The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-18
CHAPTER FTFTY-E EIGHT


ToHN MITCHELL leaned both
y elbows on his desk and froTneo
at the leather desk pad. 1t was
2 O'Clock and he was sitting
in the living room Of his home
The mans face was shocking. Fol-
the last three days and nights
Mitchell had had little sleep. DARK
circles beneath his eyes told OF
long. restless vigils. There were
deep lines in his forehead and MS
cheeks we're pallid.
Mitchell fumbled with a pencil
He did not even know that he was
holding il. For the thousandth
time the man tried to think and
rs always, he came sharply UP
against the same stone wall.
He was failure. He always hao
been a failure. Celia, his daughter,
had left him, just as years before
Margaret. his wife, had gone.
"Oh. Godp' Mitchell groaneo
aloud. He threw one arm across
the desk and closed his eyes.
Where was Margaret now? why
could she not understand his ire
mendous need Of her? 1t was Mar
garet's need as well as his own, re-
allv. Celia was her daughter, TOO.
Couldn't the woman know she was
deserving them both?
A vision Of Margaret, fresh
checked and girlish. came before
him. He saw her with lips parted,
her brown eyes glowing with smile
that was both gay and evasiye.
Margaret The young face was
crowned with dark hair arranged IN
a pompadour. Her gown was blue
the same shade Celia wore occa-
sionally. Margaret had looked ike
that-oh, so long ago!
Mitchell sat UP sharply. what
vas the use of this nonsense?
He turned as he heard a. knock
at the door Edward, the butler,
appeared in response to the call
"Come."
Dinner is served, sir" Edward
announced.
HAS Mr.. Shields come in?"
mot yet. SIR
"Then I'll wait until he comes.
Again Mitchell bent over his desk
and brooded over events of the
past week. 1t was the same story.
At every climax of his life he had
taken the wrong turn.
It was his fault Celia had disap-
peared. He was willing, at this late
date, to admit it was his fault that
Margaret had gone. He saw him
self for what he was-a man grown
prematurely old, slave to the legal
clients whose court battles had
crowded practically every other in
terest from his life.
They had homes, wives and fam
Ties, those clients who profited by
his skill. What had he, John
Mitchell?
THE man cursed beneath his
/ breath. Then he rose and went
TO a small cabinet. He withdrew
a decanter, filled glass, and drank
it.
How blind he had been to trust
Celia to Evelyn Parsonsl Evelyn
was shrewd. She had accepted John
Mitchell for the fool he now knew
himself to be. Oh. widest follyl
Three days and nights had opened
the mans eyes to Evelyn's hypocrisy.
He struggled with the problem
again. There were gaps in the
story. happenings which he was I'M
able to piece together or to inter
pref. Moreover, Evelyn, thwarted,
was still an active enemy.
Mitchell paced the length of the
room. He crossed the floor, turned
and stopped at the sound of tap
ping on the door.
who is itP" he called.
ats /, Mr.. NIitchell-Shields."
"Come inl"
Barney entered the room. Mitch
ell sought the young mans face
eagerly, but found no cause for re-
assurance.
They've lost Jordan!" Barney
blurted out.
"What?"
Barney nodded. i've just come
from IS" he said, mentioning
the detective headquarters. THE
fellow who's been Shadowing Jor-
dan came in half an hour ago and
admitted he'd lost him."
A violent oath burst from Mitch
ellis lips. Shields joined synpa-
thetically In the discussion which
followed. The father was moved
to put the whole matter before the
police authorities.
Maybe that's the thing to do.
Shields. said cautiously, "but unless
we get something more to work on
I don't see how it will help. If
could only guess what was in
Celia's mind"
I'VE won't know that until we
find her. Good God, Shields, I tell
you I can't stand this any longer!"