeing you tonight. In
deed I am so worn out and nerve-racked
that have had to consult my physician.
us orders me Immediately to a sanato-
rum to rest for a week or two Don't
worry about me [ shan't fail to let you
know as soon as / feel strong enough to
see you. Forgive me. I love you dearly.
MARY.
The paper slipped from Whitaker's
trembling hand and futtered unheed-
ed 10 the floor. He sprang to the teIe-
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 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.
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, 1.-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 T.
"Oh, l don't mean that foollshness
about her love being a mans death
warrant. That may have something
10 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 well as T.
the one man to whom her allegiance
means everything-the man you named
70 me the night we met for the first
time, as the one who'd profit the most
by keeping her from leaving the
stagew
well, if it's Max, you'll know in
time"
IN know before long. AS soon as
he gets back in town"
so you've been after him?"
why not? But he's out on the Pa
cihc coast; or so they tell me at the
theater. Expected back about the
middle of JuIy-they say in his Office"
Then that let's him out"
But it's a lie"
"Weu-T
I've just remembered: Max was at
the Flske place, urging her to return,
'Ae night before you caught Drum
mond at the bungalow. I saw them,
walking up and down in front of the
cottage arguing earnestly: 1 could
ven by her bearing she was refusing
whatever he proposed. But l didn't
@noW her then, and naturally l never
connected Max with the fellow 1 saw,
disguised in motoring coat and cap.
Neither of 'em had any place in my
thoughts that night"
timber uttered a thoughtful "OhT
auulng: There may be something In
Nat you say-suspect, that is. If /
agree to keep an eye on him, will you
promise to give me a free hand?"
"Meaning-Y
neep out of Max's way: don't risk
Wrangle with him"
-Ph-gO ahead-to blazes-as far
as You HE"
Thanks" Enber dryly wound up
.le conference: "but these passing
'iFtauons with your present-day tenn
N4S win BO HduhEEAuS lOI
greater warmth"
Days ran stolidly on into weeks, end
c'eSe into month. Nothing happened.
''d1 did not return; the whispered ru-
NOR played Wildfire In theatrical cir
lies that the eccentric manager had
eDcounteret financial difficulties insu-
peraole. The billboards fianking the
'1,fance to the Theatre Max contin-
4e1 10 display posters announcing the
7'pening early in September with
.1uS'cal comedy by lyman Dodd; but
oe comedy was not even in rehearsal
o September Is.
"loer went darby about his vari-
Us businesses, taciturn-eyen trace
-''fe than ever reserved in his COM
--@lica1on v It'll Whltaker-preoccu-
p4t4 but constant 10 his endeavor to
l,aFten to Responding husband.
'lafT Whitaker made 40 sign. Now
e-l then Whitaker would lose patience
a1 write to her. He received not q
+e OF acknowledgements.