The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-11

>nsl lie had olrelaily retalnei
from esea suggesting the Sex ot his
HfySferiaus siFitor. rcrslvai coolldge
knen. without being tOld. that the
caller Wss = woman. Then be also
knew who that woman weS
Toe morning meal proved delightful
" informal. Natalie gracefully pr~
siding. and apparently In the highest
sF'lrfts No inumasion of anything
e'rons haraenes those present The
s.pgle seaaut siieaie performing his
dailes - the cuuslani laughing ehaf'
tef of those about the table. ENen
csssildge somewhat distant a nssi.
,iolscd finally io the prevailing humog.
and ioined frcely IN the conversation.
Iias turned AZ last % ihe plans for
The day. revealing 4 variety ~ Do
slres Watch Natalie arranged % Trau.
~ 'ooildge. rather 90 TIE surprise
~ ne lady. suggested thai Natalie ac,
company him luto the clts pu q special
eriand of merey At nrst amid Tie
cesseless elattcr Il .onnles, West was
anshlc 10 gusp tie nature IL his ploa.
~ her reply. hut finally overheard
enough tu arouse MS personal Interest.
especially when Ms own name was
meniionea ia the discussion.
= WAS not swafe yoa ever con.
oernei Yourself ln such matters she
said sobcrls IL must be attended 60
today
~fhe case Is very urgent, am told"
'nut how can I leave my guests
especially Captain westT
West leaned forward
DO not hesitate on my account
can easily nmuse myself. or II therc
u room. aud Il Is no, disagreeable 10
Mr. Coolidge. might enjoy being o.
the party"
"Nhy of course she colncided
eagerly "why couldn't he come
alongi There win be plenty % room
u operate The car. IL Is case of
destltuiion OF which Uncle Pcrci,sl
has Just learned-s widow and three
children actually suffering. Surely Il
can Do no harm for Captain West 70
accompany usT7
Coolidge exhibited no enthusiasm
over The proposition: Indeed West felt
his response almost discourieous yet
this very suspicion aroused his own
desire 20 make one of the party. The
man was not pleased with this now
proposal, that was evident enough.
but the niece unqves,ionably desired
him 60 accept the invitation Not
only her lips, but equally her ewes.
pressed the matter. and West experi.
enced no hesltancy IN saying yes.
"Why Of course l win 90" be re-
turned heartily. "and will be ready
whenever you are"
About hair an hour then"
lie retired TO the room upstairs,
partly for the purpose of exchanging
his coat, but also half tempted 20
make hasty examination q the va.
lise which Coolidge had thoughtlCssly
left overnight. The conception had
already taken strong hold on his mind
that his visitor of the evening before
had been the mysterious lmpefsonator
~ Natalie Coolidge; and that She had
come there with some deliberate pur
pose-no doubt secret conference
with rcrciyal.
Tor what purposef To Vests mind
only one object appeared probable.
The man WIS too far advanced in lie
certainly much above sixty from his
sppcarance-to be involved IN love
affair with 50 Young and attractive
woman. Some other purpose. demand
Ing Immediate attenti'n must furnish
the reason for her veu,ariug 10 enter
this house al such az hour. aud com
Ing directly 10 the room where she
supposed Coolidge 10 be sleeping To
Vests mind there could be but one
answer Tho two were mutually IN
VOWED In conspiracy of some nature.
undoubtedly connected with the sp-
preaching settlement ~ the Coolidge
estate This girl. 70 strangely rcsem-
bling Natalie. had IN some way been
discovered BY the schcming guardian.
who was now using her for his own
selfish ends. She had been selected.
and trained 10 act part-tbe part 20
Natalie Coolidge Her ability 70 de-
ccive had been tested IN various ways.
Now the moment approached when
they we're ready 70 play out the real
game Yet the nature ~ that game
was In no way apparent lie could
only keep quiet. and walt for some
further development. even appear In
different. while he secretly watched
every suspicious movement Of Percivnl
Coolidge.
Il was not AZ all probable the sstchel
contained any eliminating evidence.
get the temptation was strong 70 OBJ
tain. II possible, q hasty glance at the
contents. But for this he was already
too late, scarcely reaching the room
indeed. before Sexton appeared. an
uouncing his mission
Coolidge tells me he usually occu-
pied this ROOM West yentnred curl
ously. How did II happen I was put
"a heref'
II was upon order from Miss Ma
ialle. sir. but she did not mention the