Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-02-02
THE N|
DESTROYING
ANGEL V'
By III
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
CHAPTER xvIl-continued.


At six that evening. returning to his
rooms to dress, Whitaker found an
other note waiting for him, in hand
writing that his heart recognized with
a sensation Of wretched apprehension.
He comprehended its contents with
difficulty, half blinded by a swimming
mist of foreboding.
My Dear: I find my strength unequal
to the strain of seeing you tonight. In
deed, am so worn out and nerve-racked
that have had to consult my physician.
He orders me Immediately to a sanato-
rum, to rest for a week or two. Don't
worre about me. shan't fail to let you
kn0N as soon as feel strong enough to
SO" Sou- Forgive me. love you dearly.
MARY.
The paper slipped from Whitaker's
trembling hand and fiuttered unheed-
cd to the floor. He sprang to the tele-
phone and presently had the Waldorf
on the wire; it was true, he learned: {:
Mrs. Whitaker had registered at the
hotel In the morning, and had left at
four IN the afternoon. He was refused
information as to whether she had
left a forwarding address for her
mail.
He wrote her Immediately, and per-
h0ps not altogether wisely, under
stress of distraction, sending the let
ter by special delivery in care of the
hotel. 1t was returned him in due
course Of time, embellished with pen
ciled memorandum to the effect that
Mrs. Whitaker had left no address.
He communicated at once with EN-
Der, promptly enlisting his willing
services. But after several days Of
earnest investigation the detective
confessed himself baffled.
IF you ask me-" he commented at
the conclusion of his report, "the an
swer Is she means to be let alone until
she's quite ready to see you again."
Whitaker ragged. "She-she loved
me there on the island. She couldn't
change so quickly, bring herself to
treat me so cruelty, unless some in
fernal influence had been brought to
bear upon her."
''Its possible, but l."
"Oh, l don't mean that foolishness
about her love being a mans death
warrant. That may have something
to do with II, but-but-I conquered
that once. 4. No; somebody has
got hold Of her, worked on her SYM
pathies, mallgned me :"
"Do you object to telling me whom
you have IN mindT
the one man to whom her allegiance
means everything man you named
20 me the night we met for the first
time, as the one who'd profit the most
by keeping her from leaving The
stager
"welI. If it's Max, you'll know T.,
time"
"rll know before long. AS soon as
he gets back In town" l r.
$50 you've been after him7"
"Why not? But he's out on the Pa.
cific coast; or so they tell me at the
theater. Expected back about the
middle Of July-they say in his office.
"Then that let's him out"
"But it's a lie."
"NVell-T
"Tve just remembered: Max was al
the Flslye place, urging her to return
the night before you caught Drum
mond ut the bungalow. saw them
walking up and down in front of the
cottage. arguing earnestly: coult
tell by her bearing she was refusing
whatever he proposed. But l dldn'
know her then, and naturally never
connected Max with the fellow l saw
disguised in a motoring coat and cap
Neither Of 'em had any place in IN,
thoughts that night"
Ember uttered q thoughtful "OhT
adding: "There may be something II
what you say-suspect, that is. If
agree to keep an eye on him, will yol
promise to give me free hand?"
"Meaning-T
keep out of Max's way: don't risl
wrnngle with him."
"Oh--go ahead--to blazes-as IA
us you like"
"Thnnks," Ember dryly wound III
the conference; "but these passin
illrtntions with your present-day TEN
per leave me with no hankering 70
greater warmth"
Days ran stolldly on into weeks, On,
these into month. Nothing happened
Max did not return the whispered ri
NOR played wildfre in theatrical Gil
cles that the eccentric manager ha
encountered financial difficulties inst
pernble. The billboards Thinking tn
entrance to the Theatre Max conrir
ued to display posters announcing tn
reopening early in September with
musical comedy by lyman Dodd; bu
the comedy was not even In rehearss
by September 10.
Ember went darkly about his var
Gus businesses. taciturn-even a trnc
more than ever reserved in his con
munlcation with whItaker-preoccI
pied, but constant In his endeavor [
enhearten the desponding husband.
Mary Whitaker made no sign. No
and then Whitaker would lose patienC
and write to her. He received not
line OF acknowledgment.
Sometimes, fretted to a frenzy, b
sought out Ember and made wild an
unreasonable demands upon hi1
These failing VI any effect other tina
the resigned retort. II am a detectiv
not a rniracle-monger." he would G
Into desperate, gnawing. black rage
that made Ember fear for his SAINT
and self-cOntrol and caused him to /
haunted by that gentleman for hours
once or twice for days-until he r
sumed his normal poise of sober ar
civilized man. He was, however, n
often aware of this sedulous espi
nage.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Temperamental.
September wnned and Octob
uoVvbpd In oru toFt,I oroInoca. -, n.~n,