Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 262, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1913 — A CASE OF SUSPICION [ARTICLE]

A CASE OF SUSPICION

By ELLIOT WALKER.

When the serpent of suspicion (struck ita poisonous fangs deep in the ingenuous heart of William Darley, (be lost no time. Few men were better known or ‘more thoroughly respected in HardShaven, than William Darley. He was jg>leasast, appreciable, simple of , ispeech and manner, despite his large (means. His placid, light blue eyes held a (contented twinkle; his fair beard and Jhair set oft the rosiness of his round (face; his comfortable figure invited a teat on the arm or back from his inti(tnates. Strangers smiled at him, involuntarily. j He liked a joke; even an outragejous pun made him laugh. No one envied his money, his position in society, or the lovely goldenhaired wife whose cheeks and eyes outshone his own in sparkle and love lot fun. It was Lucy Darley who introduced tteginald Wand to Hardhaven. “The brother of an old schoolmate,” •he explained. That was sufficient for Hardhaven, Including William Darley. His wife might have introduced the devil himeelf without a question from her doting husband. ' However, there was nothing Mephisjtophelian in the appearance of Regfinal Wand, unless it was his extrema glarkness of complexion, hair and eye, and the blackness of his beauty , only (heightened his attractiveness. Wand was a handsome youth, full .of high spirits, gallant to perfection, arith a low, thrilling voice, and a form of remarkable shapeliness, albeit he jwas barply of medium height. William Darley, who dealt in real •estate and securities welcomed the fcoy cordially, and forgot him. He was a (little too yoqthful for William. His wife, with a motherly air, apparently much amused over the anxiety of this arrival to meet the most charming young women of her set, led blm about as though he were a prize dog to be admired and petted, which be presently was. > Reginald W T and took the best Ibachelor apartments at the best hotel. His habits were excellent. An oc4asional cigarette, a glass of wine cautiously sipped, were his only deg>artures from strict propriety. He mingled little with the men, but treat ©d them all most courteously. The women raved over him. He ■was full of engagements, flirting harmlessly, and having a new admiration every week. Yet he called dutifully at the Darleys almost every day, in the early afternoons. He had much to recount to Lucia Darley of his doings. She laughingly retailed the most amusing Of them to William. Lucia Darley alone showed some relief at his going. Of late she had been very quiet, and more than ever devoted to her husband. A month later she a secret to William, at which he was overjoyed, for the atork had so far passed them by. It proved to he a boy. When the gratified man saw the Child, he glanced at the weak form on the b°d, and went softly out of the chamber. In his agonized ears the remark of the nurse rang mockingly. “Such a bead of hair, and so black.” With awful deliberation William Darley set to work. He had but one thought. His brain with lightning clearness traced back the months. The address of Reginald Ward? Yes —it was the city of B —in the state of Hew York. He remembered even the etreet number. In his library he unlocked a desk drawer, took out a revolver, and put It in his pocket. It was made for work, this heavy weapon; not play. He gnawed down the impulse to laugh loudly, and touched a button on his desk. “One of the nurses, Abe," he said, steadily, as the butler stood smiling. “Yes, sahj Congratulations, sah.” "Thanks!" Th idy professional nurse came promptly. “How is she, Miss Laird?” “Very weak, sir.” “Any danger?” “No, that is, she must be carefully tended, see no one at present, hear nothing exciting for a few days. Her heart isn’t as strong as it should be.” “Then I can go away on business?” “As well as not, Mr. Darley,” returned the woman, cheerily. Darley pressed a hahd over his working mouth as the woman left the room. “Lucia, too,” he gloated. “I shall confront them at the eternal bar of justice. We three! Ha! The shock will surely kill her." He felt curiously strong and settled now. It would be a mysterious murder, a suicide, and a sudden death, go he chuckled, deep in his throat, this simple, gentje natured man, transformed by the despair into another being. A quiet departure, a mechanical Journey, the arrival at his destination, all accomplished stolidly, even as a convict Is transferred to his place of execution, with no hope in mind save to meet without filAphing a horrible, but inexorable issue. Darley ate, smoked, read the papers with slight comprehension of their contents, even took a hand at whist with three strangers, and played accurately. A dull, numb sleep came to him at midnight. He awoke, less weary In body, with his resolution teW* dearly determined.

And when, at last, he stood before the house of his seeking, an uncanny calmness entered into the man. He felt sure of himself and his victim. A dazzled glance at the door plate, half readable in the morning sunshine, assured him further. It was the house. Darley rang waiting patiently in the intervals, his card in his hand. 4 Arranging his revolver handily; the moment Reginald JWaud appeared that moment should be his last. Darley waited. A Window on the floor above flew open. A head and part cf a body craned over the sill. - William Darley looked up and saw He saw the face of Reginald Wand and —something else. Half disclosed by the careless drapery showed a smooth, rounded neck, and below a glimpse- of that which no man has ever displayed. Be heard, dimly, a low shriek, half frightened, half laughter. “Oh, Mr. Darley. Don’t look! I thought it was a telegraph messenger.” The shutters slartmed, but the familiar voice kept on. “Tell me, quick! Is -it about dear Lucia? Has she—EZ “Yes,” uttered Darley, In a thick, vacant grunt, like a drunken person trying to find words. “A little boy.” “Do wait until I’m dressed. Where are the servants?” “Don’t know! Can’t wait!” ejaculated Darley in the same tone. “Business trip. Train. Gotter run.” He staggered down the steps, jamming at his hat. “Run!” Violet Rand, the madcap gfrl, who had won her expensive bet that she could masquerade for two months as a man, without detection, peered after him. “Run! Why! he is scarcely able to walk. I suppose William had to celebrate. Bless him! To think of his coming to tell me at this hour in that condition. Well, I’m glad it’s over..” -And she went back to bed. Darley’s mother-in-law embraced him vigorously as he entered his domicile. He seemed very nervous and impatient, although he hugged the old lady and laughed, almost dancing. . “I came as soon as I could,” she said. “My dear, he is the image of his grandfather. He was a very dark man, you remember.” “I don’t recollect much of anything,” quoth William Darley. “I want to see my wife.” “You can’t." “My baby, then.” “Of course. Come along!” “Such a tender-hearted man,” whispered Miss Laird to the other nurses, as Darley moved away from the bassonette. “He simply couldn’t keep from coming right home. Why, he shook like a leaf when he kissed the baby, and, I declare, foolish creature was considerably over the verge of tears." “Considerably,” agreed her assistant. “That man wouldn’t harm a kitten.” /Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co.)