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Show By Randal! Parrish " CopyrJsM 1922 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Jjjj.'1,!" colllnS cllstonce, If this guy Bc MAKES HI8 CHOICE BTNOPB1S Arisworln" an nOvrr-tlsement nOvrr-tlsement calling; for ti young man nllllnz to engage In service of dan B Br, Matthew Went, cx-servlca mnn H Just relurnod from France, where H tie had been captain of cnglnecra, H meets Natalie Coolldgo, writer or H the advertisement, and without bo- H Ing Instructed as to his probable f duties. Is engaged by her, and that jv same evening Introduced to her Wjfi friends as her nance. That nlsht, mf In the Coolld?e homo. West Is star 'j tied by the appearnnre In his room B of a young woman, whpm he takes to be Natalie. Next morning Na B tails tells West she has been trou H bled by some woman, apparently H her double, who has been lmpr sonatlng her Perclval Coolldge, Natalie's uncle and guardian. Is B disgruntled by West's nppoarnnca K as Natalie's nance. Natalie, Coo). B idge and West plan n visit of char-Ity. char-Ity. Leaving West In the car, Nn- B talle and Cool'dge enter a small BB eottnire. Peforn they return. West BB secures Information which leads BB him to believe Coolldge Is deceiving Bt Natalie for a purpose. Natalie In- BB forms West she has been mistaken BJ In her suspicions and that she has BB no further need for his services. BB West Is astounded, but leaves. On BB his way out of the grounds, West BB hears n revolver shot, and finds Bj Terclval Coolldge dead, apparently BB a suicide. In the city1 West Is vis- BB Ited by Sexton, an old servant of BB the Coolldges. Sexton tells him he BB hao been abruptly dismissed, for Bh no apparent reason. He thinks BB Coolldge was murdered. Sexton Bj has overheard n telephone conver- BB ration In the Coolidtrs home. In BH which a man demands Natalie's BH presence Immediately, lie gives BJ an address, and with Sexton, West, B his suspl'lons of things not being Bl right strengthened by his learning BJ that Coolldgo had lied about the BV reason for the trip to the cottage. Bl visits the place. It Is a dlsreput able saloon. West Is taken by sur- BJ prise, knocked out. separated from j Sextan, and comes to his senses to j find himself bound and helpless, BJ and confronted by a man named BJ Hohart, whom West knows to be the man who had rented the house BJ which Natalie visited. The man BJ tells him he (West) Is Interfering H with his plans and if he persists H will be done away with. I CHAPTER VIII Continued. I West linil snlil mulilm;. vtntchln: th others, mill uniting to choose som V course of action. Ills mliul was coi fused, uncertain, yet lie found encotn r ngement In Hobnrt's stnteincnt of til case. The fellow felt no serious fenr o bltn; liml no suspicion us .vet tlmt an) one believed I'erelvnl Coolldne mui dered. The prolml.lllty wns tlmt ne even the girl dreamed of such n thin; whatever her connection might h with this mnn, she must be Innoccn of so foul a crime. If he could onl ci.eak to her nhme; hrlaiR to her th trath; rcvenl to her the rent chnructe of this mnn Ilohnrt, there would li no doubt cif the result. In spite of tin strange sltuutlon he yet retained fall! In the girl ; she hnd been deceived, lei astrny In some manner. -but his firs , Impression of her true nature si 111 con trolle.l his thought. llecnuld only be "i llcve nur a victim of scheming villain; 1 driven by circumstances to play a pnr I uterly foreign to her character. Ill I only hope of learning the facts froti B her own lips, 04 of re-establishing he I faith In htm. lay In n moment's cor I vnrsatlon nlnne. Ills mind Instnntl; H leaped to this cu . Itislnn. and his eye H met her own. ' ey were wide open I fun of