Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-13
Mysterious Sweetheart
BY ELLA WISTER HALNES
W AA< n
downright 1921
4 4 \ a a 4 \ u a \ Il - \ \ \ \ - nj

munications concerning the Reynolds
estate. Starting West today. John
Carr"
This beats the Dutch Paul ex.
claimed. Lets take them one by
one"
Then begin with yours" Frank
agreed.
Mine is the simplest OF all. An
unknown traveller was found dead in
this car this morning"
"Whew!' Frank gave a low
whistle
my ticket bears the name Of Mark
Day. worse luck. and by some strange
coincidence Walter and a woman &C.
cupied the drawing .room-Ander the
name Of Mr.. and Mrs. Brown, getting
off before daylight at the junction
from which they telegraphed you.
That left this young girl, a couple
Of Salvation Army lassies and myself
alone in the car. There was a broken
chain about the mans neck, which
led the conductor to suspect that he
had been robbed I'll tell you more
about that later: it's been a mighty
nasty affair. What 1 want to know
now is. how could my fathers widow
havel telegraphed me from Santa Bar
baraI and yet be on this train? If
she were on this train why haven't
seen her?'
How long since you have seen
herr" Frank asked.
Paul hesitated
Must be five years." he said, remi-
niscently. Fact is, she's almost a
stranger to me. 1 was n kid at first
living with with my grandmother,
then a school and the war and col
lege; then dad kept me so closely in
the New York Office that have only
been to Santa Barbara once. Mrs.
Reynolds invariably became i'll every
time dad brought her East. and on
several Of their visits / did not see
her on account Of being out Of town.
remember her as very young and
handsome woman brilliant blonde"
shes still wonderfully young
looking Frank commented. See
here, Paul, suppose that telegram
never came from Santa Barbara. or
even from Western Union? Some
body telephoned it to you."
But, Frank, what is behind all
this? There is some mystery about
my fathers will--the sealed codicil,
not to be opened until six weeks after
my fathers death, the strange word
ing of the will itself. / cannot imag-
inc how Il man of his ability and
experience could have made such q
mess Of his will. Surely he must
have known it would cause trouble
And how you and Burns even allowed
him TO do such q thing is another
appalling question. What is in that
codicil? | feel exactly as if I were
a Conan Doyle detective story
Perhaps you are. We seem to be
dealing with the family skeleton, all
right, but the will can wait. Let's get
back to these messages. II Mrs.
Reynolds telegraphed from this train
you surely must have seen her. Wen
go through in a few minutes and
find her,'
IF she had been on this train.
Frank. the conductors would know
it. for the name Of Reynolds has
been very prominent in this car to-
day. believe me, However. Well make
TO Walter now. I know from the
conductor that Walter wired our New
York office this morning before we
changed trains at junction.
He had a woman with him who made
herself conspicuous by wearing gloves
throughout the trip, even during a
card game. What does his wife look
like? l have never seen her"
II only know that he is married."
SAID + rank. nave never seen ner
either
THE devil you haven't. l think
can bet on the reason for John Carr's
communication. The conductor told
me that Walter had wired our New
York office. He has a copy Of the
telegram. but he would not show it
to me-.
THAT explains Carr's sudden trip.
At any rate" Frank agreed. lets
so through the train now and see
every blooming person in it,
you're sure you would know Mrs.
Reynolds if you saw hero
Know her! Like my own sister.
Well" said Paul. with a sigh of
relief, that's some comfort" In his
heart he experienced d great sense
of thankfulness at the thought Of the
presence of his stepmother upon the
train. for he could enlist her sym.
pathies in regard to 0arolita and
place the girl Immediately in her
charge. He followed Frank with
rising hopes.
1t was a long train and the two
young men went through it three
times, scanning every face again and
again. During their trip Paul was
able to introduce Hyatt to both CON
ductors, and was relieved to find that
his friends arrival had strengthened
his own position, but, to their utter