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THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
y ANNA KATHARINE GBEEN
AUTHOR OF "THE LEAVENWOHTH CASE"
TI1H HUGOEE BALC'to HOUSE OF THE WHISPERING PINES
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
CIIAIH.ES.W. &OSSER
COPYT?IflHT tail
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STTIKET & .SMITH
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SYNOPSIS.
Oeorgo Anderson, nnd wife seo ft ro
mnrknlile looking nmn come out nf llio
Clermont hotel, loolt nround furtively,
wash 1Mb hands In the. snow and ish on.
Commotion attract them to tlin Clermont,
where It Is found tliut tlio beiiutlful Miss
KUIth Clmlloner has fallen doud. Ander
son describes tho man he saw wash his
Jinnds In th snow. Tim hotel mnnnger
declares him to ho Orlando Urntherson
I'hyslclntiH find that Miss Clmlloner was
Htahhed and not shot, which seoms to
clfar Urotherson of suspicion. Oryre, tin
nged d( toetlvc, nnd Sweetwater, ills as
alstant, take up the cniie. Mr. Challoner
tells of a hnti-li of letters found In his
daughter's desk, signed "O. 11." All nro
love letters except one. which shows that
the writer was displeased. This letter
was signed by Orlando Urotherson. And
erson goes with Sweetwater to Identify
llrothcrscn, who Is found In a tenement
under tho mime of Dunn. He Is an In
vontor. Urotherson tells the coroner Mlis
Ohnllonor repulsed him wltn scorn when
lie offerid her his lovo Sweetwater re
calls the mystery of tho murder of n
washerwoman In whlrh some details were
nlmllur to the Clmlloner nffnlr. Chal
loner admits III daughter wan deeply In-
tnrostod. If not In lovo with Drntfierson.
Hweetwator gets lodgings In the same
building with Urotherson. lie watches
tho Inventor at work at night and Is de
fected by tho latter, The detective moves
to a room adjoining Urotherson's llo
lores a hole In the wall to spy on Uroth
rson. Iln visits him nnd assists tho In
ventor In his work. A girl sent by Hwrot--ivnter
with Edith Challonor's letters Is
ordered out by Urotherson. Ho declares
tho lettors were not written bv him.
flweotwntcr la unmasked by Urotherson,
who declares he recognized him ut once.
The discovery Is made tlint tho letters
signed "O. B." wero written by two
different men. Sweetwater goes to Derby
In senrch of the second "O. H" whom ho
oxpects tn locato through one Doris Scott,
mentioned In tho letters. Shu Is found
acting ns nurse for Oswnld Urotherson.
Who Is critically slclc nnd cnllH tho naino
of Edith In his delirium.
CHAPTER XXIV. Continued.
His rise hittl boon rapid. Ho had
como from tho cnHt threo years bo
fore, now to tho work. Now, hg was
the ono man tlioro. Of Ills relation
ships cast, family or otherwise, noth
ing was Hnltl. FOr them his llfo bo
Ban and ended In Derby, and Sweet
Water could seo, though no actual ex
pression waH given to tho feeling,
that there was but ono expectation
in regard to him and Doris, to whose
uncommon beauty and nwootnoBa they
nil seemed fully allvo. And Swoot
wator wondered, as many of us have
wondered, at tho gulf frequently ox
Isting betweon fancy nnd fact.
Lator thro came a small excite
ment. Tho doctor was soon riding by
on his way to tho sick man. From
tho window whero ho sat, Swootwator
watched him pass up tho street nnd
tako tho road he had hlmsolf bo lately
traversed.
And so an hour two hours passed.
Others wero watching tho old horso
now. Tho Btroot showed many nn en
Cor figure with head turned north
ward. From tho open doorways wom
an stopped, looked In tho dlroctlon of
their anxloty and retrentcd to their
work again. Suspense waB ovory
whero; thu moments dragged llko
hours. A uudden chango took place
la tho aspoct of tho Btroot; ho saw
pooplo nmnlng, nnd In unothor mo
ment saw why. Tho doctor had shown
himself on tho porch which all woro
watching. Was ho coming out? No,
he stands aultc still, runs hlu ovo over
tho peoplo waiting quietly In tho road,
nnd beckons to ono of tho smaller
boyo. The child, with upturned faco,
stands listening to what ho has to
nay, then startB on n run for tho vil
lage, llo is stopped, pulled about,
questioned, nnd allowed to run on
Many rush forth to moot him. Ho Is
panting, but gleeful, Mr. Urotherson
has waked up conscious, nnd tho doc
tor snys, "Ho will llvo."
CHAPTER XXV.
The Oval Hut.
That night Dr, Fonton had a vlBltor.
Swootwator, who knew when to be
Crank nnd opon, as 7,'cM as whon to
jo reserved nnd ambiguous, mado no
ffort to dlBgulso tho nnturo of his
business or his chief cause of Interest
In Oawald Brotherson.