curiosity yet not unkind, II H spoke swiftly. "That sounds fnlr enough, Hohart, H he snld quietly, taking the chance n H though It wns the most natural thin; H n the world. "I nm not hunting trnubl in nny wny, or seeking to butt li H where I am not wanted. Your guess n BJ to tny purpose In coming here Is' nbnu H right, I hnd no other object but to b BJ of some Rerv"e to this young lady. I H I can talk with' her a moment ulonc H sad thus assure myself us to he BJJ niches, I'll give you nny pledge yo H want, nml forget all about the nffali BJj Is tlmt satisfactory" BJJ "Alone, you said? You wnnt to se BJj tier alone?" BB "Absolutely no other nrranpemcn H will answer. I wnnt. her to talk freely BJJ to answer my questions with no lutei BB Terence," ftV Hobnrt glanced tnwnrd his compnt H Ion Inquiringly, evidently Inclined t BB deny the request. BM "111, you don't wnnt much." b BB said rather grulTly. "What do you thin about this proposition. Natalie?" ! The girl timllcd, her eyes still 0 BB West's face. ".''air enough." she ndmltted -n BJB though the whme matter was a Jolti BB "H looks like the enslest wuy out." "All right, If you sny so. It Is m Bl ru'i y nre enrol to the Job. Hoi BjpJ tnuch lime do you want. West?" VM "Ten or llftee-i minutes. I wnnt t MBJ tet down to the jottom of this thlnj BB "Oh. yon do. bey 1 Modest us eve; BB 1 Well. hrrv'H luck to you. Yo B needn't he afraid of the giiy, Nntnlle H got ir L.t Wfri, iiroiiKlit till H JP here, und If he makes any hrrnl BB " b ut lii the hall ready to take B "und. You're Mill for It?" H nn " """ffP'eiitl.v. eeatlng hersel BW .0 r"nvenieni luilr. "We nilghl a Hi r .. " ,M" n,,w is 'my time, yo C0.!m, JlW I U-ave It to me." H hJ.'. !i" n" ''Utlrely sntlsnei H W " ,u' r,,'!"" ''C'"-. Il BH evil if8 """''f'" "f them both. Ilov m had ,,,r,fi. ,,M,n ' i)1 HePn t?'1 the lim,,V Mr "WM to realU m form L ! ',"'l,l"''-;. replied flnnll: H on S! I,1" "Hiilt yoursel m ' trh ir h,Hi. Anyhow, I II w 1 . rry nbont ,,,nt" 0 ""S'1 inger In her eyes. "I am no bnhy. . "obart. Go on now. and leave Capt est to mo." Ho closed the door behind him. 1 the two were litoti In the room, sound reached them from without, even an echo of Ilobart's footsteps the hall. West looked ncross at Klrl, who sat motionless, her e shaded by long lushes, and rlngl lingers clnsped In her lap. She leared Indifferent, uninterested, seni 7, VI,rc "f lllH Presence. Ue wonde If Hobnrt was listening nt the do what had become of Hike, nnd whet kcxtnn wns nllve or dead, for the 1 ment he could scarcely make hlmi realize the true situation. Ills slle served to nrouse her Interest, for suddenly lifted her head nnd looked him. "Well," she snld soberly. "You hi something to ask?" "Much yes; but first, nro nlnne?" "Certainly whyr "This man Hohart. you nre sure Is not listening at the door?" She glanced about; then lnughe "Little good that would do hi there Is no key-hole, no chnnce sound to penetrate. Wo nre qt nlone, Cnptnln. nnd you nre fierfet free to sny whatever you plenso." "Uut even then. Is this wholly fal "What do you mean?" "I enme here." he explained enrni l.v, "with no bad Intention; no des to Injure nny one, Miss Coolldge; only thought the possibility of be of some service to you." "That Is very Interesting, I nm si I nm quite grntcful. "Then I nm going to nsk you n fa Itelcase my hands and feet. You ni not be afraid; I give my pledge make no nttempt to cscnpe while nre together. Will you do this?" CHAPTER IX West Makes Hit Choice. The girl neither answered, nor hi tnted, but crossed the room swlfi her hands seeking the lashings ntn his wrists. Her movement thrilled h ie and his blood leaped ut the soft tot K of her fingers. 