The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21

nauereH
Some ono has convinced you since last
night that am not that man
Yes" she answered. looking away from
him with family heightened color. . IL
must ask YOU to forgive me fnr--last night"
He bowed stH1y from behind the table
But who-if ! may know-pcrsuaded
you where | appeared So
My mother" she said simply. She
caught a glimpse Of you on the street yes
teriay | did not know of it till to-day
never dreamed that she knew you. I'm
glad" she added hurriedly. resolutely con-
tr,c. " Of the chance Toto say this
1t is extraordinarily kind" said Narney.
He looked at her steadily as far from I'M
Outstanding the mystery Of her. coming as
ever
But l came" she went on at once. as
though reading the question In his eyes,
for quite another reason. We happened
10 stop just now at poor Jim Hackleys."
The name riveted his attention. quail
Ivy in her voice had already told him that
something troubled her.
AT Hackleys?"
She stood just behind Peters deserted
chair and rested her unglored right hand
upon il. He noticed. as though it were
matter witch WAS going TO he vital TO him
later on. II. she wore rings and that
there was tiny white spot on the nail Of
her thumb.
g. Some men are waiting on this dark
street somewhere, Mr.. Earney." she began
hurried!y. waiting. I'm afraid. for you to
come out--four or fve-G don't know how
many. You know-what that means But
O. it isn't their fault!-they don't know
any better you see"
The sudden anxiety in her voice cleared
his wits and braced him like tonic: and
so he came front front with the fact
that it was to help hm-to help him-that
rncle Elbert's daughter had come to the
Gazette office that night.
q appreciate that perfectly. OF course.
But--the rest Is not so clear | don't quite
understand--how did you happen to learn
Of this?"
Il? .. my learning about it the
pulcSl tI!tIlAc' IL Nu5 SpIu iiic WV ''''''HNN"
ago by a visitor here. n Mr.. IIisgnson.
whom, met last night. lie is outside in
the car now. and"
Mr. Ilggnson echoed Va'ney,
astoundcd
-" You know him. perhaps"
Il? O. mono. But | interrupted you.
ID go on and tell me-"
She began to speak rapidly and earnestly:
This afternoon went motoring. | and
friend Of mineAlr. John Richards: We
took a wrong turn coming back, and of
course were horribly lrte. But at the
edge Of the square stopped minute
10 inquire about Mrs. llackley. who was
taken quite i'll yesterday afternoon. Just
as ! was getting back into the car UP ran
this Mr. Higgnson. very much clustered
and excited. You see. he had just found on:
about all this-this plot-even TO knowing
where YOU were: he had seen poor lin
Hackey. it seems. not ut all himself, and
overheard him talking. or course. we saw
that you must be warned At once so we
took him in the car, and all three OF us ran
back here
She naused Il moment and he prompted
her with a close clipped: Yes"
wanted him to--cume in and tell you
about IT," she said hestatinEly. "hut he
wouldn't do IT. He is Il most agreeable old
man. but. | imagine. Of n very nervous
temperament. So she added with hr-
ried little laugh las was the only one who
knew You. said that | would come in and
tell you myself"
II was. muSt---must kind Of YOU all
He turned away sharply 10 hide his sud
den rush uf Indignation and resentment
Turbuiently he longed +" get his haads upon
tie sly HigEinson. who had had the effront-
cry 10 dispatch woman to protect him.
md this woman of all others that lived in
funston g.. Protect him? Hardly.
Tha; an attack had been planned against
his person was indeed likely enough. but
not that any hireling Of Ryan's should rush
forward Historically to pluck him from his
peril. What move In that mysterious game.
what strange plot within q plot was
Did MIR HigEinsun happen TO explain
why he took such n generous. and | fear
Very troublesome. interest in my welfarc?"
{. Genuinely anxious for light lie tried TO
iron all suggestion Of Il sheer out of his
voice but evidently he did not quite sue
ccrds
%. ] don't think you ouSh. 10 speak that
way Surely he has done only what anys