Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-03

Approximately eighteen months
later Il man named ThurSton-Mitchcll
Thurston-Wa considered a dangerous
aSpirunt for the hand of Sara Law. lie
was exceedingly well fixed IN Il money
way--a sort of dilettuntiSh architect,
with Offices in the Metropolitan tower,
one day at high noon he left his desk
to 90 to lunch n Martins; crossing
Madison square, hc suddenly fell dead,
with bullet in his brain. Il was a
rifle bullet, but though the square was
crowded no one had heard the report
of the shot and no one was seen car
rying Il rife. The conclusion Was that
he had been shot by somebody using II
gun with n Maxim silencer. from Il
window on the south side of the
square. There were no clues
"And now nrummond :" Whitaker
exclaimed in horror. Poor fellow !!
Poor woman. :"
\ slightly sardonic expression moIi-
fled the lines Of Ember's mouth. so
far rs Mrs. Whitaker Is concerned
he said with the somewhat pcdAntic
mode of speech which Whitaker was 10
learn to associate with his moments Of
most serious concentration q echo
the sentiment. But lei rs suspend
Judgment on Drummoud'S case Uulil
we know more. II tx not as yet an cS-
tahlishcd facj hat he is dead"
"You mean heres hope"
"lhcre'S douht." Timber corrected
acidly--"9oubl, ut least, in my mind.
You see, ! saw DruIumond In the flesh,
alive and vigorous. Il good half hour
after he is reported to have lcapcd to
his death.
"Wherc?"
Coming NJ the stairs from the
downtown subway station in front of
the Park Avenue hotel He wore y
Int pulled down over his eyes ANA IN
old overcoat huttoncd tight up to his
chin. He was carrying II Satchcl bear
ing the initials e. :. H., but was other
wise pretty thoroughly disguised, and,
I fanciod anxious enough to escape
recognition"
"loure positive about this"
''The man was Garter s. Drumm0nd.
] don't think can be Mistaken
(which way did he go?"
Toward the Pennsylvania station. |
fancy: that is, he turned west through
Thirtythrd street. | didn't follow
at nj int tn W | lt
sight of him"
But what did you think to see him
disguised? Didn't it strike you as
curious!"
Very" said Ember dryly. AT the
same time, it was none of my affair
then. Nor did ii present itself to me
MS a matter worth meddling with until,
later, my suspicious were aroused by
the scene in the Observation-Disclosures the
result of your appearance there--and
still later, when | heard the suicide re-
port
But Whitaker passed hand
across his dazcd eyes. What can it
mean? Why should he do this thing"
lclc ilIt StNtlu l'bSSllIt tAl)ldlli-
tons. How long has nsum-
mond known that you are alivew
"Since noon today"
MAY | ask, what was the extent of
your propert in his trustT
"a couple OF hundred thousands"
Sand he believed you dead and was
unable to find yovr widow ;"
ooh, | don't think thut!' Whitaker
expostulatcd.
"Nor do |. We're rcrely consider
ing possible explanations. There's a
third ~
"WellI'
"Ile may have received strong hint
that he was nominated for the fate
that overlook young Custer, Hamilton
and ThurSton; and so planned to give
his disappearance the color of SINH
lar end"
"You don't mean to say you think
there was any method in that train of
tragedies"
I'm not in the least supcrStItious,
my dear man. ! don't for an instant
believe. aS some people claim to. that
Sara Law is II destroying angel. hound
ed by tragic fate: that her love is
ruivalcn, to the death warrant of
oan who wins ii"