3 "Iteally. I did not realise you wi r, tied Into the chair," she exclaimed ip dlgnnntly. "Ilobart Is a fool to j "Hobart Is a Fool to Do Such a Thin e such a thing. Why, what has cans tf him to become so frightened? Tell ti f. Captain West, bow all t tils occurred' r "You know nothing?" u "Only what has been said since r entered the room. Mike simply t me they hnd n mnn here who Hob: thought wns a detective, nnd be want me to come In n moment. I came, a it found you. Now, please, whut docs ; nil mean?" r- She slipped bnck to her seat agn her eyes on his fnce, as he nrose a 1- stretched his limbs to restore clrcu 0 tlon. To his quick glance her face 1 pressed only sympathy, and lnnoc ie inttiest, Any doubt he may have f It as to the sincerity of the girl vanlsti Instantly: whatever of crime was ci n cealed here, she bud no suspicion. could tell her the whole story wltlu is fear. e. "I'll try nnd explain, Miss Nntnll he began rather lamely, "although p 1 haps, you' mny lot wholly understn w the motives which hnve prompted 1 This, of course. Is really no business o mine, and the only thing that bus g. volved me Is the deep Interest I lit r. felt In you." hi "In mui Why, that Is rather Int s; pstlns. It was to serve me you ca in here?" k. "At lenst I thought so. Shall I mi u It more dellnlte? No doubt you 1 nwure that you are an unusually pro If woman. Well, ill least, I think so is one, ami our tlrst meeting, with Its s iu sequent ud ventures, was roiimii enough to shake me out of u comm il. place existence. In fat. I htcn Is quite deeply Interested In you." v- "Why, really, Captain." she In rl rupted. slightly puzzled. "I perhaps I- not fully comprehend to what you se Ter. Do you menu there wn Hoineih between iH? Xoine special liitlmnc y "(Hi. no: noi that; pioinbiy f, Irrnm of "bet whm nci-turlnc in ' e mind. Yet the clreuiOMtaucea of m iu ucvuine a real iricnusn "How do you mean?" "Surely you cannot have forgo , 80 stM"i" lie explained In surprlsi her attitude, seating himself once n nnd facing her determinedly. "I c to yon In response to a strange nd " tlsement ; you trusted me so comple ns to Introduce me to your frlendi nd V0Ur ,,1,m'e nni' ,n,or confided to ' the special trouble you were In ... Pledged you tnv assistance, and It ""rely very nuturnl that, under tl circumstances. I as a young r should have become rather deeply es terestcd " " "In both the case nnd the girl." 1 "Yes; so much so. Indeed, that c ,,,,, 1 was rather harshly distills I could not accept It without a prol r' I had grown to feel that this was a mere business arrangement bctw ?f us. Do you understand now?" ice "l cnn 8Ce 11 'rt)ra your 8tnndp he But nevertheless. I am surprised, ( tain West. You you mean you act ly fell In love with me?" ve "I felt a very, very deep Intcrcs you." bc admitted gravely, "a grci Kf Interest than 1 have ever felt In other woman. That Is my sole est for becoming Involved In your nffc he I could not bear to sec you mok mistake It might bo In my powoi prevent." '. "What mistake?" .r "Well, tlrst of all, trusting In lte mnn Ilohnrt." tly She laughed, her eyes glnnclng quickly Into bis fnce. rj, 'And why not, please? Ilcmen your confession; I may think this ,st. Jealousy." iro "You ore not so silly ns th lnv earnestly. "Moreover, I may ns wel Ing perfectly frank. I did confess an terest In you. nnd In a measure, I ire. fpc' CBcr to serve you In every slble wny; but you hnve changed nr greatly, Miss Natalie, that my 0 ed J,,ee ln y" 'ma been severely trie t0 "You no longer believe?" we "I hardly know; I fall utterly to derstund you of late; you seem an tlrely different girl. For one thing, hnve deliberately deceived me." "Indeed I In what?" "In your visit to Arch street sl. Pcrclvnl Coolldge. Thnt wns no l slnn of chnrlty to a poor widow children." 