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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1914)
The Hollow J THE 8EMLWEEKLV TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA. t iPlR of Her Hand 1 ? I 8YNOP8IS. Clinllls Wrnndall Is found murdered In a. road liouto ticnr Now York. Mrs. Wran dnll in summoned from tho city nnd Iden tifies tlir body. A young woman who ac companied Wrandnll to tho Inn nnd nul nequrntly disappeared. In suspected. "Wrnndall. It uppenrs, had led n pay life anil nPRlrrted hid wlfo. Mrs. Wrandall nttirtH unek for Nw York In nn. auto dur ing v blinding snow storm. Oa tho wny nhe inputs a younir woman In tho road who proves to bo the woman who killed WmihUU FeellnR thnt tho xlrl had done lipr a service In lidding hor of the man, "who thotiKh sho loved him deeply, had mimed iier great sorrow. Mrs. Wrandnll determines to shield her and takes her to lier own home. CHAPTER III Continued. Hnlf un hour Intor ho departed, to Tcjoln her nt cloven o'clock; when tho reporter? woro to bo expected. Ho was to do all tho talking for her. Whllo ho waH there, Leslie Wrandall called her up on tho telephone. Hear Ing but one sldo of tho rather pro longed conversation, ho was filled with -worulor at tho tactful way In which nho mot and parried tho lnovltable questions and suggestions corning from her horror-Btrlckon brothor-ln-law. Without tho slightest truce of offonslveness In hor manner, she gavo Leslie to understand that tho tlnal ob woquleB must bo conducted In the liomo of his parentB, to whom once more her husband belonged, and that alio would abide by all arrangements IiIb family elected to make. Mr. Car roll surmised from tho trend of con versation that young Wrandnll was about to loavp for tho scono of tho tragedy, and that the houso was in a state of unspeakable distress. Tho lawyer smiled rather grimly to him self as ho turned to look out of tho window. Ho did not have to bo told that ChalHo was tho idol of the family, and that, so far as thoy were con cerned, ho could do no wrong! After his departure Mrs. Wrandall gently opened the bod room door and wbb surprised to find tho girl wldo awake, resting on one'elbow, her stnr Ing eyes fastened on tho newspaper that topped tho pile on tho chair. Catching sight of Mrs. Wrandall sho, pointed to tho paper with a trembling hand and criod out, in a votco full of Lorror: "Did you placo them therq for mo to road? WhQ "was with you in tho other room Juat now? Was It some one About the Bomo ono looking for mo? SpoakI Please tell mo. I heard a Man's voice " Tho other crossed quickly to her Ide. , "Don't bo alarmod. It was my law yer. There ia nothing to fear at pres et Yos, I loft tho papers thero for you to Bee. You can boo what a aonsn ilon it has 'caused. Clinllls Wrandall wan one of tho most widely known fflten In Now York. But I supppBe you know that without my telling you." The girl sank back with a groan. "My God, what have I done? What will come of it all?" "I wish I could answer that ques tion," uaid tho other, taking tho glrl'8 hand In hors. Doth woro trembling, After an lqntant's hesitation, alio laid her other4 hand in tho dark, diohovelled hair of tho wild-eyed croaturo, who still continued to staro at tho head lines. "I am qulto sure thoy will not looklfor you horo, or in my homo." i "In your homo?" "You arq to go with mo. I have thought It all over. It is tho only way. Como, I must aalc you to pull yourself together, dot up at onco, and' dross, Hero nro tho things you aro to woar." Bho Indicated tho ordorly pllo of gar ments with a wavo of hor hand. Slowly tho girl crept out of bod, con tused, bowlldorod, stunned. "Where aro my own things? I I tonnot accopt those. Pray glvo mo my own ' v Airs, Wrandall checked hor. '"You must oboy mo, if you expect sue to help you. Don't you understand tlmt I have had a-a boroavemont? I cannot woar these things now. Thoy -aro useless to mo. But wo will speak of all thut later on. Come, bo quick; (I will help you to dress. First, go to ttho tolophono and ask them to Bond n 'waiter to thoflo rooms. Wo must have something to cut. Please do ns I tell yoH." Standing boforo hor benefactress, Iier fingers fumbling impotently at the neck of tho night-dross, the girl still coutlnuod to ntaro dumbly into the calm, dark oyes boforo hor. i "You aro so good. I