Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-07-25

affirmative response motioned the serv-
ant to it with an imperative hand.
There's a light burning In there still, :"
he said you can see 1t beneath the
door. Better see If perhaps Mr.. Rip
/ ley hasn't falleI, asleep Ovef his work,
Martin. No-go ahead; I'll an
swer this"
The doorbell had just rung. AS the
aged negro scuffled Off toward the IL
+ brary Parr turned, opened the front
door, and admitted an uPchin wearing
| the livery of a well-known telegraph
/ company. This last delivered an
1 envelope addressed to Miss Patria
Claiming. pocketed a tip. and returned
/ to the street Captain Parr cooked an
attentive ear toward the library while
I the girl hastily scanned her telegram.
/ "What nonsense! Captain Parr-will
! you please look at thlsY
| He took the telegram from her quiv-
ering hand-and knitted annoyed
! brows over 1t.
Newport. June 10. 1916.
| Miss Patria Channing.
| z East IenLn street, n. 4. ALF.
Distracted. Why did you run away to-
night without explanation Rodney fol-
lows by first morning train. Please wire
I prompt denial Runors current here you
eloped with Captain Parr.
AMELIA WRENN.
A smile, half-rueful, half of amuse-
ment, replaced PARIS frown. He re-
turned the message. The girl impa-
tiently tore 1t up and committed its
offensive fragments to the floor.
She was startled by a cry thrOaty
with terror. Martin tottered out of the
library door. his limbs trembling. his
face ashen beneath its bronze.
Miss Patty! o Lawd. my
Lawdp'
PARIS fingers closed imperatively up.
on the servants wrist.
what is 1t? What's happened? Stop
that bowling and tell us :"
It's Mlstuh Ripley daid in there
Common impulse moved the two
young people toward the rear of the
hallway. but half way TO the library
door Parr checked the girl.
"Spare yourself, Miss Claiming. Let
me 90 first and have a look around
pleasei''
1t was a spacious chamber sOberiy
if richly furnished in an Outaged mode
and dominated by a massive chimney
piece of marble deliberately carved.
Parr, however, only subconsciOusly reg
istered an impression of It's character.
His interest centered upon the body
IF a gentleman of advanced years Tat
occupied an armchair at one end Of the
table. And 1t needed no more than a
glance 10 assure him that the man was
dead beyond dispute
His head and arms rested upon the
table. One hand still gripped an auto
matte pistol. Near his head rested an
overturned telephone instrument, the
receiver disiodged. He had been nc.r-
dered-shOt down while telephoni,,g
But he had not died so quickly as to aet
his assassin escape he had lived lokg
enough to discharge his own weapon
with deadly effect.
Half dozen feet aside the corpse Ct
the assassin law asprawl-in the cast
Of those dead features Parr read ire
futable confirmation Of his grimmest
suspicious; the assassin was-had
been-a japanese.
Turning on the servant sharply, Parr
stflled his lamentations with brusque
command.
stop that horrible noise, Martin
Do you wish Miss Claiming to hear
you? Now tell me: where can
we put these bodies out of her sight?"
The negro designated the drawing
room which commum Gated with the H.
brary by sliding doors: thither they
bore and there left the bodies. Then
returning, Parr ordered TIE communi-
eating doors closed, and for moment
hesitated, obviously examining a fat
sealed envelope which he had found
in the pocket of the dresslng-gown
worn by the ill-starred Mr.. Ripley.
1t was superscribed in the firm, min
ute writing of a strong old hand: For
Miss Patriu Channine-Private & Con
ttdental"
He returned to the hallway. At sight
of his gravely troubled countenance
Patria rose quickly from Il chair and
came to him with an implorlng ges-
ture.
Prepare yourself" he said, "your
guardian has been assassinated-by a
japanese. He left you this; perhaps 1t
explains. -
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
My Dear Ward: Tomorrow. your
tweL'y-first birthday, will find you the
last Of THE Fighting Channings." On
that day you will legally become your
own mistress and ! will be relieved of
the guardianship of yourself and your
fortune-one of the greatest fortunes
in the United States if not in all the
world,
l write. rather than wait to com
municate what have to say, because
live in the shadow of death. / may
not live 10 see you, personally to ac-
+ count to you for my stewardship
may not live TO see tomorrow's dawn.
My life Is strangely men, ed-even as
your life may be when you have taken
over sole control of your inheritance.
your lands and estates, Channings. Inc.
that greatest of arms and ammunl-
tion industries outside Germany-and
-~~NN-~~~~~->~N~-~-@~
Accordingly she set herself to work