Show e MYSTERY oralce jr aLce lucz AUTHOR MARCIA dawn of WE ETC illustration v at cawwa ian w w 1 rr i SYNOPSIS dunham just alighted from a tran Is approached by beautiful girl who hl protection she la in tear of pursuit but declines to give the cause of her distress dunham takes her to his home and in tb absence of his moth r and stater borrows a hat and a cloak for tier H takes her to a dinner party at the home of a friend and gives her name a mary her actions stamp her as a of refinement and breeding after the dinner she requests dunham to assist her to leave the city lie puts her on a train for chicago and supplies her with money dunham has become intensely interested in the girl and anxious to the mystery which surrounds her stories in the newspapers t girls only add to his bewilder anent arrived in chicago the girl buys some cheap clothing in an attempt at and starts out to seek employment she frets work djs a waitress li the home of mrs dunhom rocelies rec elies a package containing the borrowed hat and cloak with a note of thanks signed mary dunham goes to on legal business and eberta every effort to find mary ha Is invited to he home of a friend for dinner ac he approaches tha house he hears a mn directions to a shabbily dressed if some one who goy under the name of mary he recognizes in the waitress at the dinner table the much sought mary and arranges for an li with her the following day at the T W C A lie proposes f her but before she will give her answer h insists on telling him her story her uncle had died leaving her hla fortune A cousin who had been disinherited had plotted to place her in an insane asylum to that he might get control of her tooney CHAPTER X continued 1 could scarcely believe my ears at first it seemed to me that I 1 must be mistaken that they could not be talk ing about me but my name was men again and again and as each link in the horrible plot was made plain to me my terror grew so great that I 1 was on the verge of rushing into the car and calling for the con doctor and porter to help me dut something held me still and I 1 heard rashard eay that he had just inform ed the trainmen that I 1 was insane and that they need not be surprised if I 1 had to be restrained I 1 sat still hardly daring to breathe then t began to go over the story bit by bit and to put together little things that had happened since we landed and even before I 1 had left vienna and I 1 saw that I 1 was caught in a trap it would be no use to appeal to any one tor no one would believe me I 1 watched the names of the stations as they flew by but it gradually grew dark and I 1 could hardly make them out I 1 thought one looked like the name of a philadelphia suburb but I 1 could not be sure I 1 yas freezing with horror and with cold but did not dare to move lest I 1 attract their attention ve began to rush past rows of houses and I 1 knew we were approach ln a city then suddenly the train flowed down and stopped with very little warning as it it intended to halt only a second and then hurry on there was a platform on one side of the train but we were out beyond the car shed for our train was long I 1 could not climb over the rail to the platform for I 1 was sitting on the side away from the station and would have bad to pass the car door in order to do so I 1 should be sure to be seen on the other side were a great many tracks separated by strong picket fences as high as the car plat borin and close to and they reached as far as I 1 could see in either direction I 1 bad no time to think and went to the matron and told her there was nothing I 1 could do but over the rail and get across those tracks ard fences somehow sly band were so cold and trem blang that I 1 could scarcely hold on to ane all as I 1 jumped over I 1 cannot remember how I 1 go across twice I 1 had to cling to a fence while an express train rushed by and the shock and noise almost stunned me it was a miracle that I 1 was not killed but I 1 did not think of that until afterwards I 1 was conscious only ol 01 the train I 1 had left standing by th station I 1 glanced back once and 1 thought 1 saw richard come to the door of the car then I 1 stumbled or blindly I 1 dont remember any mort until I 1 found myself hurrying aloff that dark passage under the bridge an saw you just ahead I 1 wa afraid U peak to you but I 1 did not knon what else to do and you were BO good to me 1 her voice broke in a little sob all the time she bad been talking be bad held her hand firmly she had forgotten that any one might be watch ing he did not care the tall girl with the discontented upper lip went to the matron and told her that she thought the man and the woman in the parlor ought to be made to go she believed the man was trying to coax the girl to do something she dlan t want to do the matron started on a voyage of discovery up the ball and down again with penetrating glances into the room but the did not see her ob my poor dear little garlt breathed the man and you have passed through all this awful expert ence alone I 1 shall not feel safe un til you belong to me I 1 saw two men hanging about mr ph llla s house last evening as I 1 went in they were looking up at the windows and talk ing about keeping a close watch