I" "Let mo help you," Interrupted tho other, deliberately Betting about to re move tho night-dress. The girl caught it up as It sllppod from hor shoulders; a warm flush suffusing hor face, a ahamed look springing Into her eyes. "Thank you, I can get on very well. I only wanted to ask you a Question. It has boen on m mind, 'waking and sleeping. Can you tell mo anything about do you know his wlfo?" Tho qucBtlou was so abrupt, so start ling that Mrs. Wrnndall uttered a sharp llttlo cry. For a moment she could not roply, "I am so sorry, so dosporately sorry for her," added tho girl plalutlvely. "I know hor," tho other managed ic ay with an effort. , "If I had only known that ho had a wife-" began tho girl bitterly, almost wngrlly, Uii. Wrandall grasped hor by tho COPy?Mr.W2 arm. "You did not know that ho had a wlfo?" sho cried. The girl's eyes flashed with a sud den, fldrco flro In their depths, "God In heaven, no I I did' not know it until Oh, I can't speak ofit! Why (Should I toll you about lt7 Why should you bo Interested in hearing It?" Mrs. Wrandall drew back nnd re garded the girl's sot, unhappy face. There was a curious light In hor oyes thnt escaped tho other's notlco a light that would havo puzzled her not a llttlo. "But you will tell mo ovorythlng a llttlo later," she said, strangoly calm. "Not now, but boforo many hours havo passed. Flrat of nil, you must tell mo who you are, where you live ovorythlng excopt what happened in Burton's inn. I don't want to hoar that at presont perhaps never. Yes, on socond thoughts, I will say nevorl You aro never to tell mo just what happoned up there, or Just what led up to It. Do you understand? Never!" Tho girl stared at hor In amaze ment "But I I must toll some one," sho cried vohomontly. "I havo a right to defend myeolf " "I nm not asking you to dofond your self," said Mrs. Wrandall shortly. Then, as If afraid to remain longer, oho ruahod from tho room. In tho doorway, sho turned for an lnstnnt to say: "Do as I told you. Telephone. Dress as quickly as you can." Sho cloned tho door swiftly. Standing In the conter of tho room, hor hands' clenched until tho nails cut the flesh, sho said over and over again to horaolf: "I don't want to knowl I don't want to know!" A few minutes later sho was critical ly Inspecting tho young woman who camo from tho bedroom attired in a street dress that neither of them had ovor donnod before. Tho girl, looking fresher, prettier and even younjjor than when sho had seen her last, was In no way abashed. Sho seemod to havo accepted tho garments and tho situation in tho samo spirit of resigna tion and hope; as If sho had decided to mako tho most of her slim chance to profit by those amazing clrcum stanoes. Thoy eat opposite oach othor at the llttlo breakfast table. "Pleaso pour tho coffee," Bald Mrs. Wrnndall. Tho waiter had loft tho room at her command. Tho girl's hand shook, but sho complied without a word. "Now you may toll mo who you aro and but wait! You aro not to say anything about what happened at the inn. Guard your words carefully. I am not asking for a confesston. I do not caro to know what happoned there. It will mnko It easier for mo to protect you. You may call It conscience. Keep your big secret to yourself. Not ono word to me. Do you understand?" "You mean that I am not to rovoal, even to you, tho causos which ls"J up to" "Nothing absolutely nothing," said Mrs. Wrandall firmly. "But I cannot pQrmltvyou to Judgo mo, to woll, you might say to acquit me without hearing tho Btory. it Is so vital to mo." "I can Judgo you without hearing all of tho tho evidence, if that'B what you moan. Simply answer tho ques- "You Did Not Know Ho Had a Wife?" She Cried. tlonB I shall ask, and nothing more. There aro certain facts I muat havo from you If I am to shield you. You must toll mo tho truth. I take It you are an English girl. Whero do you live? Who are your friends? Whore Is your family?" Tho gtrl'a faco flushed for an Instant and thon grow palo again. "I will tell you tho truth," sho sail!. "My namo Is Hotty Castloton. My fa ther Is Col. Braid Castloton of . of the British army, My mother le dead. Sho was Kitty Glynn, at one tlmo a popular mualo hall porformor in Lon don. Sho was Irish. Sho died two years ago. My father was a goutle man. I do not say ho Is a gontloman, for his trentraont of my mother re lieves him from that dlstlhctlon. Ho !b in tho for east, China, I think. I havo not seen him In moro than flvo years, Ho doaqrtod my mother. That's all thoro la to that sldo of my Btory., I ill 111 Yr 1 ffwr In thW W (wW umit Georgia Barr McCutcheon OY GtORGF&Afti StSClrVJrOA : COFrMS 92 3YDODD,Af!DSrCOifAiY appoarcd in two or three of the musical pieces produced In Londpn two acusons ago, in tho chorus. 