The Washington times., 1918-02-19
Read Right On in Today's
Installment.
Part One-(Continued)
Guy Calls on Esther.

Guy calls on Esther.
''Mr. Hocking!'
. The smart page boy threw open the
door OF Estheris private sitting room
announcing Guy with something OF .
flourish. Esther rose up from the low
chair in which she was sitting and came
forward to welcome her cousin. she
looked very pale, but her manner was
calm and composed. Her dress was a
simple black frock. made very plainly.
Guy Hooking noticed with some con-
Germ the dark circles under her eyes
he felt a great pity for this slim. white
girl who had been seemingly flung into
maelstrom of tragedy.
How do you feel. dear Esther" he
asked anxiously. as soon as he and MS
cousin were alone Il couldn't come
around earlier; all sorts OF things have
happened since 1 saw you last"
What has happened?' said Esther,
sitting down on the brocaded empire
sofa
That beast who ran away with you in
the automobIle-you mustn't be too up
set. Esther-now.' Hooking came and
sat down by the girls side as he spoke.
taking her cold hand in his own. fearful
OF what effect his news might have on
her. '-Tweedledee is dead, Esther" he
said slowly.
STWeedIedee Dead!" Esther Cried.
He will never cross your path again"
Dead" Esther repeated the word in a
low. awestruck voice. an expression that
was half relief and half fear crossing
her face. She drew a little closer to
Hooking and gazed at him anxiously.-
How did he die?" she asked.
He was murdered" the man answered
in 4 low tone, murdered early this
morning. found strangled in a box at
Madison Square Garden. They had a
fancy dress ball going on there at the
time"
"StrangIed :"
Esther VasselI rose to her feet, a
cry which she found impossible to
check or repress bursting from her
pale lips. She walked up and down
the little room a prey to feverish agi-
tation and distress: her eyes looked
strained and terrified: she clenched
and uncIenched her trembling hands.
SStOp Trembling, He Deserved IT.
Don't be so upset, Esther" NUT
tered Hooking. you mustn't give way
like this. Why, you're trembling like
a leaf. The man deserved to die
you may be pretty sure he has only
got his just deserts"
Tell me-" asked Esther suddenly:
she ceased to walk up and down the
room as she spoke, but stood direct
~ in front OF Hooking, gazing hard
at him, was there any peculiar mark
on the wretched creatures throat?"
Hooking, slowly. But what makes
what a mystery the whole affair Is!
Won't you tell me what happened last |
night, Esther? You promised to, IL
you recollect, and, indeed, I ought to
know"
The VOLTS Fangs.
For a second Esther Vassell made |
no answer. 1t was doubtful if she
had heard her cousins last remark. !
She faced him, pallid and trembling. |
and when she spoke her words sound |
ed ineXplicable to the listener.
The mark of the beast-Oh, Guy, |
the mark of the BEAST" The next mo- |
ment she had flung herself, sobbing |
half frantic with fears 1t was some |
to wipe her eyes and |
smile family at her cousin.
What an hysterical fool you think /
me, Guy, and yet II you only knew /
The truth" she stopped herself abrupt |
y. long, nervous shivers again shak-
ing her body notwithstanding her ef-
forts for selfcontrol.
THE truth, ah, that's just what 1
I do want to know" said Hooking /
With some decision How did you
,ome to be in that automobile, Esther?
/ am all in the dark about every
hing"
81 was trapped into entering the
,ab." the girl answered with a
slight frOwn. Il fell an easy victim
of a clever plan. That man, the man
you call Tweedledee." she shuddered
gain. came back shortly after YOU
had left the hotel and asked to see
N. lie gave as an excuse that YOU
had met with an accident, and that
you wished me to go straight to
Roosevelt Hospital. l believed him.