The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-12-20

tened In silence. Then ne slammed
up his telephone. She watched the
clock and waited. 4:55-she drew O
long breath. and passed the call. In
a few moments they were talking.
Captain Henry gave the same details
that he had given to Ridgeton, gave
them like a flash. Then having evil
IDENTIFY learned wisdom he passed calls
to Laleville. New Burn and New York
at the same time.
Jeanette had not thought he would
do that. The train did not get into
New York until nearly six o'clock
Dared she delay that call so long q
time?
She took the calls slowly, making
him repeat several times, until his
voice was like cannon roar with
anger. Then she set her teeth, folded
her arms and waited. Once she made
feint Of receiving reports on the
calls and after giving the bogus In.
formation courteously to Captain
Henry recorded 1t on the back Of the
tickets.
500 N. G. (no circuit).
$40 BY. (busy).
The girl beside, her was watching
her curiously. How queer Jeanette
Whipple was looking.
The fight was on. 270 called every
other breath.
Jeanette tried to keep him good
natured.
The intense strain was telling on
her. She tried to hold herself still
and calm that she might think clearly.
She began to realize the terrible thing
that had happened. The agony of II
sank In slowly. Perhaps she would
wake up suddenly and find that she
had been. dreaming.
But 27O was grim reality. He was
calling again.
Then for over an hour she stub.
bornly fought every inch of the way,
Captain Henry was big man and a
smart one, but he could not manage
something he did not understand. He
had been obliged to wait for busy
wires before this. 1t was nothing new
nor surprising. He never even
dreamed that this peculiar combina.
ton of busy wires, with other tech.
meal terms that sounded perfectly
proper, even familiar, was due to q
slip Of girl, one-quarter his age, In
the central telephone Office just four
blocks up the street.
The numbers danced before her
tired eyes. Her face was hot with the
excitement. But when six o'clock
came she had just put up the con-
nection between go and New York.
She had won. She had done all she
could to save the man she loved.
She stumbled out Of her chair. She
was so rigid she could scarcely move.
She put on her hat and cloak with
stiff fingers. The girls seemed to shun
her, or was 1t her fancy? They must
know 1t, too. Everybody must know 1t.
Why, the world was full Of 1t. Rich
ard was murderer, flying for his life.
and yet, so strange and untrue 1t
seemed that, even as she said 1t. she
waited at the street door minute for
his familiar figure. Then she started
home alone.
Oh, to know he was safe!
She caught her breath sharply and
hurried on.
1t had evidently been raining. The
dark was coming early. The mist chung
to her skirts and dampened her hair.
The electric light flickered on lit
tie pools of wind-swept water In the
road.
Susan met her at the door, her kind,
sisterly face placid and smiling. Then
she started.
"Why, jeanette dear, what has hap.
penedT
But jeanette could not speak. Some.
thing was beating in her. throat like a
mad thing. She brushed past her and
went In. Susan did not shut the door
Jeanette heard her saying: "Have you
two been quarreling?"
Who was Susan talking to? A mans
voice answered.
at does look like It," he said. "She
has been over a block ahead Of me all
the way, going like a race horse"
"Richard!"
She turned back to the door and
tried to call his name, but 1t was only
gasp. Then he caught her.
Sweetheart, has someone been
frightening you? Why, Jeanette
why, Jeanettew
With great effort she struggled
out of the darkness that threatened tc
engulf her.
"The murder, Richard, you"
He lifted her up into his arms and
carrying her In, sat down In the big
old-fashioned rocker with her.
"There, there, child. It's all right
jeanette. Nash Farnsworth shot Lath'
rop, but he Is not going to die, though
they thought he was at first. Did you
get 1t wrong? 1t was mixed at first
in the excitement. Did they tell you II
was Richard Nash who did 1t? His
first name being my last one, and de
scription being rather alike, did make
a little bother. He got away, guess
I imagine he got that four o'clock
train. Why, little girl, you could not
think 1t was who shot him, could
your"
-