South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-26

Alice Holcombe's gasping words
crystallized into certainty all the
vague. sinister terror that had been
mine since had heard Milly Stock
bridges stifled cry over tho tele-
phone. But. as often happens,
found myself far calmer at the full
fillment OF my forebodings than
had been when had been trying 10
reason them away as Pigments Of
my imagination.
With my arm firmly around the
trembling figure OF my friend
drew her into the darkened living
room, put her into a big chair and
took of her hat
"Sit here a moment. I shall be
right back" / said authoritatively
and sped back 10 the front door.
The porch light which had turned
or had illumined the curious. rather
vacant face OF the taxi driver who
had followed Alice Holcombe partly
up re walk. / wished to get rid of
him at once He was OF just the
type 10 gossip. and ] had no inten-
ton OF permitting my friend 20 go
away again in his machine.
Where have YOU come from ?" I
demanded shortly.
"Bayview. How longs the lady
goin' to be? She told me 10 wait. !"
"She has changed her mind. she
will stay here for awhile. You need
not wait"
Then | want my money" with a
shade OF trculence that made me lay
firm hands upon nv temper lest /
lose II against so unworthy an an
tagonist.
Every well. Wait here. and III
get i; for YOU"
closed the door upon him. went
| TO small box In the dining room
side table where I kept small sums
| for emergencies In the hOusekeep-
! ing. Luckily I knew the usual tariff
| from Bayview TO Marvin, and re-
! turned with the change exact even
| to the war tax.
The mans face darkened as /
handed the coins to him.
This amt what I usually get"
he muttered with a half-hearted
| sullenness.
1T is the usual price" | returned
| steadily. Il will call up your COM
pany il you wish and ask II there
has been an increase"
He turned around quickly a. that.
| spat derisiveiy on the steps as he de-
| scended.
Fine bunch Of pikers Il; thi
/ town." he muttered. and az 7 closed
| the door a flash OF sudden self
| cplightening amazcment at my own
| parsimOnIOus folly SWEPT over me
| I should not have angered tho man,
/ made him remember rescntfully the
] incident OF Alice's visit 10 me. In
! stead. I should have tipped him jul
! diciouslv. not enough to arouse any
| wondering SncCulation on his part
hut sufficiently TO keep him in good
| humor.
But there was no use in wasting
| time in DIFFERENTIATION. BracinC
| myself for the nervous strain I saw
before me. gathering strength FOR
| the support of the wracked, trem-
| bling woman I had left in the hv-
! ing room. I snapped out the porch
/ light and turned toward the living
4 room. when n slight sound made me
| look NJ 10 see my mother-in- law
| standing on tho upper landing OF
1 the staircase. the picture OF out
ragged. digniied disI leasure.
I sped noiselessly up the steps
| graSDcd nv august mother-in-la Law
\ firmly by the shoulder. not particu-
/ larry caring whether the grasp was
! gentle one or not, and bent my
| lips 10 her ear.
! Don't speak aloud" I command
ed in a sharp whisper. Mrs stock
/ bridge. the princiDaTs wife, is dead
/ poisoned. Miss HOlcombe is here
| evidently in great fr'~ht and trou-
ble. When ! find out what the truth
Is I will tell you. 7 may have to 60
10 Bayview with her. Katie viii
look after Junior"
Even as she ierked herself free
| from my hand I knew that 7 had
not counted I'm vain upon the elderly