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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1914)
. W v V-'i t""V -t '"'!:' ' Ml THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. u The Hollow IV ' fi. of Her Hand ffir ! I i v k J H; B-; ,i i, i? i ; ' b 8YN0PSI8. Challls Wrandall in found murdorod In a road house nenr Now York. Mrs. Wrnn dnll In summoned from tho city and Iden tifies tlio body. A yoUhg woman who ac companied Wrandall to the Inn and ub HequMillv disappeared, Is suspected. Wratidall, It appears, had led n cay life and neglected his wife. Mre. Wrandall starts bnek for New York In an auto dur ing a blinding snow storm. On the way die mei'ti) u you hk womnn In tho road who proves to bo tio woman who Killed Wrandall. Feeling that tho girl had done lii-r a service in ridding her of tho man who though sho loved liltn deeply, had caused her great sorrow. Mrs, Wrandall determines to Bhlold her and takes her to her own home. Mrs. Wrandall hears, tho story of Hetty Caatloton's life, except that portion that rotates to Wrandall. This and the story of the tragedy she forbids tho girl ever to tell. 8ho offers Hetty a liomn, friendship and security from porll en account of tha tmgedy. Mrs. Bara Wrandall and Hotty attend the funeral of Challls Wrandall at tho homo of his fiarents. Sara Wnndall and Hetty re itrn lo New York after an absence of a year In Europe, Leslie Wrandall, brother of Challls, makes himself useful to 8am and becomes greatly Interested In Hetty. CHAPTER VI. Continued. Sara and Hotty did not stay long In town. The newspapers announced tho return of Challls Wrandall'B widow and reporters Bought her -out for inter views. Tho old lntorest was revived nnd columns were printed about the murder at Burton's inn, with sharp editorial comments on the failure of the pollco to clear up tho mystory. "I ehall ask Lcsllo down for tho week-end," said Sara, tho third day after their arrival In tho country. The house was hugo and lonely, and tttno hung rather heavily desplto tho glori ous uplift of spring. Hetty lobked up quickly from her book. A look of dismay filckored in her eyes for nn Instant and then gave way to tho calmness that had como to dwoll In their depths of late. Her lips parted In tho eudden Impulse to cry out against tho plan, but sho checked the words. For a momont her dark, questioning oyoB studied the face of her benefactress; then, ns It nothing had been rovealod to her, sho allowed her gaze to drift pensively out toward tho sunset sea. They were sitting on tho broad vorandah overlooking tho sound. Tho dusk of evening was beginning to steal over tho earth. Sho laid her book aside. "Will you telephone In to him after dinner, Hotty?" went on Sara, after a long period of sllonce. Again Hetty started. This time a look of actual pain flashed in nor oyoe. "Would not a nolo, by post bo moro certain to find him in the " sho be gan hurriedly. "I disllko writing notes," said Sara calmly. "Of course, dear, If you feel that you'd raUier not tolophouo him, I can" "I dnro say I am finicky, Sara," apol ogized Hetty In quick contrition. "Of courso ho is your brother. I should romem " ' "My brother-in-law, den," said Sara, a trifle too literally. "He will como often to your liouso," went on Hotty rapidly. "I must make tho best of it." "Ho is your friend, Hetty. He ad mlroB you." "I cannot see him through your eyee, Para." "But ho is charming and agreeable you'll admit," persisted tho other. "Ho Is very kind, and ho Is devoted to you. I should liko him for that." 1 "You have no causo for disliking him." "I do not dislike him, I I anwOh, you always have been so thoughtful, s'o considerate, Sara, I can't under stand your falling to boo how hard It is for mo to to well, to onduro hla open-hearted friendship," Sara woe silent for a moment. You draw a pretty lino lino, Hetty," sho said gently. Hetty flushed, "You mean that there Is little to chooso botwonn wife nnd" brother? Thut Isn't qulto fair. You know everything, ho knows noth ing. X wear a mask for klm; you havo aeon Into tho very heart of mo. It Isn't tho same." Sara camo ovor and stood beside tho Klrl's chair. After a moment of inde cision sho laid her hand on Hetty's shoulder, Tho girl looked up, tho ever recurring