on some one named mary the girl looked up with frightened eyes and grasped the arms of her chair excitedly will you go with me now to a church not far away where a friend of mine Is the pastor and be married 9 then we can defy all the cousins in creation can t you trust me he pleaded ob yes but Is it that you do not love me no she eald and her eyes drooped shyly it seems strange that I 1 dare to say it to you when I 1 have known you BO little where Is the but then dear shall we go nowa how can t go in this dresse she looked down at her shabby shoes rough black gown and cheap gloves in dismay and a soft pink stole into her face you need not your own gown Is out in the office in my suitcase I 1 brought it with me thinking you might need it hoping you might I 1 mean and he salle d I 1 have kept it always near roe partly because I 1 wanted the comfort of it partly because I 1 was afraid some one else might find it and desecrate our secret with their corn mon place wondering it was at this moment that the ma tron of the building stepped up to the absorbed couple resolved to do her duty her lips were pursed to their thinnest and displeasure was in her face the young man arose and asked in a grave tone excuse me but can you tell me whether this lady can get a room here to rest tor a short time while I 1 go out and attend to a matter of bust nessa the matron noticed his refined face and true eyes and she accepted with a good grace the ten dollar bill he hand ed to her we charge only fifty cents a night for a room she said glancing at the bumble garments of the man s corn canlon she thought the girl must be a poor dependent or a country relative all right said the young man just let the change help the good work along that made a distinct change in the atmosphere the matron smiled and retired to snub the girl with the als contented upper up then she sent the elevator boy to carry the girl s suitcase As the matron came back to the office a baggy man with cush boned tires bustled out of the open door into the street having first cast back a keen furtive glance that searched every corner of the place now said dunham reassuringly as the matron disappeared you can go up to your room and get ready and I 1 will look after a few little matters the elevator boy appeared in the doorway with the familiar suitcase dont be afraid dear heart ahls the young man as he attended cpr to the elevator soon be back again and then then we shall be together ill was a large front room to the boy took her the ten dollar bill had proven effective it was not a fifty cents a night room some one some guest or kindly patron had put a small illuminated text upon the wall in a neat frame it met her eye as she entered and be glad just a common little picture card it was with a phrase that has become trite to many yet it seemed a message to her and her heart leaped to obey she went to the window to catch a glimpse of the man who would soon be her husband but he was not there and the hurrying people reminded her that she must hasten across the street a slouching figure in a baggy coat looked fixedly up and caught her glance she trembled and drew back out of the sunshine remembering what dunham had told her about the irishman of the night before with a quick instinct she drew down the shade and locked her door CHAPTER XI the rubb ered feet across the way hurried their owner into the cigar store in front of which he had been standing and where he had a good blew of th Y W C A building II 11 faung down some change and demand ed the use of the telephone then with one eye on the opposite doorway he called up a number and delivered his message 01 ve treed me bird she s in a room all rought at the Y W C A place ter I 1 seed her at the winder she come with a colne but he a bahn now an she s bolke to stay a spell best come at once all rought hurry up lie hung up the telephone receiver and hurried back to bis post in front of the big entrance meanwhile the bride elect with happy heart and trem blang fingers was putting on her own beautiful garments once more and arranging the waves of lovely hair in their old accustomed way tyron dunhams plans were well laid lie first called up his friend the minister and told him to be ready then a florist not tar from the church then a large department store where he bad spent some time that morning Is that mr hunter head of the fur department mr hunter this Is tir dunham you remember our conver this morning kindly send the coat and hat I 1 selected to the Y W C A building at once yes just send them to the office you remember it was to be C 0 D and I 1 showed you my certified check this morning it s all right Is it how long will it take you to get it there all right have the boy wait it I 1 m not there good by his next move was to order a car arlage and have it stop at the florist s on the way that done he consulted hla watch seventeen minutes of his precious half hour were gone with nervous haste he went into a telephone booth and called up his own home on the long distance to his relief his mother answered and mother dont worry Is that you mother this Is tryon are you all wella that a good yes I 1 m in chicago but will soon be home mother I 1 ve something to tell you that may