4 l,tli "What then?" 1CM "An arranged conference 'with fellow Hobnrt. He rented thnt cotj ,rt, for no other purpose, and left. IP l. next day. You made a mistake w j0 you took me along." She straightened up slightly In chnlr. yet spoke rather indirforci her voice cold. "No doubt I did," she snld tew "Indeed I have already dlscovc Captain West, that I made nn c greater mistake when 1 first took Into my service. You hnve proven together too Inquisitive. Now I wll Plata with you. Whatever need I f supposed I hnd for your services en with the explanation I received In I Arch street cottnge. I told you so V distinctly nfter our return, home. ' recall that Interview, no doubt?" 1 He bowed, waiting for her to go "You were then nnd there dlsmls . from my service. Thnt should h y been sutllclent. I knew nothing of y j silly feeling of rsonnl Interest t me; nor did I realize nny occasion 5 discussing with you the reasons cr 1 Ing me to change my plans. You w f my employee, nnd I discharged y that was nil. It Is true I'ercl Coolldge took me to that cottage have certain mysterious things 1 plained, and they were explained I my complete satisfaction." "Hy Ilobart?" I "Yes." "You knew the fellow hefore?" She hesitated slightly, althni n there was no perceptible change In 3 answering vob. piI "For several years; he was my father" employ; the the wli " trouble originated In n Joke, and 1 was quite amusing, once I understr I Of course, after thnt, I had no fiirt ,1,1 need for you. Why did you persist r( nnnoylng me?" p, West hesitated on Instnnt, his m n,l I struggling with the sltuutlon. Wns It turnout, truthful, In this Ptatcmc Could ho sny anything which wo ln change her viewpoint? She muM h mj been deceived by these men, yet I l. could be expose them so she wo x. comprehend? He wns no little cert j of the Tacts himself, that he bad in plt Ing but suspicion to offer, ed "Why do you not answer, Capt ,. West?" 9 He The girl's eyes were cb-nr. lnlst ml n little moused ; they somehow arou his determination, e." "I will endeavor to make yon urn er- stand, Miss Natalie." be explnli nd slowly. "1 would not have yon feel t ne. I deliberately pushed myself Into I of affair. When I left Fnlrlawn al In- your dismissal, I had no thought ve ever seeing yon ngrtln. I have ulrei told you the Interest I hnd felt In ; er- up to that time, but your ahruptn 1U. during our last Interview left "iigry. nnd with no luelluntlnn to s ,. 1 our presence again. You cnn scan 'lame me for such a feeling?" lt "No." she confefsed. "I I was ror excited and nervous I wns not v nb- nice," Hi "Vou certulnly bun me. I depai iltl with u seiue or wnnr. rankling, ami me dwlre to come buck. Hut fine In veiled. Vou know, pirmpg, tb'.t I o ter hoard the shot vthleh widud tin- lif ,l I'eii'hai ('ooiidge, mid I tts"the tii n, discover his dead lualy. I suppofd In 1 ae of null-id1 ''I'1' " ,,,re '" iti" .7" the luqiii'i-t. Th" whole mutter n n nive eo-'i'l Hier: but the n-M ' mi din 1 in Seittuii alii. und aar man sousbi me out at thu i-lub." ...... rfwis nMlli:il ( lie I .vou suspicious?" she nsked brenti tten ly. : nt "He caused me to see the nfTnlr ore n somewhat different point of vie nine point of view which, 1 confess, rei ver- my im.rcst n ymi, i ,L.gan to be lely you had been deceived, nnd yotir t i ns mnt of mo arose through a mlsiu me standing: I thought you n victim, . I that I wonld bc a cad If I full-was full-was stand by you. We put this nnd lese together, curried out some Inves iinn, Hons quietly, nnd arrived at n del In- conclusion." "What Investigations?" "In the Held A-here the body i found first." West went on sten but nn longer looklr. ut her, "tn Ml- the different tracks through the cl not 'n,cr, I looked tip thnt cottage