The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-07-18
THE CONWAY CASE
By KArHERINee HopsoN.

Edith Nugent was surprised when a
knock sounded Mt the front door that
evening. Callers were rarity, espe-
cIally on rainy night like this. She
went to the door expecting to find one
,, OF the neighbors. but there stood a
tall. strange young man.
Good evening" he began. courte-
ously, twill you kindly tell me II this
Is where win Durgan lives3"
"No, Albert Nugent lives here. The
Durgans live next door. But they are
out Of town"
us no one at homer"
"No; they are all away. Are-are
you a friend Of theirs?"
"Yes. I'm Mr.. Durgans cousin.
Edmond Marsh. stopped of between
trains to see them. It's unfortunate
] happened on this time" he laughed.
'Is there n hotel here where l can
wait until the IL 30 trainf"
There Is one. but it's very poor. 1t
would be a dreary sort Of place to
waltz" She hesitated a moment. then
! a glance out into the raging storm de-
clded her. ave should be glad to have
you come In and wait here. A relative
Of the Dorgans Is always welcome"
The mans vlrile, polished personal
fly was Of the tyne not often seen In
small towns. And to Edith his com
ing was like breath OF romance from
the outside world from which she had
been largely excluded since she had
taken the reins Of the household after
her mothers death.
The Durgans returned home the fol-
lowing day and Edith related to them
the incident Of their cousins coming.
Yes. I remember distant cousin OF
my fathers by the name OF Edmond
Marsh. but l haven't seen him for
years. You say he had dark hair? As
i remember him, his hair was light
like his fathers"
perhaps 1t grew dark as he got
older. Many times 1t does"
When she went home she found her
father reading the paper. As she en-
tered he said excitedly:
Here's an account OF the capture
Of the man who committed that big
diamond robbery at Conway's jewelry
store last week. He was nabbed by a
detective Just as he was boarding the
ii 20 train last night. Mighty good
thing they got him. That Conway case
was a bold piece Of work"
When he finished reading the paper
and laid 1t down. Edith picked 1t up
and eagerly scanned the accoupt Of
the robber capture. A sudden fear
clutched hard at her heart. The news
paper described him as tall, slender,
with brown hair and blue eyes-that
was also an accurate description OF
the man who had called there last
night. Could II be possible that he
had been an impostor? She thought
of the discrepancy between his ap-
pearance and Mr.. Durgans remem-
brance Of him. Perhaps he wasn't the
real Edmond Marsh ut all! He had
seemed so straightforward and hon
orable, and yet she knew the greatest
crooks sometimes had the most pleas
Ing manners. She did not want to
voice her fears TO her father-for the
possible connection between their
guest and the diamond robber had evil
IDENTIFY not occurred to him.
Edith did not sleep much that night.
She thought the matter over and over
In all Its phases.
"Why couldn't things have been DIFF
ferent? Why couldn't they be-all
rightf" she asked herself bitterly.
Next mornings mail brought u let
ter postmarked Chicago. She did not
know the writing, so glanced first at
the signature. She caught her breath
sharply as she read, Edmond Marsh.
surely 1t Will explain things" she
thought, and eagerly scanned the let
ter. After polite repetition OF his
appreciation of the evenings hospital