Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1922-12-07
CHAPTER TX
Death Interyenes

| The following morning police head
quarters began the search for the lit
tie grey haired man who had sud-
denly come into Importance, due TO
| his threat TO kill Leonard Whitmore
| There was little or nothing that could
| be used as a clue to his identity, but
that did not seem 10 discourage either
Miss Carson or Detective Richmond
who maintained that If the man were
stu upon this earth they would know
his whereabouts though il might take
'hree months or three years. l can't
say that had great deal of con-
hdence in their ability TO locate this
stranger; to me it was merely wild
goose chase. Jack Marion, on the
contrary, felt buoyed by the new hope
however. small, that the success of
the search held out TO him.
Day after day phoned Miss Car
son for the latest results, but they
wore always vague and uncertain.
The newspapers scoffed at the police
lamenting the lack of real detective
ability on tho force. and limiting that
this case was doomed to go down with
many others in the annals of unsolved
mysteries. The public was chatting at
the delay. for they constantly demand
new and startling sensations, and
grow impatient If the newspapers do
not supply them.
with the meager information was
able to give, ii is small wonder the
detectives made slow progress in their
man-hunt. had repeated the con-
ve'sation between Whitmore and the
other man as / had heard it, given a
description of this stranger, but be-
You'd that ! was of very little assist
ance, especially as ! was called to San
Francisco by one OF my clients. / did
nc wish to go, for l should have pre-
ferred remaining in Washington. the
city that harbored all that I most
! loved in the world.
The night before / was 10 leave /
determined to pay a goodbye call on
Agnes whom l had not seen for what
seemed TO me an eternity, though in
reality il was barely two weeks. Mr.
Msrion was smoking in his den when
! was announced. His genial face
was drawn and pale, but at sight of
me IL lighted with the welcoming
smile that had ever been mine.
IT has been such a long time since
You have been here" he said. after the
first greeting: but realize the tre-
mcndous strain you have been under
with this terrible affair"
Il leave for San Francisco tomor-
row on business; | shall probably be
gone several weeks. came over tc
say au reyOir..
''The family will be delighted to
see you. Jack has told you about
Agnes? Yes? Then you must be pre-
pared for the great change you will
see in her. Alan. this thing is simply
killing her by degrees. She has en-
shrined Leonard as saint, thinking
he was too good. too noble to live;
that he is waiting for her in the Be-
yond, and that she desires to go to
him. 1t is a living torture to listen
to her! If something does not hap
pen, and happen soon, she will be with
Leonard before the month is out. The
doctors are in despair. nothing they
can prescribe is of any help. She
takes her medicine with the docility of
a child but it isn't that, she is letting
this grief crush her; she does not
want to live. Ny God, what can we
do"
turned my face away not to let
him see the effect of this speech
upon me. My heart almost stopped
beating; my eyes felt like Jumps of
burning coal. and yet 1 shivered in
spite of the heat of the room. What
could say? What comfort could /
offer?
will it not ease her mind when the
assassin is found?" l murmured un-
steadily. The police are working on
some new evidence. If they succeed
the man will pay the penalty. Leonard
will be avenged"
( Il don't think that would helm
Agnes any," replied her father. shak-
Ing his head sadly. Besides, she has
worked herself into believing that
Jack is the guilty man. That is all
nonsense. of course. Jack is rash and
high-tempered. but he is only a boy /:
he would not kill or harm anyone
even in a moment of anger. You
can't argue with Agnes. or try to con-
vince her differently. No, doubt ii
the discovery of Whitmore's slayer
would help. Well, Alan. let us go up
stairs now to see her. for You TO say
4 goodbye"
Unsteadily l followed him up the
wide siaircace. HE last words echoins