The Washington times., 1921-02-24

a lakes.
| be entirely without companionship.
| remain behind.
Larrick Man Of Courage
Others explained Miss Blakeney's
absence by presuming that. for
prank. she had driven to the station
one Of the trucks carrying the bag
gage. or that SHE had walked down
| the road and would await being over
taken by the automobiles In which
the party would travel the fifteen
miles out OF the wilderness.
But Larrick was genuinely alarm
ed and he was the only one In the
party who might have been expected
to repress fear. Before he had dis
covered a cinnabar pocket and large
wealth, he had been a cowboy and is
famed among his new eastern friends
| as a man OF dauntless courage. In a
| Texas saloon he once walked up to
| the muzZle of gun drawn by
drunken and murderous plainsman
OF bravery he had probably saved the
| life of Norry Frewin and certainly
had made the latter his much indebt-
ed friend. Out of this episode came
Larrick's introduction into the rich
and somewhat fast set of which Gle
lila Blakeney was the brightest orna-
ment.
Guests Flee Death Scene
When the wind began rising at the
camp, forewarning the party OF the
storm, all who were determined to re-
turn to New York hurried away in the
motors. Larrick and Mrs. Roantree,
vatvHo tv1iy, ~ hAh nd
ed the search for Miss Blakeney. They
battered down the doors of locked
closets, sent guides hurrying TO dis
explored the woods round about the
camp, and raced along the trails call
ing the name Of the missing girl
There was no lessening Of effort
full fury, but 1t soon rendered hope
less every attempt to trace the girls
movements. She had disappeared as
complstely as II the earth had sI,snei Spsned
tina that when she left the room. il. in
deed. IN had left, she wore only her
thin nightgown and light slippers.
search Larrick's mind kept turning
all the while to the lake, but 1t had
diappeared under a shroud Of snow.
He hoped someone would get through
Miss Blakeney had turned up there
safe and sound.
Texan Keeps Death Vigil
Then. after days of torturing
worry, came his dreadful discovery
of the body and it's strange removal
to the camp. where Larrick. they say.
sat night after night in his room In
death watch that would strike ter
ror into the heart of man less
brave. Through his window he kept
guard over the ghostly statue cf Gle
lia Blakeney in its icy shroud en- the
ID tSs Of the ssmn maT eaeip Mr.,
Roantree, Miss Fleet. who in rising
alarm, returned from the railroad to
the camp in the storm, one of the
artists, whose health forces him to
frightened and helpless servants.
From none Of these has any explain
alton of the crime been obtained
The death of the famous beauty prom
ises to offer for months to come one
of the most excitisg and puzzling Of
mysteries.
Tragedy Presents Many Questions
Did CIelia Blakeney walk in her
sleep from her room and. wandering
to the lake. die Of accidental drown
ingc
Or did this spirited but somewhat
irscrutable girl have morose second
nature which led her to destroy her.
self?
was she the victim of a murderous
attack by jealous suitor. Of whom,
1t is declared. there were at least two
in the camp, one Of them a married
man whose attentions, 1t is admitted,
Miss Blakeney did not discourage?
Did some woodsman, encouraged by
her frankness of manner with all sorts
and conditions Of people, and aroused
by the lure Of her great beauty, en-
ter her room, alarm her, and fearing
~.
her and carry her body TO the lake?
Or did this young woman, known
to be daring up to certain point,
meet her death in one Of the detached
main cabin. The male guests in the
camp each had separate cabin.
Friends Survey Victims Career.
Out of the forests. impenetrable
when snow-filled, come these ques-
tions. Meanwhile. in Miss Blakcney's
circle in New York her friends dts
cuss her career with a view to finding
in 1t some key to the solution of the
She had wealth and great popular
ity. 1t Is admitted she was fond Of
Larrick and Larrick of hec. with
Coykendall, recently divorced, she
Her attitude toward Frewin was less
warm in the later weeks of her life
than previously II had been. She
had no known enemies
There the story of the death of Cle-
liza Blakeney stands, so far as IL has
beon revealed by Rupert Hughes. This
novelist, dramatist, essayist, ,sycholo-
gist and soldier, whose readers exceed
In number those of any other author
in America, has kept concealed the
great surprise which will explain the
tragedy. Much remains to be assem-
bled and set down concerning the life
and habits of the unforttin,t, voupu
woman and all the members OF the
gay circle In which she moved. When
that is done the mystery will be clear
ed away.
Persons Informed regarding Mr..
Hughes methods OF Investigation and
aware OF his genius for narration
await with bated breath his spring
ing OF his surprise. His stories al
ways abound with the unexpected and
his revelation of the mysAry of the
death of Clelia, Blakeney WIN carry
n thrill which WIN reach throughout
the reading public.
The progrcss towards tho soIution