The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-09-09
CHAPTER XVII

brought tension to the Offices OF Cor
vet, Sheriff. and Spearrnnn and Ind
called Constance Sheriff. md her
mother downtown where further infOr-
nation could be more quickly OBJ
tained-was handed to Constance by a
clerk az soon as she entered her fu-
theirs office. She reread II; 1t already
had been repeated to her over the teie-
phOnc.
"4:O5 a. M. Frankfort Wireless sta
tion has received following message
from Number Is: we have Benjamin
Corvet. Of Chicago. abOnrd.'"
you've received nothing later than
this1" she asked.
Nothing regarding Mr.. Corvet. Miss
Sheriff." the clerk replied.
THE crew.
Eyes; we have just got the names Of
the crew." lie took another copied
sheet from among the pages and hand
ed 1t to her. and she looked swiftly
down the list Of names until SHE found
that OF Alan Conrad.
Her eyes filled. binding her. Ms Abe
put the paper down. and began to take
OF her things. She had been clinging
determinetliy In her thought to the
belief that Alan might not have been
aboard the ferry. Aims message.
which had sent her father north to
meet the ship. had Implied plainly
that some one whom Alan believed
might be Uncle Benny was on Number
rs; she had been fighting. these lust
few hours. against conviction that
therefore Aim must be on the ferry.
too.
She stood by the desk. us the clerk
went out, looking through the papers
which ne had left with her. What She
was reading WAS the carbon OF the
report prepared that morning and sent,
at his rooms, TO Henry. who WAS not
yet down.
The last message read: &c 40. ~.
toAkcy Is calling ManItowoc. signals
from Number 70. after becoming In
distinct. failed entirely about 5:45.
probably by failure of ships power
to supply current. Operator appears
70 have remained at key. From 5:25
20 8 :43 we received disconnected mes
snges. as follows: Have cleared an
other car they are sticking to
Il down there engine room
crew IL also sticking he'll on
car deck q. everything smashed
they won't give up +.
:. good-h, stuck to END
all they could know
tlist hand 1t to them e.
have cleared another car sink
S. q. Signals then en-
tirely ceased"
Constance had not realized. until the
reports OF the wireless messages told
her that he was gone. what compan-
ionship with Alan had come to mean
70 hen. She had accepted 1t as al
ways to he existent. somehow-a COM
partnership which might be interrupted
often but always TO be formed again.
Il amazed her to find how flrm place
he had found In her world OF those
close to her with whom she must al
ways be Intimately concerned.
The telephone switchboard beside
Constance suddenly buzzed, and the
operator. plugging in connection.
said: Eyes. sir; at once" and through
the partitions of the private office on
the other side. a mans heavy tones
came to Constance. Tint was Henry's
office. and In timbre. the voice was his,
but 1t was SO strange In other charac-
terIstics of expression that she waited
al Instant before saying to the clerk.
"Mr. Spearman has come in7'
The clerk hesltated. but the con-
tlnuance of the tone from the other
side OF the partition made reply su-
perHuous. Eyes, Miss Sheriff."
Constance went TO Henry's door md
raped. He made no answer and no
move TO open the door: SO. after walt
ing u moment, she turned the knob and
went In.
Henry was seated at his desk, facing
her. his big hands before him; one
Of them he'd the telephone receiver
He lifted r. slowly and put-It upon the
hook bes4le the transmItter as he
watched her with steady. silent, ag-
Gressive scrutiny. He did not rise !;
only after moment ne recollected that
be had not done 80 and came to his
feet. Good morning, Connie" he said.
~COme In. What's the news?"
The impulse which Ind brought her
into his office went from her. She had
not seen nor hentd from Henry direct
ly since before Alan's Telegram had
come late yesterday afternoon; she
had heard from her father only TINT
he had Informed Henry; that was all.
i've no news. Henry" she said.
"Have your" She closed the door be-
hind ser moving closer to him.
How did you happen to he here.
ConnieT' lie asked.
She made no reply but gazed mt him.
studying him. The agitation which he
was trying to conceal was not entirely
consequent to her coming In upon him !;
It had been ruling him before. 1t had
onderlaIn the loudness and abuse Of
his words which she had overheard.
That was no capricious outburst Of
temper or irritation 1t had come from
t~k.