quostlon In her oyos. "Wo haven't spoken of of theso things In many months, Hetty," "Not Blnco Mrs. Wrandall and Vlv Ian came to Nice. I wns upsot dread fully upset then, Sara. I don't know how I managed to got through with It." "But you mnnaged it," pronounced Sara. Her fingers seemed to tighten suddenly on tho girl's shoulder. "I think wo wore qulto wonderful, both of us. It wasn't easy for mo." "Why did wo como back to New York, Sara?" burst out Hotty, clasp- lag her friend's hand as If suddenly purred by terror. "Wo woro happy over thero. And freoj" "Listen, my dear," satd Sara, a hard note growing in hor volco: "this fa my home, I do not leva It, but I can see no reason for abandoning it. That is why wo came back to Now York." Hetty pressed her friend's hand to fcer llpa. "Forgive mo," she cried lm- pulalvely. "I shouldn't havq com complained. It was detostable." "Besides," went on Sara evenly, "you wiKfl quite Jre to remain on tho tuor ttna. I Mt it to yo ' CQPy?Gr,S2 "You gavo mo n week to decide," said Ilrjtty In a hurrfod mannor of speaking. "I I took but twenty-four hours loss than that. Over night, you rcmombor. I lovo you, Sara. I could not leavo you. All that night I could feel you pulling at my heart strings, pulling mo cloBer, and holding mo. You wore In your room, I In mlno, and yet all tho timo you seemod to bo bending over mo In tho dark ness, urging mo to stay with you and lovo you and. bo loved by you. It couldn't havo been a dream." "It was not. a dream," said Sara, with a queer smile. "You do love mo?", tensely. "I do lovo you," was tho firm an swer. Sara Was staring across tho water, hor oyes big and as black as night itsolf. Sho seemed to bo looking far boyond the misty lights that hob bled with nearby schoonors, far bo yond tho yellow mass on tho opposlto shoro whoro a town lay cradled In tho shadows, far Into tho fast darkening nky that camo up liko a wall out of tho east. Hotty's fingers tightened In a warmor clasp. Unconsciously perhaps, Sara's grip on the girl's shoulder tightened also; unconsciously, for her thoughts woro far away. Tho younger woman's ponsivo gaze rested on the peaceful wators below, taking In the Blow approach of tho fog that was soon to envelop tho land. Neither apoko for many minutes: lnscrutablo thlnkors, each a prey to thoughts thnt leaped bnckward to tho beginning and took up tho puzzlo at its Inception. "I wonder " began Hotty, her oyos narrowing with the intensity of thought. Sho did not complete the sentence. Sara answered tho unspoken quos tlon. "It will vor bo different from what It is now, unless you make it so." Hetty started. "How could you havo known what I was thinking?" sho cried in wonder. "It is what you aro always think ing, my dear. You are always asking yourself when will I turn against you," "Sara!" "Your own intelligence should sup ply tho nnBwer to all the questions you aro atilctng of yourself. It Ib too late for tno to turn agalnBt you." Sho ab ruptly removed her hand from Hotty's Bhouldor nnd walked to tho odga of tho veranda. For tho flrBt time, the English girl was conscious of pain. Sho drew hor nrm up and cringed. Sho pulled tho light scarf about hor bare shoulders. Tho butler appeared In tho doorway, "The telephone, if you please, Mlsa Castloton. Mr. Losllo Wrandall' Is calling." Tho girl etnred. "For mo, Watson?" "Ycb, mlBS." "Hetty had rlBon, visibly agitated. "What shall I say to him, Sara?" sho cried. "Apparently it Is ho who lias some thing to say to you," said tho other, still smiling. "Walt and soe what It Is. Pleaeo don't neglest to Bay that wo'd liko to havo him over Sunday." "A box of flowers has Just como up from tho station for you, miss," Bald Watson. Hetty was very whlto as she passed Into tho house. Mrs. Wrandall - re- Hetty Looked Up Quickly From the Book. sumod her contemplation of tho fog screened sound. "Shall I fetch you a wrap, ma'am?" asked Watson, hoaltatlng. "I am coming In, Watson. Open the box of flowers for MIbb Castleton. Is thero a flro in tho library?" "Yoa, Mrs. Wrandall." "Mr, Lesllo will bo out on Saturday. Toll Mrs. Conkllng." "The ovenlng train, ma'am?" "No. Tho olovon-thlrty. He will bo hero for lunchoon." Whon Hotty hurried Into tho library a fow mluutos inter, hor mannor wns