The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-11-23

d.Tet ia caid aiaaa
sliHg hy ehomi For what purpaser
~Ihcse points are noi lei deter
mined am only sure u ihe cf.me
"les. hni bat son suspect ihn iies
hagi Isnl that truef You came here
seeking him-yes and me. You even
think I know how tlus death occurred
Nou you connect Il With my fortune
Ne, Miss Natalie be protested
silently. moved by her agitation. Tile
enuSe = mystery. and Niso dld u
equally mysterious The evidence thus
far nueauhed Is ali circumstanliai "
"1fsn why did you come oal here
searching Tor ilohauf
~Recause 81 hts strange meeting with
perci,al Coolidge the very hay u bis
death because his sudden disappear
ancc furnished the only clue
~And that IS an The knowledge you
possess absolutely alif
"Nes am no more than rrnplue in
the dark Ny main object Ia coming
WIS GO put sou on your guafd
You have repeated these suspicious
81 40 ore eisef The pollcer
~ro no one onls Sexton and have
even talked the matter over We are
both too loyal 10 you 90 ever say a
word which might he 20 your injury Z"
SHE suddenly hcld our her hand, and
De took IL, conscious % the nrm clasp
81 her fingers
Il ihanl YOU Captain West" she
said sincerely. "and believe your pur-
pass vas honorable You have told me
fmukly an you suspect. and doubtless
soa have reasons You have sinply
made mlslakr that is an rcrcival
Coolidge vas not murdered he Killed
hlusolf because he had inuddled my
affairs. and knew be was about 70 be
discovered You have got upon
wrong trull VIII youshccepi my word
for this. aud drop the whole matter
herefr
West was almost convinced. but not
quite; the explanation had not been
sufficiently explicit.
This man Hobart--who Is he What
connection does he have with your NJ.
fairsT
She hesltated slightly yet her eyes
dld not fall. or her apparent cor
dlality change.
mir. Hobart" she explained. Il
have known for years. told you be-
fore be was once in my fathers em-
ploy Now he Is private detective.
and was employed on my case, before
! advertised for sou. thought then
be was not accomplishing anything.
but M our interview Sunday. all was
cleared up
an the presence OF Perciyal Cool.
idgeF'
"Ycs; be was given a week IN which
10 siralehten matters. That Is why
he killed himself
But why IS Il necessary for you
10 meet Hobart In a place like this
q verliahle thieves denT'
She shrugged her shoulders. releas.
Ing his hand.
"He has not completed his work.
and does not think Il best for us to
be seen together. ! know him so well
I am not al all afraid. even here. Ia
that all. Captain westY
'It seems 10 explain everything" he
admitted. yet FAR from satisfied.
"Aad you win drop the whole AZ.
falrf" she asked anxlously.
"If say yes-what17
"You VIII be released from here, o.
course. and the whole minndersiand-
ing forgotten"
And otherwisei'
Il have no means of knowing What
the men intend 70 do. They viii ac-
cept your pledge. am sure"
"Posslblys but am not 50 sure I
will consent 10 give such pledge"
Then you DO not accept my word;
do not believe what have told Hou7"
Not that exactly. Miss Natallei
could have faith fl your word. ex-
cept that believe you 20 be mistaken.
deceived. Hobart is not square: be Is
using you for bis own ends. Under
these conditions, would b. a coward
70 give such a promise. and leave you
helpless IN this mans power
"You intend then 20 refusey
Il do. IN fight lt out.
She stared 81 him. scarcely belIev-
Ing her own ears her lips parted. a
look Of angry fright In her eyes.
"You are a fool. Captain West" she
burst forth At last. unable TO hold
back the words. Il have done my best
for you. and you spurn that. Now look
out"
She stepped backward. stan trout
Ing him. and. with hand behind her.
raped sharply on The panel Of the
door
The change IN the girl was 50 pro-
nouneej. her action 50 impetuous, as
70 leave West startled and silent The
thought came 70 him instantly that
she was not the innocent victim he
had supposed. Her words and move
mehts expressed disappointment. rath-
er than regret. She was angry 1T his
choice. ready TO withdraw from him
nil sympathy. ali assistance. Her plea
had failed. and the woman bad be-