1 never got beyond that, for very good reasons. I was known as Hotty Glynn, Three weeks ago I started for Now York, sailing from Liverpool. Previ ously I had sorvod In tho capacity of govorness In tho family of John Bud lon, a brewer. They had a son, a young man of twbnty. Two months ago I was dismissed. A California lady, Mrs. Holcombe, offered me a sit uation ns govorness to hor two little girls soon afterward. 1 was to go to her homo In San Francisco. Sho pro vided tho money necessary for the voyage and for othor expenses. Sho' Is still in Europe, I landed in New York a fortnight ago and, following hor directions, prosonted myBolf nt a certain bank I havo tho namo soma whore whero my railroad tickets woro to bo In readiness for me, with further instructions. Thoy were' to glvo mo twenty-flvo pounds on tho pre sentation of my letter from Mrs. Hoi combo. Thoy gavo mo tho monpy and then handed mo a cablegram from Mrs. Holcombe, notifying mo that my sorvlcca would not bo required. Thero was no explanation. Just that. "On the steamor I met him. His deck chair was next to mine. I no ticed tjint Ills name was Wrandnll 'C. Wrnndall tho card on tho chair In formed me. I " "You crossed on the steamer with him?" Interrupted Mrs. Wrandall quickly. ' "Yes." "Had had you aeon him before? In London? "Never. Woll, wo became acquaint ed, as people do. Ho ho was very handsomo and agreeable." She paused for a moment to collect horaolf "Very handsome and agreeable," said the other slowly. "Wo got to be very good friends. There wore not many people on board, and apparently ho know none of thorn. It was too cold to stay on deck much of tho time, and It was very rough. Ho had ono of the splendid suites on the" "Pray omit unnecessary details. You landed and wont where?" "Ho advised mo to go to an hotal I can't recall tho name. It was rather an unpleasant place. Then I went' to the bank, ns I havo stated. After that I did not know what to do. I was stunned, bewildered. I called him up on the telephone and ho asked me to meet him for dinner at a queer little cafe, far down town. We " "And you had no friends, no ac qialntajiccs here?" N "No. Ho suggested that I go into one of tho musical shows, saying ho thought he could arrango It with a manager who was a friend. Anything to tide mo ovor, he said. But I would not consider It, not for a Instant. I had, had enough of tho Btage. ' I I am really not fitted for It. Besides, I am qualified well qualified to be gov orh'osa 'but that fs neither' herb nor there. I had somo money perhaps foi;ty pounds. I found lodgings with some peoplo In Nineteenth Btreot. Ho never camo thero to seo mo. I can seo plainly now why ho argued it would not be well, ho used thj word 'wise.1 But wo went occasionally to dlno together. Wo wont about in a jnotor a llttlo red ono. He ho told mo ho lovod me. That was ono night about a week ago. I " "I don't caro to henr about It," criod tho othor. "No need ot that. Spare mo tho allly Bldo of tho atory." "Silly, madam? In God's name, do you think It was silly to me? Why why, I belloved him! And, what Is moro, I bellovo that ho did lovo me oven now I believe It." "I havo no doubt of It," said Mrs. Wrandall calmly. "You aro very pret ty and charming." "I I did not know that he had a wife until woll, until" Sho could not go on. "Night boforo last" j Tho girl shuddered. Mrs. Wrandall turned her faco away and wnlted. "Thoro Is nothing moro I can toll you, unless you permit mo to toll all," the girl rosumed aftor a moment ot hesitation. Mrs. Wrandall aroso. "I havo hoaid enough, Thts after noon I- will Bend my butlor with you to tho lodging houBO in Nlnotoentu street Ho will attend to tho removal of your personal effects to my home, and you will roturn with him. it will bo testing fnto, Miss Castloton, this visit to your former abiding placo, but I have decided to glvo tho law Its chanco. If you aro suspected, a watch will bo set ovor