The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-03-01
| THE 0|
DESTROYING
|D ANGEL N|
IT By -= Ill
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE III
CHAPTER xvIl-continued.

At six that evening returning to his
IS rooms to dress, Whitaker found an
other note. waiting for him, in hand
writing that his heart recognized with
s. a sensation of wretched apprehension.
81 He comprehended its contents with
s difficulty, half blinded by a swimming
& mist of foreboding.
. My Dear: I find my strength unequal
/ TO the strain of seeing you tonight. In
81 deed, am so worn out and nerve-racked
"a that have had to consult my physician.
. ude orders me Immediately to a sanato-
# rium, to rest for week or two. Don't
# worry about me. shan't fail to let you
s. know as soon as feel strong enough to
see you. Forgive me. love you dearly.
MARY.
# The paper slipped from Whitaker's
# trembling hand ana fluttered unheed-
E ed to the floor. He sprang to the tele-
phone and presently had the Waldorf
H on the wire; it was true, he learned
s Mrs. Whitaker had registered at the
. hotel in the morning, and had left at
a four in the afternoon. He was refused
81 information as to whether she had
$ left a forwarding address for her
s mail. .
He wrote her Immediately, and per-
& haps not altogether wisely, under
s. stress of distraction, sending the let
# ter by special delivery in care of the
3 hotel. 1t was returned him in due
s. course of time, embellished with pen
s. ciled memorandum to the effect that
s. Mrs. Whitaker had left no address.
He communicated at once with EN-
Der, promptly enlisting his willing
services. But after several days OF
+ eTnest investigation the detective
81 confessed himself baf1led.
IF you ask me-" he commented at
& the conclusion of his report, "the an
s. sYer is she means to be let alone until
S. she's quite ready to see you again."
81 Whitaker ragged. "She-she loved
IS 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
S bear upon her."
"It's possible, but T."
"Oh, / don't mean that foolishness
about her love being mans death
"a warrant. That may have something
s to do with it, but-but-I conquered
that once No; somebody has
81 got hold Of her, worked on her SYM
RuAh1Sot LuuuBuSu
DO you object to telling me whom
you have in mind2"
"The man you suspect as well as +
the one man to whom her allegiance
# means everything-the man you named
q to me the night we met for the first
time as the one who'd profit the most
by keeping her from leaving the
stageI'
"Well, If it's Max, you'll know in
time"
"I'll know before long. AS soon as
he gets back in town"
$50 you've been after him?"
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 lie."
"Well--?"
I've just remembered: Max was at
the blske place, urging her to return
uhe night before you caught Drum
Alond at the bungalow. / saw them,
walking up and down I'm front of the
cottage, arguing earnestly: / could
'ei by her bearing she was refusing
Whatever he proposed. But I didn't
know her then, and naturally / never
IA connected Max with the fellow / saw.
disguised In a motoring coat and cap.
Neither Of 'em had any place I'm my
thoughts that night"
hInber uttered a thoughtful "Oh?"
ouoihg: There may be something i'm
"nat you say-suspect, that is. If 1
osree to keep an eye on him, Will you
promise to give me free hand9"
"Meaning--Y
Keep out Of Max's way: don't risk
wraugle with him."
Oh-go ahead-tO bIazes-as far
4 as you Ike
Ihanks," Ember dryly wound up
ie conference; "but these passing
N'rtations with your present-day tenn
q pei leave me with no hankering for
greater warmth"
DAYS ran stOlldly on into weeks, and
'se into a month. Nothing happened.
-'"A Ola not return the whispered ru-
NOR played wildfre in theatrical cir
e'es mat the eccentric manager had
encountered financial difficulties insu-
peoDle. The bflboards fanking the
V"lIance TO the Theatre Max cOntin-
'"tf"t NNeltlo announcing the
D'pehhg early in September with
."usleai comedy by lyman Dodd but
we comedy was not even I'm rehearsal
Dy September 10.
Embcr went darkIy about his vorl.
gus businesses, taciturn-evcn a trace
more than ever reserved I'm his CONF
'oleauon with whitaker -preoccu-
peA but constant I'm his ondeavor TO
n.enrten the despOnding husband.
-ory whitaker made no sign. Now
"l thcn Whitaker would lose patience
'l Write TO her. He received not
ne Of acknowledgment
'ometimes, fretted to a frenzy, ne
'sht out Ember and made wild and
''sonable demands upon him.
-"'sa failing Of any effect other than