Ills lirst word, therefore,
plain announcement.
"Dr. Fonton, my ' namo Is
waB a
Sweet'
Kv&tor. I am from Now York, and rep
rooont for the nonco, Mr, Clmllonor,
whoso namo I hnvo simply to mention,
(or you to understand that my busi
ness Is with Mr. Urotherson, whom 1
am sorry to Unci seriously, If not dan.
KorouBly 111. Will you tell mo how
long you think It will ho before I
can lmvo n talk with him on a sub
ject which I will not disguise from
you may prove a vory oxcltlng one?"
"WeokB, weeks," roturned tho doc
tor, "Mr. Brothoraon hnB been u very
filck man and tho only hope I havo
of his recovery Ib the fact that ho In
Ignorant of his trouble or that ho
lias any cauEo for doubt or drend.
What thou, If any Intimation should
bo given him of tho horrible tragedy
nuggested by tho name you havo men
tioned? Tho mnn would dlo before
your oyes. Mr. Cautioner's business
will havo to wait."
"That I bco; but If I know whon I
might Bpeak "
"I can glvo you no dnto. You had
"bottor return to Now York. Later,
you can write nto If you wish, or Mr,
Challoner can. You may hnvo confi
dence in my reply; It will not mislead
you."
Swootwator muttered Wb thnnUp.
nnd rose. Then ho slowly sat down
again.
"Dr. Fonton," ho began, "you are a
man to bo trusted. I'm in a devil of a
llx, and thero Is just a possibility that
you may ho ablo to help mo out. It
Is tho general Impression In Now
York, bb you know, that Miss Chal
loner committed sulcldo. Hut tho cir
cumstances do not fully bear out this
theory, nor can Mr. Challoner bo made
to accept It. Indeed, ho Is so con
vinced of Its falsehood, that ho stands
ready to do anything, pay anything,
suffer anything, to have this distress
ing blight removed from his daugh
ter's good name. Mr. Urotherson wns
hor dearest friend, and as such may
havo tho clew to this mystery, but
Mr. Urotherson may not bo In a con
dition to speak for sovcral weeks.
Moanwhlle, Mr. Challoner must suf
fer from Rrcat suspenso unlcBS " n
pauso during which ho soarched the
doctor's faco with a perfectly frank
nnd inquiring oxprosHlon "unless
soino ono clso can help us out Dr.
Fcnton, can you?"
Tho doctor did not need to speak;
his expression convoyed his answer.
"No more thnn anothor," said ho.
"Excopt for what Doris felt compelled
to toll mo, I know ns llttlo ub your
self. Mr. Rrothorson's delirium took
tho form of calling continually upon
one name. I did not know this name,
but Doris did, also tho danger lurking
In tho fact that ho had yet to hear of
tho tragedy which had robbed him
of this woman to whom ho was bo
deeply attached. So sho told mo Just
this much. That tho Edith whoso
nnmo rung so continuously In our cars
was no other thnn tho Miss Challoner
of Now York of whoso death and Its
trnglc circumstances the papers havo
been full; that their ongngemont was
a secret ono unshared so far as sho
know by nny ono but herself. That
sho begged mo to presorvo this secret
and to glvo hor all the help I could
when tho tlmo oamo for him to ask
questions. Especially did Bho entreat
mo to bo with her at tho crisis. I was,
but his waking wnH quite natural. He
did not ask for Miss Challoner; ho
only Inquired how long ho had been
til nnd whether Doris had recolved a
letter during that tlmo. Sho had not
recolved ono, a fact which Boomed to
disappoint him; but sho carried It off
bo gaily (sho Is a wonderful girl, Mr.
Swootwator tho darling of all our
hoartB), saying that ho must not bo
bo egotistical as to think that tho
nowH of his UlncsB had gono beyond
Derby, that ho soon recovered his
spirits and becamo a vory promising
convalescent. That 1b all I know about
tho mnttor; llttlo moro, I tako It, than
you know youraolf."
Swootwator nodded; ho hnd ox
pecfod nothing from tho doctor, and
wns not disappointed at his failure
Thoro woro two strings to hla bow,
nnd tho ono proving valueless, ho pro
ceeded to tost tho other.
"You have mentioned Miss Scott,
as tho confidante and oaly confidante
of this unhappy pair," Bald ho. "Would
It bo possible can you mako It pos
sible for mo to bco hor?"
It was u daring proposition; ho un-
Nearer View Increased
oslty.
Hlo Curl-
dorstood this at onco from the doc
tor's expression; nnd, fearing a hasty
rebuff, he proceeded to supplement
his roquost with n fow added argu
ments, urged with such unexpected
address and show of reason that Dr.
Ponton's aspoct visibly softened and
hi tho ond ho found himself ready to
promise that ho would do what ho
could to secure his visitor tho Inter
view ho desired If ho would como to
the house tho next day at tho tlmo
of his own morning visit.
