Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-06-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Broken Threads.

Mr.. Crawford Stanton a little later
went upstairs to rejoin the respondent
lady, who was taking her after-dinner
ease in the most comfortable 1ounging-
chair the mezzanine parlors afforded.
mo good" he reported. "TThe girls
name is HIGHLANDER, and sheer her
father-comes from one Of half dozen
LaWrencevilles'-yo can take your
choice among EN-"
Money!" queried the comfortable
one.
Buying mines in the Topaz" said
the husband mechanically. He was
not thinking specially of Mr.. Josiah
Richlander's possible or probable rat
ing with the commercial agencies; he
was wondering how well Miss Rich
lander knew John Smith, and in what
manner she could be persuaded to tell
what she might know. While he was
turning it over in his mind the two in
question, Smith and the young woman,
passed through the lobby on their way
to the theater. Stanton, watching them
narrowly from the vantage-pOint af-
fOrded by the galleried mezzanine,
drew his own conclusions. By all the
little signs they were not merely chance
acquaintance or even casual friends.
Their relations were clOSer-and Of
longer standing.
Stanton puzzled over his problem q
long time, long after Mrs. Stanton had
forsaken the easy chair and mad disap-
peared from the scene. His Eastern
employers were growing lrascibly I'M
patient. Who was this fellow Smith,
and what was his backing? they were
beginning to ask; and with the asking
there were limitations that If Mr..
Crawford Stanton were finding his task
too difficult, there was always an al
tentative.
Stanton was still wrestling with his
problem when the Handsome couple"
returned from the play. The trust
field captain saw them as they crossed
the lobby to the elevator and again
marked the little evidences of familiar
ity. "That settles it," he unused, with
an outthrust of the pugnacious jaw.
"She knows more about Smith than
anybody else in this neck Of woods
and she's got 1t to tell !"
Stanton began his inquisition for bet
ter Information the following day, with
the bejewelled lady for his ally. Miss
Richlander was alone and unfriended
In the hOtel-and also a little bored.
Hence she was easy Of approach; SO
easy that by luncheon time the sham
promoters wife, was able to Introduce
her husband. Stanton lost no moment
investigative. For the inquiring pur-
pose, Smith was made to figure as a
business acquaintance, and Stanton
was generous in his praises Of the
young mans astounding financial abil-
ity.
He's simply a wonder, Miss Rich
lander!" he confded over the luncheon
table. Coming here a few weeks ago,
absolutely unknown, he has already be-
come a prominent man of affairs in
Brewster. And SO discreetly reticent
To this good day nobody knows where
he comes from, or anything about
him.
'No?" said Miss Verda. "Row sin
gular! ~ But she did not volunteer to
supply any Of the missing biographical
facts.
Absolutely nothing" Stanton went
on smoothly. "And, Of course, his 81
lence about himself has been grossly
misinterpreted. I have even heard it
said that he Is an escaped convict"
'How perfectly absurd !" was the
smiling comment.
isn't 1t? But you know how people
will talk TheV are saving NOW that