tho houso In which is qulto unknown, (you will run no risk In going thero openly, nor will I bo taking ao great a chance as may np- Ipear In offering you a bomo, for tho tlmo being at loaat, as companion or socrotary or whatever wo may olect to call It for tho benefit of all Inquirers. Aro you willing to run the risk thts single risk?" "Porfectly willing," announced tho other without hesitation. Indeod, hor face brightened. "It thoy aro waiting thoro for me, I shall go with them without a word. I havo no moanB ot expressing my gratitude to you for " "Thoro la tlmo enough for that," said MrB. Wrandall quickly. "And it thoy are not thero, you will return to me? You will not desert mo now?" Tho girl's oyeB grow wide with won der. "Dosert you? Why do you put It In that way? I don't understand." "You will come back to mo?"lnslst ed the othor. "Yes. Why why, It menus every thing to me. It means life moro than thut, most wonderful friend. Life isn't vory sweot to mo. But the Joy of giving It to you forovor l tho dear OBt boon I crave. I do glvo it to you. It belongs to you. I I could dlo for you." She- dropped to her knees nnd pressed 'her lips to Sara Wrandnll's hand; hot tears fell upon it. Mrs. Wrandall laid her free hand on tho dark, glossy hair and smiled; smiled warmly for tho first tlmo In well, in years sho might have said to herself If sho had stopped to consider. "Got up, my dear," sho Bald gently. M Am Challls Wrandall'a Wife." "I shall not ask you to dlo for me if you do come back. I may be sending you to your death, as It Is, but It 1b the chanco we must take. A few hours will toll tho tale. Now listen to what I nm about to say to propose. I offor you a home, I offer you friendship and I trust security from the peril that confronts you. 1 ask nothing In ro turn, not oven a word of gratitude. You may tell the people at our lodg inga that I havo engaged you an com panion and that wo are to sail for Eu rope In a week's time If possible. Now we must prepare to go to my own homo. You will see to packing my that Is, our trunks " "Oh, It It must be a dream!" cried Hetty Castleton, hor eyes swimming. "I can bolleve " Suddenly she caught herself up, and tried to smile. "I don't seo why you do this for mo. I do not deserve " "You have done mo a aervlce," said Mrs. Wrandall, her manner so peculiar thnt the girl again assumed the stare of perplexity and wonder that had boon paramount since their meeting; as if sho woro on tho verge of grasp ing a great truth. "What can you mean?" Sara laid hor hands on tho girl's shoulders and looked steadily Into the puzzled eyes or a moment before speaking. "My girl," sho said, ever so gently, "I shall not as'k what your life has been; I do not care. I shall not ask for references. You aro alono in tho world and you need a friend. I too am alone. If you will come to ;no I will do everything In my power to make you comfortable and contented. Por haps It will bo Impossible to mako you hnppy. I promise faithfully to help you, to shield you, to repay you for the thing you have done for me. You could not have fallen Into gentler hands than mlno will prove to be. That much 1 owoar to you on my bouI, which Is sacred. I boar you no Ill-will. I have nothing to avengo." Hotty drew back, completely mystl flod. "Who aro you?' she murmured, still staring. "I am'Challls Wrnndll's wife." CHAPTER IV. While the Mob Waited. Tho next day but ono, in the huge old-fashioned mansion of the Wran dalls in lower Fifth avenue, in tho drawing-room directly benoath tho chamber In which Challla was born, tho Impressive but grimly conventional funeral services wero held. Contrasting sharply with the som ber, absolutely correct atmosphere of tho gloomy Interior waa tho exterior display of Joyous curiosity that must havo Jarred severely on tho high-bred sensibilities of the chief mourners, not to speak ot the Invited guests who had boen obliged to pass between rows of gaping bystanders in drdor to reach tho portals ot the houso ot gner, and who must havo reckoned with extremo dlstasto tho cost ot subsequent de parture. A dozen raucous-voiced pa llcemon were employed to keep back tho hundreds Uiat thronged the side walk and blocked tho street. Curiosity wm rampant Ever slnco the moinont that the body of Challls Wrandall was carrlod into tho houso of his father, a motloy, varying