Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-12-01
CHAPTER Vll-Continued.

went on Sunday in the runabout, Cap
tain West?' asked Sexton,
."To a house we In the factory as
trict; some charity case that Coollose
WAS interested in-the widow OF one
Of his employees, believe.
"Did you see tie peopleE
"No, | didn't go in; waited OUTSIDE
in the car; it was no affair OF nine
Why?" he asked in surprise,
"Recause, sir. Miss Natalie seemed
like a different person when she got
back. Not in looks, or nothing ike
that I don't mean, but in the way
she talked and acted. Nothing suited
her all the rest Of the day. You
know how she was to you, sir. wei
she was Just that snappy with all OK
us. even after we brought the BODY
back to the house. And she Wouldht
look at him. sir, not ever after he was
dressed proper and laid out
81 hardly believe" said west
%thoughtfully, you can attribute her
state of mind to anything that oc'
Cured on that trip. Indeed she was IL
high spirits all the way home"
81 can't help that, SIR sexton III
sisted blindly. 1T was something tina
happened yesterday what set ne
wrong, an If | was you, sir, ia INT
out what happened in that house mrs
of all. Could you find the placer
Eyes, | think so. I'll look 1t up, al
though | don't have much faith IN you
theory" He glanced at his watch. i
90 out there now. You come back her
about five, and we will talk over an
discoveries | may make"
"And what shall | do, sirF
Both were standing, West with han
on the knob of the door. The light
his eyes hardened.
Nothing occurs to me now, Sextol
unless YOU can find an eXcuse to retuf
TO Fairlawn, after something you nav
forgotten, let US say. II we can ieai
what Miss Natalie proposes doing
might furnish a clue
Every well, sir, and am to be ne
at five o'clockF -,
eyes, at five l will leave word WI
the doorman to show you IN at once
j West picked up a taxi-cab FOR q
trip, bidding the chauffeur to drive 10
certain section of the city, ana III
up and down the various streets !
III told to stop. His conversation WI
. Sexton had greatly strengthened !
conviction that this was a muru
and he had determined to ferret
the truth II possible. Yet, thus
there was nothing to build upon
clue. no motive, no suspicion as
who had perpetrated the deed.
) simply faced a blank wall in when
. entrance was apparent, yet there m
, ha one. II he was only fortun'
!. enough to stumble upon 1t. Deep 40
: In his heart West was conscious u
i. he possessed a motive IN this sea
o far more worthy than mere curios
That motive was Natalie Coolidge.
smiled at the thought, yet comics
II true. In spite of her curt dlsmls
his memory of the girl centered alb
those earlier hours of their acqua
ance. Something mysterious had
Cured to make her change so quo
Il and he was unwilling to condemn
. before learning the real reason
The chauffeur drove slowly up
down obscure streets for nan
hour before West recognized fam
surroundings, and motioned FOR
to draw up against the curo'
had discovered the place sought,
from the street 1t exhibited no S
Of occupancy, nor did any knockln
the front door bring response
or within He circled the building. +
10, door was locked, but, as ne pa
Ful along the other side to regain the
nj q man emerged from the next nc
and hailed him.
Say, what're yer snoopin r.
there tor? Lookin' for somebody
Eyes, the parties who were
Sunday. What's become OF them
Hobart, you meanY
as that his name2 I met him q
,s~ town, and he told me to come h
md West explained rapidly. I'VE nj
500 deal on"
ED. "oh. yer did, hey" leaning his
vssy on the fence. "well Jim Hobart
sas name nc Siv' me. That's my b