Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-12
Who Stole the Bride? And Why?
The Night of the Wedding
By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON
Authors of THE Lightning Conductor and other asc-
mating romances of mystery and love
Copyright Public Ledger Company
wHo,s WHO IN rHx STORY

hOS WAO 4N 4A1 03S@8
EVELYN HASTE, beautiful and rich
girl, who sits down at the piano on
her wedding night--and mysterious
~ disappears.
KENNEDY HASTE, her husband. who
suspects completely ON the part Oh
his old war ccmrade.
SIR RAWpON WELLS. an amateur
scientist, who has insisted on lend
ing the couple Hidden Hall Court,
his gloomy and mystery-ridoen es-
tate, for their honeymoon. and who
is found after the disappearance IN
secret chamber.
PANDORA, a gipsy-like girl. adopted
sister OF kennedy and secretly IN
MISS GILLETT. an ex-war nurse.who
fell in love with Haste in a hoSpt-
tai. and who Is an intense person.
pAGON. Youthful Scotland YARD de-
tectiVe. who has done Slorihed spy
work" in the war. He is of vivid
Latin temperament though cana
dian in training.
~ Couldn't Have Taken Revenge"
"Allow me-" he said politely. and
glanced from the snapshots OF
beautiful, smiling Evic Carroll in her
| wedding dress, TO Sir Rawdon's face.
Wells dark skin had flushed and,
!. seeing the detectives eyes on him,
/ he appeared TO hesitate whether he
, should let the little incident pass in
silence or make some explanation.
After an instant he decided on tn.
| latter course.
These photographs were taken
Yesterday at the wedding reception
! of Captain and Mrs. Haste by my
cousin, Haolo MaSnani," he said. II
that is--Id mentioned 10 him l
was coming down here last evening,
and l suppose as he addressed this
letter TO me ut the Court he must
have forgotten that | didn't expect
TO stop the night. IL all had been
well. | should have been on my way
TO New YORK. by this time. But
actor folk never remember other
peoples engagements and seldom
their own"
Now, why is Wells annoyed with
himself for telling me about his
! cousin sending the letter here. and
why did he stumble about SO, trying
TO get out Of the sCrape the best
way lie could" pondercd DaSon.
I've often seen your cousin on tho
screen" the detective said aloud. Il
have heard him called the hand
soonest man star, as well as one of
the best romantic actors, in the
! moving picture world"
lie might have added, But I
didn't know till now that you two
We're cousins" Instead, however. he
said: 81 see he's Il good pho
tographer as well as good TO photo
graph"
YES. he's a keen amateur photOg-
rapher,' the other agreed. apparently
! rather surprised that the detective
should pursue a subject which seem
ed TO hold no interest for him.
"l'aolo asked permission to do these
yesterday. That smile on the
| brides face looks tragic now--as
things are. | suppose you've seen
many portraits of--Miss Carroll +?
She was much photographed for
newspapers"
II knew her slightly" Dagon said.
Wells turned an astonished glance
upon him, and the detective quietly
repeated the information he had
given Anson-how, while trying TO
spot thief he had posed az n
footman in Mrs. Payntor's New
York house.
Miss Carroll wouldn't have re-
membered me, or recognized me IL
she had" Dagon finished. But, OF
course. no one who'd ever seen her
could forget what she was like"
I'm glad you've seen her." Wells
''''N' ''ts VII lilP, 40 you 1nlnK
any human being, man or woman
could have the heart to hurt such
4 lovely creature? Could you-no
matter what the provocation?'
L don't know" Dagon answered,
his manner changing, so that he
spoke. not as an official spy, but az
one man to another. Il don't know
| am supposed 10 have Italian blood
in my veins, and whether it's that
or not, anyhow I've had black moods
when ! could imagine myself doing
anything"
u have Italian blood in my veins,
And I've had those moods too"
said Fawdon Wells. Il don't conceal
from you that my mood wasn't far
from black when | knew that | was
to he thrown over for NV host
friend. No use to conceal it. Every
one knows or guesscs. But I
couldn't have taken revenge on the
girl.
= couldn't have hurt Miss Car
roll and II wouldn't wouldn't muir
DER her, certainly wouldn't have
stopped TO kidnapping, especially
after she'd married another man.
Still-if the circumstances were only
little different. I'd take the guilt
on myself instead of letting Pandora
haste be suspected for single
hour"
What do you mean: IL the cir.
cumstances were n little different ?"
asked Dagon. but, of course. don't
answer that question unless you
wish"
" do wish" said Wells. You are
detective sent here by Scotland
iard 10 find out what's become of
Mrs. Haste, and suspicion points nv
way In spite Of what that poor child
SAID. You have a right to suspect
me. and perhaps you do. But
can't help feeling If we'd met In n
happier way, We should have been
friends The reason is, you look
very much like some one cared
Tor great deal, and can't get the
resemblance out OF my head, So |
90 wish TO talk frankly to you-that
Is, az frankly as | can, and I'll glad
~ tell you what my meaning was.
IL was this: | cant. even for PAN
dora's sake, say that was such an
abomlnable villain as to harm tho
irlde OF my oldest pal, In my own
mouse, where Id invited them t,otb
~ would be too sickenlng! Even IL
Pan-Miss Haste-wers still in
prison protesting her guilt.
couldn't do that, I'm afraid. She'll
be cleared in any CASE"
I'm not so dead sure Of that"
Dagon cut in.
You must clear her-while she
Keeps out Of harms way" Wells
hung at him. with a sudden chal-