crowd of peoplo shift ed restlessly in front of tho mansion, flUod with gruosome Intorest In tho ab solutely unseen, nnlmated by tho sly hope that something sensational might happen If thoy waited long enough. Motor after motor, carriage after carriage, rolled up to tho curb and emptied its sober-faced, solf-consclous occupants In front of tho door with tho great black bow; with each arrival the crowd surged forward, nnd names woro utt6red In undertones, passing from lip to lip until every ono In tho street know that Mr. So-and-So, Mrs. Thls-or-That, tho What-Do-You-Call-Ems nnd othera of the city's most ex clusive but most garishly advertised society leaders had entered tho house of mourning. It waa a great show for tho plebeian spectators. Much hotter than Miss So-nnd-So'a wedding, said ono woman who had attended tho aforesaid ceremony as a unit In the well-dressed mob that almost wrecked tho'carrlnges In tho desire to see the terrified bride. Better than a circus, said a man who held hla little daugh ter nbovo the heads of the crowd so that she might see tho fine lady In a wild-beast fur. Swollest funeral Now York over had, remarked another, ex cepting one 'way back whon ho waa a kid. At the cornor below stood two pa trol wagons, also .waiting. Insldo the houao sat the carefully Belected guests, hushed and stiff and gratified. (Not because they wero at tending a funeral, but because the oc casion served to separate them from tho chaff; thoy wero tho olect) It would bo going too far to Intimate that they wore proud ot themselves, but It Is not stretching It very much to say that they counted noses with consider able satisfaction nnd woro glad that they had not been left out Tho real, high-water mark In New York society was established at this mcmorablo function. A'J one after tho other ar rived and was ushered into tho huge drawing-room, he or sho was accorded a congratulatory look from thoso al ready assembled, a tribute roturned with equal amiability. Each one noted who elso was thero, and each ono said to himself that at last they really had something all to themselves'. It was truly a pleasure, a relief, to be ablo to do Boraethlng wltlftut being pushed about by peoplo who didn't belong but thought they did. They sat back stiffly, of course and in utter stillness confessed that thero could bo such a thing as tho survival of the fittest Yes, thero wasn't a nose thero that couldn't be counted with perfect bq renltj. It was a notable occasion. Mrs. Wrandall, tho elder, had made out tho list She did not consult her daughter-in-law in the matter. It is true that Sara forestalled her In a way by sending word, through Leslie, that she would be pleased if Mrs. Wrandall would Issue invitations to as many of Challls friends as sho deemed advis able. As for herself, sho had no wish in the matter; she would be satisfied with whatover arrangemontB tho fam lly'cared to make. It Is not to bo supposed, from tho foregoing, that Mrs. Wrandall. the eldor, wag not stricken to tho heart by the lamentable death of her Idol. He was her Idol. He was hor first born, he was her love-born. Ho camo to her In the days when BhoIoved her husband without much thought of re specting him. Sho was beginning to regard him ns something moro than a lover when, Leslie came, so it wae dif ferent When tholr daughtor Vivian was born, she was plainly annoyed but wholly respectful. Mr. Wrandall was no longer tho lover; ho was her lord and master. The head of tho houso of Wrandall was a person to be looked up to, to be rospqeted and admired by her, for he waa a very groat man, but ho was dear to her only because he was tho father of Challls, tho first born. In tho order of her nature, Challls thereforo was her most dearly beloved, Vivian tho least desired and last In her affections as woll na In sequence. Strangely enough, tho three of them perfected a curiously significant rec ord of conjugal endowments. Challls had always been tho wild, wayward, unrestrained ono, and by far tho most lovable; Lesllo, almost as good look ing but with scarcely a notlccablo trace of charm that mnOo his brother attractive; Vivian, handsome, selfish and ns cheerless as tho wind that blows across tho Icebergs in the north. Challls had been born with a widely enveloping heart and an elastic con science; Lesllo with a brain