that of one considerably disturbed by something that has transpired almost ou tho moment. Her chooks woro flushed and her eyes wero reflectors of a no uncertain distress of mind. Mrs. Wrnndall was standing bororo tho flroplaco, an oxqulsllo flguro In the slinky blnck evening gown .which she affected In those days. Hor porfoctly modelled nock and shoulders gloamod tft- - 'e, S3iS: Georsfe Barr McCiitnhoon BY GORgFBaIM Ate.CiTCW ': COryrr,W2 3YDODD,Af!DZOOrtPAty liko pink mnrblo in tho reflected glow of tho burning logs. Sho woro no Jew elry, but thero was a slnglo whlto rose In her dark hair, whoro It had been placed by tho whimsical Hotty an hour earlier as thoy left tho dlnnor table. "Ho Is coming out on tho eleven thirty, Sara," said tho girl nervously, "urflesB you will sond tho motor In for him. Tho body of hla car Is being changed and It's in tho shop. Ho must havo boon Jesting whon ho eald ho would pay for tho petrol I should havo said gasoline" Sara laughed. "You will know him better, my dear," sho said. "Lesllo Is very light-hearted." "Ho suggested brlng'ng a1 friend," wont on Hetty hurriedly. "A Mr. Booth, the portrait painter." "I mot him in Italy. He Is charm ing. You will Ilka him, too, Hetty." Tho emphasis did not escape notice. "It seems that ho Is ependlng a fort night In tho vlllago, this Mr. Booth, painting spring lambs for rest and recreation, Mr. Leslie says." "Thon-ho is at our vory gates," said Sara, looking up suddenly. "I wonder if ho can bo the man 1 saw yesterday at tho bridge," mused Hotty. "Is ho tall?" "I really can't say. He's rather vague. It was six or seven years ago." "It wns left that Mr. Wrandall Is to come out on the olovon-thlrty," ex plained Hetty, "I thought you wouldn't liko sending either of tho motors In." "And Mr., Booth?" "Wo are to send for him after Mr. Wrandall arrives. Ho Is stopping at tho Inn, wherever that may be." "Poor fellow!" sighed Sara, with a grimace. "I am suro ho will Uko us immensely if ho has been stopping at tho inn." Hotty stood staring down at the blazing logs for a full mlnuto boforo giving expression to tho thought that troubled her. "Sard," sho said, meeting her friend's eyes with a steady light In her own, "why did- Mr. Wrandall ask for mo Instead of you? It Is you he is coming to visit, not me. It Is your houso. Why should " "My dear," Bald Sara glibly, "I am, merely his sister-in-law. It wouldn't be necessary to ask me If ho should como. Ho knowB ho Is welcome." "Then why should he feel called up on to " "Some men like to telephone, I sup pose," said tho other coolly. "I wonder if you will over under stand how I feel about about certain things, Sara," "What, for instance?" "Well, his very evident Interest In me," cried tho girl' hotly. "Ho sends mo flowers thle is tho second box this wcok-r-nnd ho Is so kind, so very friendly, Sara, that I can't bear it I really can't." Mrs. Wrandall Btared nt her. "You can't very well send him about hlB business," sho said, "unless ho be comes more than friendly. Now, can you?" "But It seome so so horrible, so beastly," groaned tho. girl. Sara faced hor squarely. "Sco here, Hetty," she said Iovolly, "wo have made our bed, you and I. Wo must Ho In It together; If Leslie Wrandall choosoB to fall In love with .you, that is his n'ftajr, not ours. Wo must face every condition. In plain words, we must play tho game," "What could bo more appalling than to havo htm fall In lovo with me?" "Tho othor way 'round would be' moro dramatic, I should say." "Good Qod Sara!" cried the girl In horror. "How can you even spoak of such a thing?" "After all, why shouldn't " began Sara, but stopped In tho middle of her suggestion, with the result thnt it had its full effect without being uttorod in so many cold-blooded words.