Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-22
The Case and The Girl
"Rut his partner?'


propped up against door. Likely
he'll never know what happened to
him, or where. He amt nothing to
be afraid of-just butler with
cracked head. It's the other guy who
has got the brains. Come on; let's
take look out in the alley"
Their shadows vanished up the
stairs, the glow of light disappearing,
and leaving the cellar in impenetrable
darkness West did not venture to
move. however, content to wait until
thoroughly assured the way for es-
cape was clear. He had not learned
much from this conversation, except
to increase his convictions that seri-
Gus crime was being contaminated.
The full nature of this conspiracy was
as obscure as ever; rendered even
more doubtful indeed, by the active
participation of Natalie Coolidge.
This was what puzzled and confused
him the most. He could no longer
question her direct interest in the
affair, or hen willingness to assist
in overcoming his efforts. Even with
out the free testimony of the men
this fact was sufficiently clear She
had deliberately lied to him, attempted
deceit, and then, when he refused to
to Hobart, and left him to his fate.
1t was manifestly impossible for him
to bel eve in her any longer. Yet what
could it all mean? how could she hope
to benefit by such an association?
Why could she thus shield the MUIR
derers of Percival Coolidge? What
possible object could there be in the
commission of this crime, except to
gain possession of her own fortune?
1t was all mystery to his mind; new
unanswerable question arising wher
ever he, looked.
What strange influence could this
man Hobart exercise over the girl?
To Vests judgment he was in no
way the sort of man to appeal to Ma
talie Coolidge. He was of low, cum
ming order, with some degree of out
ward polish, to be sure, yet inherently
tough, and exhibiting marks Of a
birthright which indelibly stamped
him of a social class far below her
own. Surely, she could not love the
fellow, yet unquestionably he pos
sessed mysterious power over her
difficult to explain through any other
hypothesis If West had not known
the young woman under different con,
ditions, he might have accepted this
theory, and dismissed the whole mat
ter from mind. But it was the haunt
ing memory Of that earlier Natalie
Coolidge, the mistress of Fairlawn.
which would not permit his complete
surrender. She had seemed all that
his dream of wOmanhood called for
Unconsciously, he had given her his
heart. and he could not tear the re-
membrance from mind. There was
something wrong. terribly wrong ;
what 1t was he had no means of know
ing, yet, there in the dark, he deter
mined he would know, would never be
content until he learned the whole
truth All his hope, all his future, de-
pended on the answer.
Hobart and Turner were absent for
some little while; the sound Of their
voices ceased, but the distant flicker
of the lantern enabled West to trace
their progress up the alley, and then
back again. They returned In no
pleasant humor, convinced that their
expected victim had escaped safely,
but made no further effort to search
the yard West, confident at last that
the way was clear, wriggled out from
his place Of concealment behind the
barrel, and stood erect. He felt
stronger now, and in less pain, con-
vinced that his injuries were in no
degree serious. The darkness was so
intense he had to grope his way for
ward, anxious to make no noise which
might betray his presence.
In the intensity of the gloom, his
sense of direction failed taking him
somewhat further back before he
finally located the exact position of
those outer steps. Then as he turned
abruptly, his foot came in contact
with an obstacle on the floor. For an
instant he could not determine what
it was; then, with thrill of horror.
he realized the presence of human
body. There was no sound, no move
ment, and West drew back from con-
tact with the object. shrinking in
horror. Then he gripped himself
sternly-whoever, whatever this was,
he must know. Alive or dead he must
determine the truth. He bent over.
feeling with hands in the darkness.
The flesh was warm; it was no cold
corpse he touched, but living human
being; ay! tied like a mummy, I'M
able to move hand or foot. Then, as
suddenly. his cropping fingers, eager
enough now, discovered the cause of
silence-the man was gagged, cruelty
gagged, helpless to utter sound. ~
The situation once realized. West
worked rapidly. If this bound man
was Sexton, the quicker he could be
! released the better Hobart had al
ready revealed his plans, and might
appear at any moment for the pur-
i