startle ou though there Is nothing to make you sad you have known that there was something on my mind for some time he paused tor the murmur of assent he knew how his mother was look ing even though he could not see her that set look of being ready tor any thing he wanted to spare her as much as possible so he hastened on you remember speaking to me about the ring I 1 wore tyron are you engaged there was a sharp anxiety in the tone as it same through the hundreds of miles of space one better mother I 1 m just about to be married my son what have you done dont forget the honorable name you bear no mother I 1 don t forget she s fine and beautiful and sweet you will love her and our world will tall at her feet but who Is she you must kemem her that love la very blind tryon you must come home at once I 1 shall die it you disgrace us all don t do anything to spoil our alyes I 1 know it Is something dreadful or you would not do it in such haste nothing of the kind mother can t you trust me let me explain she is alone and legal circumstances which it would take too long for me to explain over the phone have made it desirable tor her to have my immell ate protection we are going at once to edwin church and he will marry us it Is all arranged but I 1 felt that you ought to be told beforehand we shall probably take the night express for home tell cornelia that I 1 expect congratulations telegraphed to the hotel here inside 0 two hours but tryon what will our friends think it la most extraordinary how can you manage about announcements dother the red tape mother what difference does that make put it in the society column it you want to but tryon we do not want to be conspicuous well mother I 1 m not going to put off my wedding at the last minute or a matter of some alta of pasteboard do any reasonable thing to please you but not that you get a chaperon or her and bring her on to me then we could plan the wedding at our aels ure impossible mother in the first place she never would consent real ly I 1 cannot talk any more about it I 1 must go at once or I 1 shall be late tell me you will love her tor my sake until you love her for her own tryon you always w ere unreasonable suppose you have the cards en graved at once and I 1 will telegraph our list to the engraver if you will give me his address if you prefer you can get them engraved and sent out from there that will keep tongues still all right do it have the engraver telegraph his address to you within two hours have our list ready and mother dont worry ashes all right you coulden couldn t have chosen better yourself say you will love her mother dear oh I 1 suppose try sighed the wires disconsolately but I 1 never thought you would be married in such a way why you haven t even told me who she Is she 8 all right mother good tarn lly and all I 1 really must hurry but what Is her name tryon say mother I 1 really must go ask mrs parker bowman what she thinks of her good by cheer up it 11 be all right but tryon her name the receiver was hung up with a click and dunbar looked at his watch nervously in the meantime the girl had slipped into her own garments once more with a relief and joy she could scarcely be aeve were her own had it all been an ugly dream this life she had been living tor the past few months and was she going back now to rest and peace and real life nay not going back but going forward A knock at the door brought her back to realities again her heart throbbed wildly had he come back to her already or had her enemy found her out at lasp tryon dunham hurried up the steps of the Y W C A building nearly knocking over a baggy individual in rubbers who was lurking in the en trance the young man had seen boy in uniform laden with two enormous boxes run up the steps as he turned the last corner hastily writ ing a few lines on one of his cards and slipping it into the largest box he sent them both up to the girl s room then he sauntered to the door to see it the carriage had come it was there he glanced inside to see it his orders about flowers bad been fulfilled and spoke a few words ot direction to the driver turning back to the loor he found the small red eyes of the irishman fixed upon him in the slouch 0 the figure reminded dunham strongly now of the man he had noticed the night before and as he went back into the building bo looked the man over well and deter mined to watch him As he sat in the office waiting twice he saw the bleary eyes ot the baggy man applied to the glass panes in the front door and as suddenly it irritated him and finally he strode to the door and asked the man if he were looking for some one just walten ter me sweetheart whined the man with a cringing attl tude she has a room in here an I 1 saw her go in a while back well oud better move on they don t care to have people banging around here upstairs the girl had dared to open her door and had been relieved to find the elevator boy there with the two boxes the below an he saya hell wait an he sent these up said the boy depositing bis burden and hurrying away she locked her door once more for somehow a great ear had stolen over her now that she was again dressed in her own garments and could be easily recognized TO BE CONTINUED i is D D D vw 1 |