- Tho girl shuddered. I wish, Sara, you would lot mo un burden mypolf completely to you," sho pleaded, seizing her friend's hands. "You havo forbidden mo " Sara Jerked her hands away. Hor oyos flashed. "I do not want to hoar It," sho cried floroely. "Never, novorl Do you understand? It Is your secret. I will not Bhnro It with you. I Bhould hato you It I knew ovorytlilng. As It Is, I love you becauso you aro a wom an who Buffered tit tho hand of ono who made mo suffer. There Is noth ing more to say. Don't bring up the subject again. I waiit to be your friend for ovor, not your confidante. There is a distinction. You may bo able to see hpw very marked It is In our caso. Hotty. What ono does not know, seldom hurts." "But I want to Justify myself " "It isn't necessary," cut In tho othor so poremptorlly that tho girl's eyes spread Into a look of anger, Where upon Sara Wrandall throw her arm about hor and drew her down beside her In tho chaise-lounge. "I dldu't mean to bo harsh," she cried. "Wo must not speak of the past, that's nil. Tho future Is not likely to hurt us, dear. Let ub avoid tho past." "Tho futurol" sighed tho girl, star ing blankly boforo her, "To approclnto what IL Is to bo," said tho othor. "you havo but to think of what It might havo been,", "I know.'" paid Hetty, In a low volco, "And yet I somotlmou wonder if 'fc Sara interrupted. "You aro paying mo, dear, instead of tho law," sho said gently. "I am not a harsh creditor, am I?" "My life belongs to you. I give it Qheerfully, even gladly." "So you have said before. Well, If it belongs to mo, you might at least permit me to develop It as I would any other possession. I take It as an In vestment. It. will probably fluctuate." "Now you aro Jesting!" "Perhaps," Bald Sara laconically. Tho next morning Hetty sot forth for her accustomed tramp over the roads that wound through the estate. Sara, the American, dawdled at homo, resenting the chill spring drizzlo that did not In the least discourage the Englishwoman. Sho came to the bridge by the mill, long since deserted and now a thing of ruin and decny.- A man In knlckor bockerB stood leaning against the rail, Idly gazing down at tho trickling stream below. The brier pipe that ftP "Good God, Saral" Cried the Girl In Horror. formed the circuit between hand and llpe sent up Boft blue colls to float away on tho drizzle. She passed behind him," with a sln glo furtive, curious" glance at his hand some, undisturbed profile, and In that glance. recognized him as tho man she had seen tho day before. When she was a dozen rods away, tho tall man turned his face from the Btroam and sent after her the long restrained look. There was something akin to cautiousness In that look of his, ns if he were afraid that 'she might turn her head suddenly and catch him at it. Something began stirring in his heart, tho nameless something that awakens when least expected. Ho felt the subtle, sweet femininity of her aa sho passed. It lingered with him as ho looked. She turned the bend in tho road a hundred yards away. For many min utes he studied the stream below without really seeing It. Then ho straightened up, knocked the ashes from his pipe, and set off Blowly In her wake, although ho had been walk ing In qulto tho opposite direction when ho camo to the brldge-and on a mission of some consequence, too, There was the chance that he would meet her coming back. CHAPTER VII. A Faithful Crayon-Point Leslie Wrandall camo out on the fileyen-thlrty. Hetty was nt tho station with tho motor, a sullen resentment In her heart, but a welcoming smile on her lips. The sun shono brightly. Tho sound glared with the white of re flected skies. "I thought-of catching tho eight o'clock," ho cried enthusiastically, as ho dropped his bag bcsldo tho motor In order to reach over and shako hands with her. "That would have gotten mo here hours earlier. Tho dif ficulty waB that I didn't think of tho eight o'clock until I awoke at niuo." "And then you had the additional task of thinking about breakfast," said Hetty, but without a traco of sar casm in her manner. "I never think of breakfast," said ho amiably. "I merely eat it. Of course, it's a task to cat It sometimes, but well, how aro you? How do you llkoltouthoro?" Ho was beside her on tho broad seat, his face beaming, his gay little mustache pointing upward at the ends like obllquo brown exclamation points, so expansive, was his amlio, "I adoro it," sho replied, hor own smllo growing In rcsponBo to his. It was Impossible to resist tho good na ture of him. Sho could not dielike him, oven though sho dreaded him deep down In her heart. Her blood was hot and cold by turns when sho was with him, aa her mind opened and shut to thoughts pleasant and unpleas ant wlth'somothlng of tho