The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-04-03

"Lois and ! Have Had a Little Misund
was there. He was saying to Lois
that Gloria was on the hunt and warn
ing her to be both a better wife than
she had been and a more discreet
woman, just such a warning as he had
given Mulry.
Mulry had already taken the doe
tors advice. He had invited himself
to the country home Of friend Of
his, home not far from David Stat
ford's. In eluding Gloria he had set
out for the very region which she was
about to visit in her investigation Of
Lois.
Gloria did not hear what Doctor
Royce was saying to Lois when she
was shown into. the living room. But
she saw that they were talking ex-
citedly and that her appearance con-
fused them. Gloria was so discon-
ccrted at this that she could hardly
explain her errand.
Il just dropped in to say that I will
accept David's invitation to go up to
the farm with you.''
Lois was so treasured by this that
she exclaimed with delight
Royce said to Gloria: ''May I come
up, too?''
Gloria answered him icily: cit isn't
my farm. Good-by, Lois" Then she
walked out.
Royce stared at Lois, then at the
spot where Gloria had been. Gloria
was angry at him. He could not i'm
agine why. He could not permit her
to snub him like that He had some
rights as physician if not as lover.
He bolted from Lois presence and
caught Gloria just as she was getting
into her car.
"1m going to take you home at
once" he said.
She answered with more ice: "Im
not going home. I'm going to my
fathers Office Good-by"
Royce helped her into the car, hest
t tated moment, then jumped in after
her. Neither of them spoke all the
way downtown. She was too angry.
/ He was too bewildered. Arrived at
| the Equitable building, she put out her
hand to bid him good-by, but he shook
j his head and went in with her.
Entering her fathers suite, she
brushed aside a protesting secretary
i and penetrated with Royce to the
luxurious inner Office.
i Pierpont Stafford rose in amaze
ment
'Why, my child, what are you doing
down here? You're not strong enough
! for this And he looked inquiringly
at the doctor.
II tried to take her home, but she
helplessly.
Gloria advanced to her father with
sudden anger.
''AIy health is all right, father, but
what neither you nor Stephen real
ize is that something must be done
for my peace Of mind" And drawing
the photograph from her breast, she
pointed to it with flashing eyes, turn
ing to each of them accusingly. 'He
was not drowned. He was murdered.
You don't care. You want only 81
lence. But I want the truth! I'm go
ing to find it! I'm going to hunt down
that man whether you help me or
not!''
hOyCo Stuuleu lcI VIII uneasy HU-
m!ration: her father tossed his hands
in despair.
Royce thought moment, then beck
oned to Gloria and said: "Come with
me,'
Gloria followed him out wondering.
II.
Entering the corridor of the build
ing, Royce pressed the elevator but
ton marked: Cup" He guided Gloria
into car that stopped for them. II
was an express and shot them up tc
.. the fortieth floor. Alighting, Royce
; led her out to the roof. - was sur
= rounded by a high wall, but car
renter's ladder CHANGED to be there
and Royce set it up that Gloria might
mount and see across the parapet.
Wonderingly, Gloria allowed Royce
, to help her up. She shuddered a:
she looked down into the depths Of
q the vast canyons. Then, in great seri
= ousncss, Royce spoke. He stood OF
:, the ladder with her and pointed in {
= circle, beginning at the east and turn
= ing south, then west, then north, a:
q he spoke:
= 'You say you saw a man kill Fren
eau! I say it was delirium. If i
:, were true, you don't know his name
: his country, or his motive; you woult
hardly know his face if you saw hin
again. No one knows who he is. HI