The Pulaskian., 1917-01-05

1 III. Listen :"
 Ember bent forward, holding Whit aker'S gaze with intent, grave eyes. 'Ihe first time," he said in rapid un- dertone, was year or so after her triumph as Joan Thursday. There were then two men openly infatuated with her, boy named Custer, and a man 1 believe you William Hamilton"
 T knew them both" Cluster was making the pace; the announcement of his engagement to Sara Law was confidently anticipated. He died suddenly; the coroners jury decided that he had misjudged the in- tentions of a loaded revolver. People whispered suicide, but it didn't look quite like that to me. However Hamilton stepped into his l place. Presently we heard that Sara Law was to marry him and leave the stage. Hamilton had to go abroad on business; on the return trip-the we'd l ding was set for the day after he land- ed here-he disappeared, no one knew l how. Presumably he fell overheard by accident one night; sane men with everything in the world to live for do such things, you know-according to the newspapers"
 T understand you. Please go on.''
 Approximately eighteen months later man named Thurston-MitchelI Thurston-was considered dangerous aspirant for the hand of Sara Law. He was exceedingly well fixed in a money way-a sort of di1ettantish architect, with offices in the Metropolitan tower. One day at high noon he left his desk to go to lunch at Martins; crossing Madison square, he suddenly fell dead, with bullet in his brain. It was a i rifle bullet, but though the square was crowded, no one had heard the report l of the shot, and no one was seen car rying rife. The conclusion was that he had been shot by somebody using a l gun with q Maxim silencer, from a window on the south side of the | square. There were no clues"
 And now Drummond" !" Whitaker | exclaimed in horror. "Poor fellow | Poor womanp'
 A slightly sardonic expression modi- 1 fled the lines of Ember's mouth. "So | far as Mrs. Whitaker is concerned" he said with the somewhat pedantic mode of speech which Whitaker was to learn to associate with his moments of most serious concentration-T echo the sentiment. But let us suspend judgment on Drummonds case until we know more. It is not as yet an es- tablished fact that he is dead"
 s"You mean there's hope"
 There's doubt" Ember corrected acidly-"doubt, at least, in my mind. You see, saw Drummond in the flesh, alive and vigorous, a good half hour after he is reported to have leaped to his death."
 "Where?"
 Coming up the stairs from the downtown subway station in front of the Park Avenue hotel. He wore a hat pulled down over his eyes and an old overcoat buttoned tight up to his
 
 chin. He was carrying satchel bear ing the initials C. S. D., but was other wise pretty thoroughly disguised, and, fancied, anxious enough to escape recognition"
 ''You're positive about this?''
 ''The man was Carter s. Drummond I don't think can be mistaken"
 (Which way did he go?'
 Toward the Pennsylvania station, I fancy; that Is, he turned west through Thirty-third street. I didn't follow-I 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 curious?'
 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 theater-obviously the result of your appearance there-and still later, when | heard the suicide re- port"
 But" Whitaker passed hand across his dazed eyes. "What can 1t mean? Why should he do this thing?"
 There are several possible explana- tions. =. How long has Drum mond known that you are alive?" "Since noon today"
 May ! ask, what was the extent of your property in his trust?' "A couple of hundred thousands "And he believed you dead and was unable to find your widow '
 "Oh, don't think rhat!" Whitaker expostulated.
 i "Nor do I. We're merely consider