regularity of a fish's gills In breathing. "Whon I get to heaven I moan to have a place In tho country tho year round," ho said conclusively. "And. if you don't got to heavon?" "I suppose I'll take a furnished flat somewhere" Sara was waiting for them nt tho bottom of tho torraco as thoy drovo up. Ho leaped out and kissed her hand. "Much obliged," ho murmurod, with a Blight twist of his head In the direc tion of Hotty, who was giving orders to tho chauffqur. "You're qulto welcome," said Sara, with a smllo of understanding. "She's lovely, isn't she?" ' "Enchanting!" said he, almost too loudly. Hotty walked up the long ascent ahead of them, Sho did not have to look back to know that they were watching her with unfaltering Interest. She could feel their gaze. "Absolutely adorable," he added, en larging his eBtlmate without really be ing aware that he voiced It Sara shot a look at his. rapt face, and turned Hor own away to hide tho queer little smllo that flickered briefly and died away. Hetty, pleading n sudden headache declined to accompany them later on In tho day when they Bet forth In the enr to "pick up" Brandon Booth at the inn. Tho woro to bring him ovor, bag and baggage, to stay till Tuesday. "Ho will be wild to paint her," de clared Leslie when thoy were out of sight around the bend in the rond. Ho had waved 1iIb hat to Hotty Just bo foro tho trees shut off their vlew""of hor. She was standing at tho top of the steps beside one of tho tall Italian vnsea. "I've never seen such eyoB," ho ex claimed. "She's a darling," said Sara and changed the subject, knowing full well that ho would come back to it before long. "I'm mad about her," ho said sim ply, and then, for some unaccountable reason, gavo ovor being loquacious and lapsed into a state of almost lugubrious quiet. She glanced at his face, furtively at first, as If uncertain of his mood, then with a prolonged Btnre that was. frankly curious and amused, "Don't lose your headLoslfe," she said softly, almost purrlngly. He started. "Oh, I. say, Sara, I'm not likely to" "Stranger things have happened." she "Interrupted, with a shako of her head. "I can't afford to have you making lovo to her nnd getting tired of the game, as you always do, dear boy, Just as soon as you And she's in lrfve with you. She Is too dear to bo hurt In thnt way. You mustn't " "Good Lord!" ho cried; "what a bounder you must take me for! Why, If I thought sho'd But nonsense! Let's talk about something else. Yourself, for Instance." She leaned back with a smllo on her lips, but not In her eyes; and drew a long, deop, breath. He was hard hit. Thatwas what she wanted to know, They found Booth at tho inn. Ho was sitting on the old-fashioned porch, surrounded by bags and boys. . Aa ho climbed Into tho car after the bags, tho boys grinned and jingled the coins in their pockets and ventured, almost in unison, tho intelligence that they would all bo thero if he oyer camo back ngain. Big and little, they had transported his easel and canvasses from place to place for three weeks pr more and his departure was to be regarded as a financial calamity. Leslie, pcrhnps In the desire to bo alone with his reflectlons.-sat forward with the chauffeur, and paid little or no heed to tho unhappy person's com ments on the vile condition of all vll lago thoroughfares, New York city In cluded. "And you painted those wretched Uttlo boys instead of the beautiful things that nature provides for us out hero, Mr. Booth?" Sara wag. Baying to the artist bcsldo her. "Of course I managed to get a bit of nature, even at that," said ho, with a smHa,. "Boys nro pretty close to earth, you know, To bo porfoctly hon est, I did it In order to. get away from tho eminently beautiful but unnatural things I'm required to paint at homo." "I Buppose we will seo you at the Wrnndall place this summer." "I'm coming out to paint Leslie's sister In Juno, I believe And that reminds me, I came upon an uncom monly pretty girl not far from your place tho other day and yestorday, as well somo one I've met before, un less I'm vastly mistaken. I wonder if you know your neighbors well enough by sight, at least to venture a good guess ns to who t mean." She appeared thoughtful. "Oh, thero are dozons of pretty girls In tho