Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-09-07

0Cotn VI JOOl ldIACA. lACJ Nc Lie do
sures me, of s. fficient importance to
require your attention. You have
heard of Resilius Marvel?'
II have read about him." was the
reply, shrinking and mufhed.
If you knew Mr. Marvel as knew
him, you would trust to his earnest
desire to be always helpful" l con-
tinued. fIe seeks only to protect the
family honor"
Stop" cried Miss Ludington sud
denly, sharply interrupting me, throw
ing aside her veil and presenting a
colorless. defiant face. What do you
know-what does he know?"
II, nothing" l stammered, fairly
abashed at the resolute challenge
he. everything. probably. From two
to four-you will see him7"
q viii see Mr. Marvel" she said
slowly, and passed on her way.
''She was adamant to every attack
made to win one intimation, the
faintest clew as to what she and her
mother are holding back" Resilius
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?"
asked.
Until the last, absolutely nothing,
except to beg that would not disturb
a condition that only she and her
mother could remedy. She arose to
leave. Suddenly she fixed her eyes
upon me. 1 saw her studying me as
if to search me through and through.
I noted the flush OF some impelling
force in her face. Mr.. Marvel she
said, you claim a wish to be helpful
to us, and believe you, but this is
case where help from your viewpoint,
instead of assisting US, might precipi-
tate direful catastrophe. But you
are said to be a 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. 1 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 now-Idalia."
1 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 enlighten 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
guiding clew," he advised NE. HE
did not know Idalia,' but he knew a
friend of hers, an actress. From this
friend I learned the whereabouts of
the original Of the picture. She is the
inmate of the reformatory, on 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 Ludington had sup
piled him from his pocket.
Il have come to ask you a ques-
tion," he said. How long have you
known the man to whom you gave
this photograph"
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
ture from the hand that held it to-
wards her to tear it to atoms. Her
eyes glared like a tigers, her face
became distorted, she raved, she |
trembled from head to foot, she |
poured out curses upon the man a
memory of whom the photograph had |
evoked.
Listen" she cried. Mark me, 1
swear iti-the day am freed from
here, be it when it may-I will kill
1im!"
You are too 1ate," observed Marvel
quietly.
81 am too later" she repeated, skep-
Ideally.
Eyes, he has been dead for weeks"
She laughed, this Idalia, this woman
who made men shrink whom she did
lot cause to weep.
You came to draw me out, to de-
ude me-" she scoffed. From himi
Zee through you. Dead? Do you
hink 1 do not keep track of him
through my friends on the outside, to
Ie ready to know when, and where,
md how l shall strike when the hour
zones? Go back and tell Abel Wanda
mann that from me-