Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02


Don't work too late. dear. There are
SO many letters. and can find time
TO help YOU in the morning"
As the door closed Christine began
to sob Historically.
I'm going to get out OF this dread
ful house tomorrow" she cried. "lve
felt ever since p-poor Julian was
found as il s-something were hang
ing over my h-heart I'm going TO
Dorothy Lands and stay; Id go to-
night If l c-could!"
CHRISTINE moaned and, regardless
u of her coiffure, burrowed her
head still deeper into her folded arms
upon the table.
If we'd try 10 think sancly for a
minute. we'd realize how impossible
any connection between mothers
death and Julian's could be-" Nan
spoke decidedly. but her voice trem-
bled and lowered as she mentioned
those who had gone. Dear mother
ran a needle In her hand and blood
poison followed: that might happen to
about it"
no. but there was something
strange abou; the infection that set
in and spread in spite OF what the
best specialists in the country could
do you heard them say that them
selves." Gene retorted. And l sup
pose il wasn't queer that when Jules
razor slipped while he was shaving
il should just nick tho juGular vein?
Well. I'm going IN and start upon
those beastly letters. Thank the Lord,
Aunt Ellie got them sorted for me"
I'm going to pack" Cissie jumped
won't go while Tad lives right next
door and can run in and out any hour
Of the day, but 1"
But YOU" Nan interrupted hotly.
You want to go because the SORROW
full atmosphere OF this house won't
be conductive to the comfort and
pleasure of Farley Drew"
But cisse had trailed from the
room, and her younger sister was left
| to her own thoughts.
In the smoking-room back OF the
! library Richard Lorne was closeted
with Samuel Tithcrcdge. OF Tither-
edge. Gore & Wells. attorneys and
counselors at law.
Samuel was rs long and lean and
lantern jawcd as Lorne was short and
stou, and round-faced; and the two
had been friends before. 1t was with
the freedom, then. OF absolute
camaraderic that the lawyer advised
! his client.
Dick. don't be an ass. Go to the
authorities with what. ] should like
| 10 know? Sad as the AFFAIR is. can't
see that there is anything strange
about il; 1t isn't at all unusual for
two members Of one family to die OF
! different causes within n month OF
each other. Buck up; and il there is
anything left in your private cellar
take a swig OF IL before you go 10
| bed Why, man, there isn't even z
coincidence in the affair. II you take
such cock-and-b story to head
quarters. do you know what will hap
! pen? Youll get a lot OF derisive
! notoriety that you're not looking for;
and afterward when somebody pro-
poses coming TO you With nice tidy
| investment. somebody else VIII tap
! his forehead Significantly and suggest
another broker"
! But ] say that there is a coinci-
dcncc. Sam" Lorne retorted, logged
! ~ Il may be an ass; but I've lived
, with this thing in my mind ever since
/ the poor boy was discovered lying
! there dead in the bathroom; and I've
/ had time 10 think il over. The
! deaths were both, on the face OF them
! the result Of accidents; but they
might have been deliberately de-
/ signed 70 appear as accidents. Do yor
! ge; ma: Tha, needle which pierced
/ my pooI wife's hand might have beer
dociorcd beforehand: and any on
knowing the state OF Lulian's mind
might nave made sudden noise he.
hind hin: At a critical moment whor
the razor was near the artery. II
would have taken deviiish clever
mind
"or an insane one" The attorne,
unc.ossed his long legs and added
casually. Your theory prcsupposes
then. that II was an inside job"
He paused az Lorue held up warn
ing hand. steps were approaching
over the bare library toor, ard the In
ev!tabie knock upon the connecting
door was followed by cough Of de
precation
Come In. Gene" Lorne called. re
s.gnedly.
IT'S about one Of these con--one o
these letters of coincidence. sir.
Gene nastened 10 correct himself. an
with d far greater respect than h
! exhibited toward his stepfather /
private. He meant TO appear Away
at his best before the attorney VIII
held the family fortunes. IL not /
his grasp, at lcas, under his super
: vision. ITS from womcn--cl-
= the stationery is not quite like ths
= used by any OF our acGuaIntances: a n
can't maze on; the signature
MaDellc' or something
let mo see it," I.orne dcmande
with an almost Unprecedented irasc
bility in his tones. Gene passed ovt
the table a famboyant lavender cI
vclope, and did not betray by mutt,
OF mis- dowrcast yellow iashcs that !
: had observed not only his stepfather
sudden agitation but the attorney
- start Of surprise.
. IN reply TO this one: I see IL
addressed to me-" Lorne was b.
ginning when q terSSc crash in Il
library made him start from his chaI
- why. it's the portrait, The no