Williams news., 1922-09-01


 MT. John welton. -sTE-T Blue Rapids, Kansas. Dear MT. Welton:
 'It is possible that Alan Conrad
 has mentioned me-or at least told you of my father-in connection with his stay in Chicago. After Alan left
 Chicago, my father wrote twice to his
 Blue Rapids address, but evidently he
 had instructed the postmaster there
 to forward his mail and had not made
 any change in those instructions, for
 the letters were returned to Alan's ad-
 dress and in that way came back to
 us. We did not like to press inquiries
 further than that, as of course he
 could have communicated with us If
 he had not felt that there was some
 reason for not doing so. Now, how ever. something of such supreme i'm portance to him has come to us that it is necessary for us to get word to him at once. If you can tell me any address at which he can be reached by telegraph or mail-or where a mes senger can find limit will oblige us very much and will be to his interest" :"
 She hesitated, about to sign it; then, impulsively, she added:
 .-' q trust you know that we have Alan's interest at heart and that you can safely tell us anything you may know as to where he is or what he may be doing. We all liked him here so very much. ."
 She signed her name. There were still two other letters to write. Only the handwriting of the address upon the package, the Manitowoc postmark and the shoe box furnished clues to the sender of the ring and the watch and the other things. Constance her self could not trace those clues, but Henry or her father could. She wrote to both Of them, therefore, describing the articles which had come and re- lating what she had done.
 The next noon she received a wire from Henry that he was "coming up." It did not surprise her, as she had expected him the end of the week.
 Late that evening, she sat with her mother on the wide, screened veranda. between the points and moving swift ly caught her attention. AS 1t entered the path of the moonlight, its look was that she arose. It was his way, as soon as he had decided to leave busi- ness again and go to her, to arrive as soon as possible; that had been his way recently, particularly. So the sight of the yacht stirred her warmly and she watched while 1t ran in close, stopped and instantly dropped a dingey from the davits. She saw Henry in the stern of the little boat 1t disappeared in the shadow of a pier =. she heard, presently, the gravel of the walk crunch under his quick steps, and then she saw him in the moonlight among the trees. She went down on the path to meet him.
 "How quickly you cameI''
 You let yourself think you needed me, Conniel''
 He had caught her hand in his and ne held it while he brought her to the 1er mother. Then he led her on past | md into the house.
 When she saw his face in the light, | here were signs of strain in 1t.
 You're tired, Henry!''
 He shook his head. Its been rot | en hot in Chicago; then I guess I | vas mentally stoking all the way up | lere, Connie. But first, where are | he things you wanted me to seer"
 She ran upstairs and brought them | town to him. Her hands were shak- ng now as she gave them to him; she | ,ould not exactly Understand why; but fer tremor increased as she saw his jig hands fumbling as he unwrapped he muffler and shook out the things | t fnclosed. He took them up one by 'ne and looked at them, as she had | lone. His fingers were steady now, | ut only by mastering of control, the .ffort for which amazed her.
 He had the watch in his hands,
 'The inscription is inside the front" he said.
 She pried the cover open again and cad, with him, the words engraved within.
 "'As master of - What ship was le master of then, Henry, and how lid he rescue the Winnebago's peo- ,le?'
 "He never talked to me about things ike that, Constance. This is an?"
 "Yes."
 Henry put the things back in the 'ox. Of course, this is the end of Benjamin Corvet."
 ''Of course" Constance said She vas shaking again and. without will ng 1t, she withdrew a little from Hen y. He caught her hand again and Irew her back toward him. His hand vas quite steady.
 uick as I could? You know why T. vhy my mind was behind every thrust if the engineST