Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-27
THE MYSTERY GIRL
,nnr Romance Of Battling Plot Th,obbne Loos Interest
BY CAROLYN WELLS
oAt 1884, j. B. Npptnoon Company sv LEDGE, sdea..

because, Lockwood spoke very
qnietiy. but his jaw was set in n
Stubborn way, "the lady you call Miss
Mystery IS young and defenseless
glrl, without so far as I know.
friend In this town. 1t is unfair to ac-
cuse her on the strength of this fan.
tastic story and It is unfair to condemn
her unheard. -
-, Not unheard," said the attorney.
put what she says only incriminates
her more Deeply
The funeral services of John waring
were solemn and impressive. No refer.
ence was made to the manner Of his
taxing off, save to call it mysterious.
ana the encomiums heaped upon him by
the clergy and the college faculty were
rs sincere as they were well deserved.
Ihere were two members of the great
audience who were looked at with cur
iosity by many.
One Of these was Miss Mystery, the
girl who. 1t was vaguely rumored. was
IN some way connected with the tragedy.
To look at her. this seemed impos.
slble, for a sweeter face or a gentlcr
manner could scarce be imagined.
Anita Austin sat near the front, on
| one OF the side aisles. She wore gown
or taupe- -colored duvetyn, and a velvet
toque of the same color. Her olive face
was pale, and now and then her small
white teeth bit into her scarlet lower
UP, as If she were keeping her self
control only by determined effort.
a close observer might note that she
PAD no heed to the utterances of the
able men who gave tribute to John
warnings character. but her troubled
eyes rested on the flower covered cas-
ket' and the rising tears overhowed as
she stif1ed an occasional sob.
And then. fairly clenching her hands
IN determination to show no emotion,
this strange girl would straighten IN.
and stare blankly ahead of her as if in
utter oblivion Of the scene.
directly behind her was Helen Pey.
ton. who had chosen that place with
the intention of watching Miss Mys-
| terry. Mrs. Peyton was by her daugh.
ter's side. but her whole attention was
on the funeral services. and she thought
of little else.
Traitor Buttons
Not far off was Gordon Lockwood,
and with him were Mrs. Bates and her
nephew. Pinckney Payne. OF this trio
only the secretary let his gaze wander
now and then to the sad little face That
was rapidly becoming the dearest thing
In life to him. AS the church filled,
and the flower. scented atmosphere grew
oppressive. Miss Austin let her coat fall
from her shoulders. and Lockwood noted
with start that she wore the same
gown she had worn to the lecture mt
which he first saw her. Again he
counted the queer little buttons that
edged the sailor collar. He shook his
| siinI a.. anu sIea' leei'is OF compassion
"ponr cbilin - bo s,,, J.. ,;,,ao,x
"ubot doos ~ ,u ,, u " hiii'"e'i' ;
| ,r, .''' ~ "'' ne"n
Inc other magnet for strangers eyes
was Maurice lrask. the relative OF
John Waring, VINO had come from his
nome IN st. Louis, to take possession
OF his inheritance.
For, in the absence Of any will, he
had prove, proved himself the next of kin, and
hau glahly, even eagerly. taken the reins
of government of the affairs and home
or the dead man.
ne was the son OF John Waring $
cousin, and. though the two men had
never met, the credentials and records
Drought by Maurice Trask left no pos
slDIe doubt as to his heirship.
Trask was not prepossessing Of ap.
pearance. though he was we'll hammered
and moderately well dressed. His lack
was that OF sophistication. and he
seemed ignorant OF the finer conven- =
tions of life. He was what is known
as a self made man, and men of home
manufacture require some sterling
qualities to start with If they are to
turn out satisfactory product.
These qualities Trask didn't have,
and first glance at the sharp featured
race gave ah impression OF greed ana
'ntC~ NV uhess. ,.,
ihere was also u s'isnt ar OF pra ,
Suoo. Mnicn was Hulle esluen,E caused
W an uneasS i'e.r"s Oh lhier'"r'lS. re
soeu " eus' "ni uS goo" US you
arc, pscause MS convlclloh OF mat
lact neeaeu some Such assertion 10 DOL
s'cr ~ up
IN MS seat as cHIet i,lourner' ne was
uecorun user; nis piack garb was
wy piach' an" IL ~ pc'laSeu provln-
tlai cut OF nt; suc,, an enecL was more
III heeP'ms M,'n .n' INA" ina" correcl
aPPare' wouio nave pceh'
nis gr,'l h''shl hnEe Ser'urG 'r'hc
|psishlalious PSI 10 on" VINO re'ieHlp'r'" ne
Aau never seen ms ms co"slh' put on 'hr
Wno,e .n ',L niauricc aln;h was accepteu ny
tnoee Mnose 'uli'S"s "" ~ cr,,i @ ic!sth
estate. -,
yer, Ior Ionn Narlns' besides us pro,
icssion' had written several successful
DOORS, anu PosSesseo III I'LL GoouiS
Nnrooror ,boro r.os -, rrstorv
about Trask HI lifo wos On oman
book tho Iowvors had said :. his family
troe was of correct rocord and bjs cia;nT,
~ tHo estnto clear ond trrn
.1. -,