Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1921-08-18
CHAPTER Vl-continued

~ so. who then was Miss CO1rad?r
Not Marie Gessler, certainly, under
another name, for she would have re-
turned 10 Washington. There WAS no
doubt as 20 that. for Alva had agreed
10 take her direct to the depot in his
own car, and would scarcely leave IN
al she was safely on the train. Prob
sbly the other woman was a confed-
crate. with whom she would cOmmunI-
cate by telephone. My clearer judg-
ment told me all this, made me fully
conscious Of the danger Of keeping
this appointment, yet never swerved
me from an intention 10 do so. Marie
Gessler's eyes were frank and honest
they had looked directly into my own.
pleadingly I Imagined. and I retained
a blind faith 81 her no ordinary cir
cUmstances wOSld overcome. She was
Involved in this criminal conspiracy
there could. be no doubt as TO that
but whyf under what conditions
N,kss-sanld ever have driven so WON
anly a woman 20 such an association?
Was her appeal 10 me an effort at as
ssstance, Was she blindly endeavor-
ing 10 learn In this way IL I was
worthy OF trust. and confidencef This
hope would not down; Il remained in
sistent. persistent. I would keep my
word; would go TO the place desig-
mated. at the hour set; I would 20
armed, prepared for whatever might
occur Of treachery-but / would 20.
Perhaps here was the key 10 the whole
mystery; and once I solved her con-
nection with the plot, particularly II
Il absOlved her from blame, and the
necessity Of exposure. I could go for
ward with clear conscience, and land
these others where they justly be.
lOnged.
must have covered four or Eve
blocks Immersed in such thought. al.
most forgetful Of my surroundings,
my head bent low before the rain, my
feet carelessly sllshing through the
water in pools on he sidewalk. met
no one heard no Found to arouse me
all about was DARK, desolate, forlorn
Then suddenly I became conscious OF
some unusual obstruction just ahead
At first I took ii for a wrecked wagon
lying against the curb, but another
step forward revealed the truths de.
serted touring car. fits red tan-lighr
plastered with mud, and barely visible
I approached with a feeling Of relief
Il was not wrecked no sign OF acci.
dent was to be noticed. Even in that
dim light could see the machine was
no common car. sedan. fits glass bril-
liant in spite OF the rain spatters, and
its paint cleaning brightly.
stared about wOnderingly, but
could perceive nothing TO account fol
the presence Of such a car, or its ap
parent desertiOn. Up and down bOtt
streets not a figure moved; not q
sound reached me but the slough Of
the wind, and the patter Of rain.
shivered with the loneliness Of IL all
as curiosity led me TO cross the muddy
parkway 10 assure myself as to what
this strange desertion meant.
There was no one In the car.
could look straight through IN,
dimmed windows. against the glare Of
a street lamp a block away. One Of
the rear doors stood half open, and
tempted by II. I bent, over and fell
within. My nand touched some oh
Ject on the floor, and I Instantly
Strengthened up with the thing
gripped in my fingers. II was a long
thin-bladed dagger-an ornament
rather than a weapon-with an odd
tanciful hilt. There were stains upor
the polished steel; and the moment
saw II. knew where II had attracted
my attention before-as a pin IN Ma
tie Gessler's hat