The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-16
UDlzATB 9Q01S''
CHAPTER xxxr1l

CHAPTER XXXIIl
It was only Is We puffed Out Of
the station, with the first obstacle
surmounted, that / began TO con-
slider what I would do ii New York.
Assuming that the woman who had
come to visit Vail was his wife,
and went 70 his sisters apartment,
how would persuade her TO return
70 Sherwood Forest with me? Ny
trip suddenly began to appear like
the most futile sort Of Wild goose
chase. When ! was with Mark, I
could catch his enthusiasm and op.
timism. but nov . feeling Of help
lessness and depression settled
At that moment, the conductor
arrived, and when ] had bought
my ticket, ] realized that was
hungry and remembered that I had
had no breakfast. I went into the
diner. resolving to think no more
about my errand until I had eaten.
Bacon and eggs, toast and black
coffee were wonderful restoratives.
When I returned 10 the coach, I
felt much moro confident ] still
did not know just what ! would
do, but ] felt that I could handle
the situation when It arose.
Two hours after ] had boarded
Il, the train pulled into the dismal
station Ut Weehawken. I took the
ferry to Forty-second street and
TAXED 70 the address Mark had
given me. t was . large. impress
sive apartment house. guarded By
Q tall Irish doorman. I took the
elevator to the third door and found
Miss Walls apartment In the rear.
A negro maid answered the bell.
Els Miss Vail int" ! asked.
"No cir. Miss Wallis out" she
said.
I paused to consider for . mo
ment and she began to close the
door.
"Do you expect her back today,"
I asked.
mo, cir. she's ont Of town. You
want to leave q message?"
TELL her Mr.. Fowler called
said.
stood FOL" . minute in the hall
a. the door closed. was disguised
With myself. l had planned 70 state
the situation frankly DO Wallis sis
ter, but ! had failed entirely "a
take into account the fact that she
might BE- out. The woman might
have been there and left. for all
I knew.
There seemed % b nothing q
do but wait. I walked down the
hall 70 the stairway and opened
the door leading 70 Il Leaving Il
open slightly. ! rat down on the
top step.
/ had plenty Of time for unpleas.
ant reflections. MY nrst reversal
had shaken my confidence. I real.
lied now that, II the woman did
70 70 see Anne Vail, It would taxi
Q great deal Of persuasion 70 MAKE
her 70 back TO the sanatorium.
saw that ! should have confded Il
Finn. The sheriff had the author
ity 70 force her 70 return. ] hat
none.
! went through . bad half a
hour before ] heard the elevator
stop and the door open. Through
the crack IN tho doorway, ! saw I
woman pass mo. My heart beeal
70 thump. The light was not very
good, but even % ] could see tina
her hair Was . very light blons
and that she wore . cost trimmet
with some sort Of black hair. Shl
went down the hall and ] hearl
her ring . bell. From my position
I could not sec her without putting
my head ont the doorway. but
heard her say. Il want to see Mis-
The maids voice answered. Ssh
"When do you expect her backl'
the woman asked.
Tomorrow, maybe.
! heard the door close and th
woman como down the hall. Whe1
abe had passed me, stepped quietl,
out from behind the door and fol
lowed her. Ny first glanee con
WINGED mo that she WAS the wolna,
whom the taxicab driver had take
20 the sanatorium the day Vail W
murdered. Her hair Was . pal
pably spurious platinum blond, g
Ia hard, metallic waves. She wor
. small black hat and . black coz
trimmed with long, black silky hail
When sho turned % ring for th
elevator ] saw her face - PLUMP
highly rouged, With deep lines .
GelhshneSs and discomfort runnin
70 the corners Of her small uloutl
She Vas short, and her neck IN
hips were fat. I looked at her Wit
. shock Of disappointment.
seemed impossible that she eoul
b the pretty woman whose photl
graphs Vail had kept hidden in b
room.
The woman turned and gave u
. quick, appraisine glance - ] q
preached. Her blue eyos we're pre-
stog1 ord vasyj thay oboaEvo4 b