neighborhood. Can't you remembor whero you mot " Sho stopped suddenly, a swift look of ap prehension in her eyes. Ho failed to note tho look or the broken sentence. Ho was searching in hla coat pocket for something. Se lecting a letter from tho middle of a small pocket, he held It out to her. "I sketched this from memory, Sho posed all too brlofly for mo," he said On tho back of the envolopo was u remarkably good likeness of Hotty Castleton, dono broadly, sketchlly, with a crayon point, evidently drawn with hasto whllo tho impression was fresh, "but long after she had passed out of range of, his vision, "I know hor," said Sara quietly. "It's vory clever, Mr. Booth." "Thoro Is something hnuntlngly fa miliar about it," ho went on, looking nt tho sketch with a frown of perplex ity. "I'vo soon her somewhere, but for tho llfo of mo I can't placo hor. Perhar9 !n a crowded streot, or tho theater, at a railway train just a fleeting glf.nso, you know. But. In any event I got a lasting impression. Queer things. like that happen, don't you think so?" Mrs. Wrandall leaned forward and spoke to Leslie. As ho turned, eho handed him the envelope, without comment. "GreriT Scott!" ho exclaimed. "Mr. Booth .Is a mind reader," she explained. "Ho has been reading your thoughts, dear boy." Booth understood, and grinned. "You don't mean to say " began the dumfounded Leslie, still staring at tho sketch. "Upon my word, It's a wonderful likeness, old chap. I didn't know you'd ever, mot her." "Mot her?" cried Booth, an nmlablo conspirator. "I've never met her.",, "Seo here, don't try anything liko that on me, How could you do thla if you'vo never seon-" "Ho is a mind reader," cried Sara. "Haven't you been thinking of her steadily for well, we'll Bay ten min utes?" demanded Booth. Lesllo reddened. "Nonsense!" "That's a mental telepathy sketch," said tho artist, complacently.- "When did you do that?" "This instant, you might say. Seel Here is the crayon point. I always carry ono around with mo for Just such ' "All right," said Lesllo blandly, at tho same time putting tho envelope in his own pocket; "we'll let It go at that. If you're so clever at mind pic tures you can go to work and mako another for yourself. I mean to keep this one." "I say," began Booth, dismayed. "One's thoughts aro his own," said the happy possessor of the ekotch. He turned his back on them. Sara was contrite. "He will never glvelt up," she lamented. "Is ho really hard hit?" asked Booth in surprise. "I wonder," mused Sara. ' "Of course he's welcome to ths Bketch, confound him." "Would you like to paint her?" "Is this a commtseion?" "Hardly. I know hor, that's all She Is a very dear friend." "My heart Is sot on painting soma one else, Mrs. Wrandall." "Oh!" "When I know you better I'll tell you who she is." " "Could you make a sketch of this other one from memory?" sho asked lightly. "I think so. I'll show you ono this evening. I have my trusty crayon, about me always, as I said before." . ? Later In the afternoon Booth camo face to faco with Hetty. He was de scending the stales und met her com ing up. Tho sun Btreamed In through the tall windows at tho turn In tho Btatrs, shining full In her uplifted faco as sho approached him from below. Ho could not repress the start of amazement. She was carrying a box of roses In her nrms rod rose3 whoso JtZSZ'V X&triW9A "Enchantinol" Said He, Almost Too Loudly. sterna protruded far beyond tho end of tho paBteboard box and reeked of a fragrant dampness. Sho gave him a shy, startled smile as she passed. Ho had stopped to mako room for hor on tho turn. Some what dazed, ho continued on his way down the steps, to suddenly remomber with a twinge of dismay that ho had not returned her pollto smllo, but had stared at her with most unblinking fervor. In no little shamo and em barrassment ho sent a swift glance over his shoulder. Sho was walking closo to tho banister rail on tho floor above As ho glanced up their oyes mot, for sho too had turned to peer. Lesllo Wrandall was standing near the foot of the stairs. Thero was nn cnger, exalted look in hla faco tha slowly gavo way to woll-nssumed un concern ns his frlentl came upon' Him' nnd grasped his arm. (TO BS CONTINUED -.. l" - y . -ft -1.) V .. tyjBKwsiiwiwrMt'j)i'!i' a . -wrzx.er