Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-05
THE
SECRET
HOUSE
Author of 1.-THE Clue OF the
: Twisted Candle" kate Plus
1O,". 1.-The Man Who
Knew" etc.
BY /.
EDGAR WALLACE
CHAPTER VII.

d
ing np trace. He caught. the scent
oifsouthern lilacs from an adjoining
Z florist shop.
lie took the stairs three at a time.
"Chief in YETI" he inquired of
Jameson, the news editor, who look
ed up in establishment at his en-
h trance, and then at the clock.
y.tNo, he's not down yet. You've
broken your record"
Frank nodded.
1--WE got to get away early"
Tossing his hat upon his desk. he
sat down and went methodically
thru his papers. He unfolded his
Times, his mind intent upon the prob
4 lem of the missing millionaire. He
I had not seen Doris since that night
in the box. The first paper under his
a hand was an early edition of a rival
evening journal.
He glanced down ct the headlines
I on the front page, then with a hor-
fFr'ified cry he sprang to his feet. he
was pale, and the hand which grip
ped the paper shook
Good Lord" he exclaimed.
Jameson swung round in his swiv
eel chair.
whats up?" he inquired.
"Farrington!" said Frank. husk-
4 lily. "Farrington has committed sui
cide!"
Yes, we've column about it, re-
marked Jameson. complacently. "A
pretty good story" Then suddenly:
You knew him." he asked.
Frank Doughton lifted face from
which every vestige of color had been
1. drained IL was with him at the
: theater on the night he disappeared, :
T he said, A
Jameson whistled softly.
Doughton rose hurriedly and
reached for las hat
II must go to them. Perhaps
something can be done. Doris" he
broke off, unable to continue, and
turned away sharply. \
Jameson looked at him sympathet-
ically.
= why don't you go round to Brake
ly Sqnare?" he suggested. There
may be new developments possibly
d, mistake. You. note that the body
has not been discovered"
Out upon the pavement, Frank
caught a passing taxi.
He drove first to the city offices
which were Farrington's headquar-
ters A short talk with the chief
clerk was more than enlightening. A
brief note in the handwriting of the
millionaire announced his intention,
tired of the world" to depart there
from.
But why?" asked the young man,
lin bewilderment.
s Mr.. Dopghton,, you don't seem to
Z quite realize the Importance of this
tragedy said the chief clerk, quiet
ly. "Nir. Harrington was a financial
king-a multi millionaire. Or at
least, he was SO considered up till
this morning. We have examined his
private books, and it now appears
hat he had spcculated heavily dur
ing the last few weeks-he has lost
everything. every penny of his own
and his wards fortune Last night,
in a fit of despair, he ended his life.
Even his chief clerk had no ,knowl-
edge of his Transactions"
poughton looked ut him in u kind
of sstupefaction. Was it of Earring
tone the man was talking such drivel?
harrington. who only tile week be-
fore had told him in high gratifica-
ton that within the last month he
had added a cool million to his
wards marriage portion. harrington,
i who had, but two days ago, limited
nlysteriously OF gigantic financial
coup in the near future. And now
Z all that fortune was lost, and the
loser was lying at the bottom of the
Thames!
Il think I must be going mad" he
Hluttered "Mr. harrington wasn't
the kind to kill himself"
1T is not as yet known to the
public, but think | may tell you.
since you were a friend of Earring
tons, that Mr.. T. B. Smith has been
given charge of the matter He will
probably wish to know your address.
And in the meantime, if you run
across anything"
Certainly! will let you know,
Smith is an able man, of course
poughton gave the number of his
chambers, and retreated hastily, glad
that the man had questioned him no
further.
He found his cab and flung him-
self YEARLY against the cushins. And
now for Doris!
But Doris was not visible Lady
Dinsmore met him in the morning
room, her usually serene countenance
full of trouble. He took her hand in
silence.
1T is good of you, my dear Frank,
to come SO quickly. You have heard
alI?'a
He nodded
How is DorisT
She sank into a chair and shook
her head.
'.The child is taking it terribly
hard. Quite fearless, but with face
like frozen marble!> She refused to
believe the news, until she saw his
own writing. Then she tainted
Lady Dinsmore took out her lace
handkerchief and wiped her eyes
Doris she continued, in a mo-
n,,snt, has sent for Count Poltavo."
Frank stared at her.
"Why?" he demanded.
Lady Dinsmore shook her head.
II can not say. definitely" she re-
piled. with sigh. "She is a silent
girl But / fancy she feels that the
count knows something-she believes
that Gregory met with foul play
MY own ideal" he said:~ quietly.
Lady Dinsmore surveyed him with
flint, od-humored scorn,
''You do not know, Gregory" she
said, after pause
s'Eut--I do not follow you! Ii it