nnd a soul and not much of a heart, as things go; Vivian with a soul alone, which be longed to God, aftor all, and not to her. Of course she had a heart, but It waa only for tho purpose of pumping blood to remote extremities, nnd had nothing whatever to do with anything tfo unutterably extraneous as lovo, charity or self-sacrifice. As for Mr. Redmond Wrandall ho was a very proper and dignified gentle man, and old for his yoars. It may bo seen, or rather surralsod, that If tho houso of Wrandall had not boen so admirably centered under Its own vino and fig tree, It might havo become divided ngatnat Itself without much of an effort Mrs. Redmond Wrandall wbb tho Ylho and fig troo. And now thoy had brought her dear ly boloved son homo to her, murdered and disgraced. It It had beon olther of tho othera, she could havo said: "God's will bo done." Instead, sho cried out that God had turned against hor. Lesllo had had tho bad taste or perhaps It was mlsfortuno to blurt out nn agonized "I told you so" at a tlmo when tho family was sitting numb and hushed undor tho blight of the first horrid blow. He did not mean to bo unfeeling. It wns tho truth burst ing from his unhappy lips. "I knew Chal would como to thl3 I know It," ho had said. His arm was about the quivering shoulders of his mother as he said it. She looked up, a sob breaking In her throat. For a long time alio looked Into tho fnco of hor second son. "How can you how dare4 you say such a thing as that?" sho cried, aghafit Ho colored, and drow hor closer to him. J "I I didn't mean it," ho faltored. "You have always taken sldea against him," began Ills mother. "Pleaso, mother," ho cried miserably.- "You say this to mo now," sho went on. "You who are left to take hlB placo In my affection why, Leslie, I 1" Vivian interposed. "Los Is upset mamma darling. You know he loved Challls as deeply as any of us, loved him." Afterwards the girl said to Lesllo when thoy wero qulto alone: "Sho will never forgive you for that, Lcb. It waa a beastly thing to say." Ho bit hla lip, which trembled. "She's never cared for mo as sho cared for Chal. I'm sorry if I've made it worse." "Seo here, Leslie, was Chal so 80" . "Yes. I meant what I said a whllo ago. It waa sure to happen to him ono tlmo or another. Sara's had a lot to put up with." "Sara! It flho had been tho right sort of a wlfo, this never would have happened." "Aftor all la said and done, Vivie. Sara's in a position to rub it in on us if she's of a mind to do so. Sho won't do It, of course, but I wonder If sho ien't gloating, Juat tho same." ' "naven't we treated her as one of us?" demanded she, dabbing hor hand kerchief in her eyes. "Since the wed ding, I mean. Haven't wo been kind to hor?" "Oh, I think sho understands us perfectly," said her brother. "I wonder what Bho will do now?" mused Vivian, in that speech casting her sister-in-law out of her narrow little world as one would throw asido a burnt-out match. "She will profit by experience," said ho, with some pleasure In a superior wisdom. In Mra. Wrandall's sitting room at tho top of the broad stairway sat tho family that Is to Bay, the immediate family a solemn-faced footman In front of the-' doorHhat stood fully ajar so that tho occupants might hoar tho worda of the minister aa they ascend ed, sonorous and procise, from the hall bolowv A minister was ho who knew tho buttered side ot his bread. His discourso was to bo a beautiful ono. -He stood at tho front of the stairs and iHniw He Did Not Mean to Be Unfeeling. faced tho assembled listeners in tho hall, tho drawing room and tho entre boI, but his Infinitely touching words went up ono flight and lodged. Sara Wrandall sat a little to the left of and behind Mrs. .Redmond Wran dall, about whom wero grouped tho three remaining Wrandnlls, father, son and daughter, closely drawn together. Well tp tho fore woro Wrandall uncles nnd cousins and aunts, and ono or two carefully chosen blood relations to tha mlstroes of the house, whoBO hand had lohg beon Bet against kinsmen of less exalted promise. ITO BE CONTINUED.) Beyond the Styx. Plato Lot mo see; They con demned you to dlo, but permlttod you to chooso tho manner of your death. Am I right? Socrates That's right I told thorn hemlock Juice was my poison. I said Ico cream first, but thoy mado me guosB again, Puck. i -JM !).'"' -LJtttuM:..
