The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-27
CHAPTER II


that evening, was just reaching the
point of a story which had been inter
rupted by frequent bursts of laughter
when the club hallboy approached the
table and informed Mr.. Ranger that
be was wanted on the telephone.
Ranger laid down the cigar he had
lighted.
He made his way through the din
ing room, a big. good-looking. domi-
1ant man and into a telephone-booth.
'Loripg!" His wife's voice came
quaveringly over the wire. "Oh, I
am so glad to get you. I'm terribly
worried. Hope went out this morn
ing and hasn't come back yet And
it IS 9 o'clock"
Where did she go7'' he asked.
ITO have luncheon with Lucia
Thorne. Then she expected to do an
errand or two and come home"
Ranger laughed easily.
She's gone to some party with
Lucia. Probably she teiephoned, and
they've neglected to give you the mes
sage"
NO" Mrs. Rangers tone was posi-.
tive. I've questioned all Of the serv-
ants. Then I called up the Thornes.
Mrs. Thorne says that Hope left them
a few minutes after 2, telling them
just what she told me, about attend
ing to her errands and then coming
home. She and I were going to a
play this evening"
Now. now. Mary Lou" he spoke
soothingly. there's no reason to get
excited. You know as we'll as do
that Hopes perfectly able to look
out for herself-no one better"
But he was frowning as he uttered
the reassuring words; the incident
disturbed him more than he cared to
have his wife know.
You're all in" he said, pretending
to be concerned only on her occount;
so I'm coming home at once. II she
isn't there before I am, I'll trace her
for you in no time"
He glanced at his watch as he hung
up the receiver. Twenty minutes
after nine.
He lost no time in excusing him
self to his guests, and, hurrying out
to a taxi. told the chauffeur to take
him home, and step on It."
her agitation, Mrs. Ranger recounted
az faithfully as she could the con-
versation between Hope and herself
that morning and the program the
girl had outlined for her movements.
Ranger, who had listened intently
to her report, gave a puzzled shake
Of the head, and, stepping into the
hall, spoke to the butler.
i've sent for Highly" he said, re-
turning. He'll probably laugh at
us as a couple Of fools. But 1 don't
care. We need the cool advice of an
outsider"
Eustace Highly was Rangers attor-
ney and warm friend Of the family,
away.
1.-THE trouble is. we've given her
too free a hand. Mary LOU" Ranger
grumbled "Ahr' starting up as he
heard the hall door close. There
she is now?'
But it was Highly, the lawyer, not
Hope, who, in response to the buffers
direction turned into the library
Something wrong?" he asked
sharply.
But as the explanation proceeded,
the lines about his eyes began to
crinkle. and at the finish, as Ranger
had predicted. he gave mirthful
chuckle.
I'm atisfed you two are making
mountain out Of a very insignif-
cant molehill," he insisted optinisti
celly. Still, to relieve all of our
minds, I'll make sure"
He busted himself at the telephone,
his Investigations lasting some time,
owing to the extreme care he took
to avoid any opportunity for publicity;
but in the end he was able to an
nounce that no young woman an
swering to the description OF Hope
Ranger had been reported at any of
the hospitals or station-houses of the
city as the victim of an accident or
sudden Illness.
The lawyer sat thinking. pulling at
his chin. Then he got up with an
air of decision and reached for his hat.
I'm going down to talk to Lucia
Thorne," he said. 'She was the last
person we know of that Hope saw,
and her most intimate friend, wasn't
she? Well" in answer to Mrs.