In ecu street, and thus learned about He .Somehow he seemed to fit Into tlx dnt. ture. nnd your mysterious visit I Jap- ninae me anxious to Interview the unl- He had left no address, however, faded out of sight suddenly, wide t In creased suspicion. Then, when iter wero completely baffled. Sexton le nny about your conversation over the use phone." ilrs. "How? Wns bo nt the house?" e n "Yes; he went out nt my suggest to "And beard me repeat this numl "It mnkes no difference how In the Information; we knew you this coming liere this afternoon. Jumped nt the c6ncluslon thnt np were going to meet Ilobart for i reason." iber "Very bright, I nm sure," nnd I mly was a tone of relief In henvolco. ' that Is your wholo story, I sup at," What does It amount to?" I be "Not very much, perhaps." In- "And the two of you enmo out still seeking to learn my business, to pos- Into my pcrsonnl offnlrs. Thnt so not a very gentlemanly act, Ca mil- West, nnd I bnrdly sco how you i." Justify yourself." "I hna two purposes," bo Insl un "either of which justify. I felt en- duty to locate this mnn Ilobart; you nlso to warn you of the danger were In." "Warn me I" she laughed scornl rltli "That Is ridiculous enough sure nis- have a perfectly good reason for 1 and here, but I nm not accountable to ' In any wny for my movements. A ' you sny a duty to locate this mat this duty to whom?" nge "To the state. If no ope else," In the swered gravely. "Perclval Coolldg hen not commit suicide; ho was murde "Murdered I" she came to her the with nttcrnnco of the word. "You tly. not think thotl" "I know It. Miss Nntnlle; the cly. dencc Is beyond question; he wns red, dered In cold blood." veji. . J'llut by whom? For what purpi you ""These points are not yet tl nl- mined ; I nm only sure of the crlm be "Yes. but but you suspect Jim nee hart. Isn't thnt true? You enmo iled seeking him yes, nnd me. You lint think I know how this denth occu ery You you connect It with my forti i.'ou "lip. Miss Nntnlle." he proti stoutly, moved by her agitation. 1 on. cause Is n mystery, nnd who d e,l cqunlly mysterious. The evldenco nve fnr unearthed Is nil clrcumstanlhi nur "Then why did you come out In oenrchlng for Hobnrt?" for "IJecauso of his strange meeting us Perclval Coolldge the very day o: ere death; because his sudden dlsapi iu; nnco furnished the only clue." vnl "And thnt Is nil the knowledge to possess, absolutely nil?" ex- "Yes; I nm no more than groplr to the dnrk. My main object In coi wns to put you on your guard." "You hnve repented these susplt to no one else? Tho pollre?" "To no one. Only Sexton nnd I igli even talked the matter over. We the both too loyal to you to ever si word which might be to your Inji In She suddenly held out her bund, ole he took It. conscious of the Arm ( md of her lingers. od. "I thank you, Captain West." Iipr snld sincerely, "and believe your In pose wns honnrnhlif. You have toll frankly all you suspect, and doub Ind .van have reasons. You have el i alio made n ndslnke, that Is all. Pen nt? Coolldge was not murdered; he k nl,! himself becausu be hnd muddled up affairs, and knew he wns about t nu discovered. You have got upo 1,1,1 wrong troll. Will you accept iny nln for this, and drop the wholo mi ith. here?" West wns' nlmost convinced, hut quite: the xplnnntlou had not sufficiently fxpllrlt. ,nf "This man Hobart who Is he? p connection does be have with you fnlr?" v She hesitated slightly, yet her , did not fall, or her np parent , "Mr. Holmrt," she explained, t'pr ,nvt' l:nown fnr yw". 1 told yoi . fore he was once In my fnlher's Hoy. Now he Is n prlvnle detec ' I ndvprilsed for you. I thought mp '" w"1' n"' ,'("''ond,H',lilnc nnytl ' but nt our Interview Sundny, nil civ '',''lr'',' "I'1" Sll j j |