The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-09

the truth If possible. Yet, thus Ear
there was nothing to build upon, 20
clue, no motive, no suspicion as to
who had perpetrated the deed. He
simply faced a blank wall, in which no
entrance was apparent. yet there must
be one, If he was only fortunate
enough to stumble upon Ii. Deep down
In his heart West was conscious that
he possessed motive In this search
FAR more worthy than mere curiosity.
That motive was Natalie Coolidge. He
smiled at the thought, yet confessed
1t true. In spite of her curt dismissal,
his memory Of the girl centered about
those earlier hours Of their acquaint-
ance. Something mysterious had oc-
Cured to make her change so quickly,
and he was unwilling to condemn her
before learning the real reason.
The chauffeur drove slowly up and
down obscure streets for half an
hour before West recognized familiar
surroundings, and motioned for him
to draw up against the curb. he
had discovered the place sought, but
from the street It exhibited no signs
or occupancy, nor did any knocking at
the front door bring response from
within. He circled the building. Every
door was locked, but, as he passed
along the other side to regain the taxi,
man emerged from the next house,
and hailed him.
"Say, what're yer spoopin' round
there for? Lookin' for Somebody
"Nes, the parties who were here
Sunday. What's becoms Of them?
"Iiohart, You meanY'
as that his name? met him down.
town. and he told me to come here"
West explained rapidly. awe had q
deal on"
"Oh, yer did, hey" leaning his arms
on the fence. well Jim Hobart was
the name he Civ me. That's my house,
which Is why I happen to know what
his name was. Something queer about
that fellnr, I reckon, but 'taln't mona
o my business. You amt detec-
tive, or nothin' like that. are yerT
Nothing at all like that" West
laughed, although interested. "Why?
Did you think the police might be
after him?"
"Not for enything know about,
only he skipped out mighty sudden.
stayed there three days. That looks
sorter queer. Then Sunday that fellar
what committed suicide out SOUTH
read about 1t In the papers-came to
see him In car. ! got q boy workin' in
his factory. that's how come to know
who the guy was. The next night
Hobart an them with him, just natur-
ally skipped out"
"Who did he have with him here-a
family?"
"a woman bout his age, 1 should
say, an a younger one. l didn't see
'em only from the window; didn't get
no sight o the girls face at all, but
could tell the way she walked she
was young. They didn't have nothin'
with 'cm; that's nll my stuff In the
house there"
Feeling the uselessness Of trying to
learn anything more, West thanked
him, and returned to the taxi.
Back to the club" he ordered brief.
ly, and settled into his seat to think.
The information thus gained had
been small enough. yet sufficient TO
stimulate his belief that he was ae
least upon the right trail. The sudden
departure of this man Hobart, and the
fact that no young children were In
the family, were important items to
consider. Coolidge, then, had not
visited this cottage to aid a widow
and orphans. There had been some
other object in his call. The girl must
have known and understood the real
purpose; that was why they both ac-
quicsced so readily to his remaining
outside In the car. II was part of
their mutual plan to thus leave him
in ignorance. Yet they had made a
mistake in taking him along Mt all.
This error alone gave him now an op-
portupity to unravel the riddle. But
did II? What did he know? Merely
that Coolidge had not gone to this
house ON an errand Of charity; TINT
the occupant called himself, tenn
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