tudents. He looked much better than he did that morning in the Exchange; rested and with

l that the mug

r standing up over his head as thick as sheep's wool. I'd seen him several times in the Exchange and knew his name was Babbitts and that the

didn't have to ask so many questions, and when he did the doctor was always ready with his answer. It sounded to me as if he'd thought out

decided to remain Sunday night too-though the patient was out of danger-when at about eight I received a telephone message from my wife saying Miss Hesketh had run away wit

oved of thei

her-not to mention the distress it would have caused Mrs. Fowler to have her daughter marry in that manner. My de

e to go to the Junction, where I could strike the Riven Rock Road, which came out on the turnpike about a mile from Cresset's Crossing.

agent, about the road, and, after getting the directions, walked round the depot to the back platform,

words. A rustle went over the room, but he looked as if he didn't notice

ed cry and cowered back in the doorway. That made me look at her and

ring a sensation he'd done it. We were a

r I knew of the elopement and asked her what she was doing there. She was evidently terrified by my unexpected appearance, but seeing she was caught, she confessed that she knew all ab

eat. I vaguely noticed that she carried a bag and wrap over her arm. She tried to excuse herself

water nearly to the hubs. Once the right front wheel dropping into a washout, the lamp struck a stump and was so shattered it had to be put out. My attention was

t was not till I was once again in the open that

boned, bearded old man like a farme

would have been easy for her to hide in the dark of the trees. I glanced into the tonneau and saw that the things she had carried, the bag and the wrap, were also missing. She had been frightened a

ce been made at the branch line stations for the

I could see it before me, a long winding line between the dark edges of small trees. I turned into it and let the car out. Though the road has many turns I could have seen the lamps of a motor some distance ahea

to Longwood as soon as he could. By this time I was uneasy, not that I had any suspicion of a real tragedy, but the disappearance of Miss Hesketh alarmed me. I met Mills at the train and told him the situation and that I intended telephoning to Fiske at Bloomington, thinking the

testimony that I need put do

ld have been more sure about it or more quiet and natural. But-it seems like I ought to

w how you feel about it, reading it as I've written it here, but I can say for

up large and bright when the jury brought in their verdict: "The

full of the sounds of motor horns. Big and little cars passed me, jouncing over the ruts and swinging round the bend where the pin

d witness, Mi

eeling as if I'd been sitting in a tomb. He was serious too, not a wink about hi

ase, isn't i

range," I

that man on the 'phone I think t

believe wh

en willing to give away what I heard on the wire. And it see

ready yet to believe or disbelieve anything,"-then he looked up at the sky, red behind

as all he go

m laugh, jol

be in the papers to-morrow, and, take it from me, tha

I liste

m. Can't you imagine how he'll feel when he opens his paper a

f that man reading his paper to-morrow-over his coffee or maybe going down in the L-and suddenly seeing printed out in black and white what he thought

of service, thank you! Carisbrook was at Aiken, a lawyer named Dunham was up state trying a case; Robinson, a chap in a

ears g

of startled, "was Cokesbur

I know just

did

u please, for he saw he'd g

nd out things from you

now by experience I'm no talking machine

for me to set a generous example. Cokesbury was at the Lodge from la

aid, soft

g hopes," he replied. "He

o you

, I spent part of yesterday at Azalea and found that Mr

ou see

pears that the trip before last Cokesbury broke his axle and had to have his car towed down to the garage and left there to be mended. When he came down Saturday he expected it to be

ad no auto

e's our prize pupil but we don't say it before her face for fear of making her proud," then back to me

t ends hi

to Azalea because I'd heard a rumor of that talk on the phone and thought I'd do a little p

ing's com

thud that's dull and sickening for me, but you can

walked along wondering to myself