The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-08-13
CHAPTER vI-continued

II so. who then was Miss Co,rad,,
Not Marie Gessler, certainly. unde
another name, for she would have rc
turned to Washington. There was n,
doubt as to that, for Alva had agreed
10 take her direct TO the depot IN his
own car, and would scarcely leave nm.
I'll she was safely on the train. Prob.
aoiy the other woman was confed.
crate, with whom she would comuuni.
cate by telephone. My clearer iudy.
ment told me all this, made me fulJv
conscious of the danger of keepjnr
this appointment, yet never sweryed
me from an intention to do so. Marie
Gessler's eyes were frank and honest
tney had looked directly into nv own
pleadingly l imagined, and l retained
a Diind faith In her no ordinary CIR
cumsfances would overcome. She was
involved In this criminal conspirncv-
there could be no doubt as TO that
out why? under what conditjons2
Wnat could ever have driven so WON.
AMY woman to such an association,
5 was her appeal to me an effort at ne.
ssstance? Was she blindly endeavor.
ing to learn in this way If was
worthy of trust. and confidence? This
nope would not down; 1t remained in
slstent, persistent. / would keen nv
word; l would go to the place desig-
nafed.. at the hour set; l world 90 !
armed, prepared for whatever mirbt
occur OF treachery-but l would go. |
Perhaps here was the key to the whole
mystery; and once l solved her CON-
nection with the plot. particularly If
aDsoived her from blame. and the
necessity of exposure, / could go for.
ward with clear conscience. ana land
these others where they justly be-
longed.
must have covered four or five
"ocks Immersed in such Thought al
nost forgetful of my surroundings
mead bent low before the rain. INV I
e carelessly slushIng through the
~'ter In pools on the sidewalk. met I
one, heard no sound TO arouse me
ABOUT was dark, desolate. forlorn I
-oeh suddenly l became conscious of d
ne unusual obstruction iust ahead \ L
a nrsf took ii for wrecked wagon 2
v"e against the curb, but another a
lorward revealed the TRUTH de- f
leu touring car, its red tan-lirbt g
-s'ered with mud, and barely visible. 81
/. approached with feeling of relief IL
was not wrecked. no sign of acct d
~ was to be noticed Even in that
s nent could see the machine was II
so.'''hon car, sedan. its glass bril- in
ny "a spite of the rain spatters. and C
paint cleaning brightly. ce
stared about wondering,v h,,. en-
VIC perceive nothing to account for n
presence of such ca. or IRIS an w,
en' Insertion. Up and down hotb w,
ee.s not figure moved: not a m,
reached me but the slouab of w,
WIND. and the patter of rain or
e'eo with the loneliness of II au no
sui'osity led me to cross the muddy Nv
I"uy TO assure myself as TO what ru,
:. strange desertion meant. be,
was no one I'm the car do,
iook straight through the
sssss u windows. against the glare of pre
amp block away. One NJ he
ar doors stood half open. and cr.
E-1,' oy 1t. bent over and foIt =
n Ny nand touched some oh a,a
,,.s,. 'ne floor, and / instantly or
shed up with the thing inc
M IN my fingers. It was a LONG Ta e
Der than ornament N
lful h,lt Thosi -"ith an odd, The
pol,shn', mere were stains upon dis,
. s,ea steel and the moment I NAL
ss,sn, Knew where it had attracted | ,sn,
css saslon oefore-as pin in Ma. tba ..