Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-02-24
CHAPTER xiV-continusd.

lied 10, ana YET bo1aA4iAs mas oSNt4 iA''''-S
clear"
at is a devilish conspiracy that has
been plotted for a long while. There /
musf he a dozen involved in 1t, one |
way or another, but, as near as l can /
learn. the chief devil, the brains of the /
gang is the fellow named Hobart. /
Have you known him-longf"
.sNo.n she said doubtfully. mot IN
loss his other name was Jim. There
vas fellow they called Jim. He was
my TAILOR after that woman locked
me into room"
where was tilisT
"Why surely you must know. In that
cottage where we stopped with Per-
cival Coolidge"
He drew a deep breath, more thor
oughly puzzled than ever. What could
be her purpose to make SO bold an
effort to deceive? His heart sank, but
he determined TO 90 on, and learn how
far she would carry this strange tale.
Perhaps out of the welter be could
discern some truth.
1.-THE fellows name is jim, all right,
Tim Hobart The woman passes as his
xlfe. You knew nothing Of all this?'
'No: ! only saw the man twice he
vas very rough then. and swore when
I questioned him"
and the Woman?"
"She would not talk, either; only
once she told me that Percival Coo
Tldee had committed suicide. That
made me wonder, for / believed ne
had something to do with my being
held there. What did he say when
he returned to the auto without me?
What explanation did he make for my
absence?'
Explanation He needed none;
Won came out Of the cottage with
him"
81? What do you meanY
eBut / saw you with my own eyes,
talked with you. and all three of us
drove back to 'Fairlawn' together Ny
Cd, Miss Natalie have you lost your
mind? Do you even deny dismissing
me from your service?"
She eazed at him through the
gloom, utterly unable to comprehend.
Il must have. If what you say IS
true" she admitted, "For / certainly
have no such recollection"
He stared off into the black night
his lips pressed closely together.
Could this be false? Could she sit
there calmly, in the midst Of such peril
an surrounded them, and still de-
liherately endeavor to deceiye2
and you knew nothing Of the death
oC Percival Coolidge, except what was
told YOU by that woman?"
"She brought me a newspaper which
I read: that was all knew"
sAnd in that house on Wray street
where met you again last night And
you talked with me; tried to get me to
quit following you. You surely haven't
forgotten that already?"
She dropped her face YEARLY into
her hands, and her voice sounded list.
less.
II almost believe you are the
crazy one, Captain West. I swear
have never knowingly met, or spoken
10 you since we drove to that cottage
on Sunday. I cannot believe what YOU
say"
Yet It is true. every word true
he asserted stoutly. "Why else should
I be here? You returned with us t.
Fairlawn and we chatted together
pleasantly all the way. Later yoJ
seemed to change and discharged ms
rather rudely. Then Percival Coolidge
was killed-shot down by an assassin
You We're at the Inquest, and testified
The next day you discharged Sexton
and later he learned, and reported T.
me, that some one called you on tht
phone from Wray street, and wantet
you to come over there at once
found you there, and this fellow Ho
bart with you"
but, Captain West, never saw
you; never left the room in the thirt
story where I was locked In, excep
when they took me away In a ma
chine to tine yacht.
"You dropped a note in the alley
enclosed in a silver knlfe?
Eyes, did. Did you find IT."
Sexton did, and that was wha
bT ght me here"
But It is all so strange" she e2
claimed despairingly. How could
have done all .hese thilgs. been In al
these places, and vet know nothin
about it? Could / have been drugge
or Influenced in some way BY thos
peopIe?'
7 do not believe you We're eithe
hyrnotized or drugged. Good Cd
Why did | not think Of this solutio
before? must have been blind; tina
vas not you; I can recall a hundre
little things now to convince me"
What is 1t you mean?"
Another woman played your part
q woman most wonderfully Ike yo'
even TO the voice. There is no othe
solution Of the problem And that r
reals the plan # rot bery-to get 20
oat q the way ana then have ht
take the fortune"
She set silent. motionless. apraren
IS Unable at once ia grasu all 81