This wan as much ub thu young
dotoctlvo could oxpect, nnd having ox
prosBod'hto thanks, ho took hla loavo
In anything but n discontented frame
of mind. In tho tlmo which must
ellipse, botwoon thnt happy hour and
tho progont, ho would circulate and
learn what ho could about tho pros
pectlvo manager. Hut ha soon found
' x , . -Eton ii, MW .
HI .
y.. 'lll'l W I
that ho could not cntor tho Works
without a permit, nnd this ho waB
hardly In a position to demand; so
ho strolled about the village Instead,
und later wandered away Into the for
est. Struck by the Inviting napect of a
narrow and llttlo used road opening
from tho highway shortly abovo tho.
houso whero IiIb Interests wero Just
then centered, ho strolled Into the
heart of tho spring woods till ho came
to a depression whero a surprise
nwaltcd him, In tho shape of a pe
culiar structure rising from Its midst
whoro It Just fitted, or so nearly fit
ted that ono could hardly walk about
It without brushing tho surrounding
tree trunks. Of nn oval shape, with
Ub door facing tho approach, It nestled
there, a wonder to tho eye and tho
occasion of considerable speculation
to his Inquiring mind. It had not been
long built, ns was shown very plainly
by tho fresh appearanco of tho un
painted boards of which It was con
structed; and while It boasted of n
door, ns l'vo already said, thero wero
no evidences vlsiblo of any other
break In tho smooth, neatly finished
wnlls. A wooden ellipse with a roof
but no windows; such It appeared and
such It proved to be. A mystery to
Sweetwater's oyea, nnd llko all mys
teries, Interesting. For what purpose
had It boon built and why this Isola
tion? It was too flimsy for a reser
voir and too expensive for tho wild
freak of a crank.
A nearer vlow Increased his curios
ity. In tho projection of tho roof over
tho curving sides ho found fresh food
for Inquiry. As he examined It In tho
walk ho mado around tho wholo struc
ture, ho camo to a place whero some
thing llko n hlngo became vlsiblo and
further on another. Tho roof was not?
simply a roof; It was also a lid cap
able of being raised for the air and
light which tho lack of windows ne
cessitated. This was an odd discov
ery Indeed, giving to tho uncanny
structure tho appearanco of a ' hugo
box, the cover of which could bo
raised or lowered at pleasure. And
rignln' ho asked himself for what It
could bo Intended? Nothing In his
oxporlenco supplied him with nn an
swer. A team was approaching. Ho could
hoar the heavy tread of horsea work
ing their laborious way through troeB
whose obstructing branches swished
boforo and bohlnd them. They wero
bringing in a load for this Bhed, whoso
uses ho would consequently soon un
derstand. Grateful for his good luck
for hla was a curiosity which
could not stand defeat ho took a fow
stops Into tho wood, and from tho
vnntago point of n concealing cluster
of bushes, fixed his eyes upon the
spot whoro tho road opened into the
hollow.
Something blue moved there, and in
anothor moment, to his great amaze
ment, thero stopped into view tho spir
ited form of Doris Scott, who if he
had given tho matter a thought ho
would havo supposed to bo sitting Just
then by tho bedsldo of hor patient, a
half milo back on tho road.
She was dressed for tho woodB In a
bluo skirt and Jacket and moved llko
a lender In front of n heavily laden
wngon now coming to a standstill bo
foro tho closely shut shod If such wo
may call It,
"I havo n key," so sho callod out to
tho drlvor who had paused for or
dorB. "Whon I bwIiik tho doors wide,
drivo straight in."
Swootwator took a look at tho wng
on. It was pllod high with largo wood
on boxes on more than ono of which
ho could boo Bcrawlod tho words: O.
nrothorson, Derby, Pa.
ThlH explained hor presence, but
tho boxes told nothing. 'They wero of
all sizes and shapcB, and some of
them bo largo that tho asBlstanco of
anothor man wnB needed to hnndlo
them. Swootwator was about to of
fer his Borvlcea when a second man
appeared from somewhoro In tho rear.
and tho detective s attention being i
thuB released from tho load out of
vwhlch he could make nothing, ho nl
lowed It to concentrate upon tho
young girl who had It In chnrgo nnd
who, for many reahons, was tho ouo
fiorson of supremo Importance to him
Sho had swung opon tho two wldo ' success. And thl success was com
doora, nnd now stood waiting for lng so fast! Oh, how can wo over tell
horso and wngon to onter. With j him! How can wo over answer his
looks Hying free she woro no bon- questions oven, or keep him aatlsllod
not sho prcsontod a plcturo of over-1 and calm until he Is strong enough to
increasing Interest to Swcotwnter hear tho truth. I'vo had to acknowl
Truly Bho was a vory boautlful girl, edgo already that I havo had no lottor
buoyant, healthy nnd sweet; ub unllko from hor for wceka. Sho never wrote
us poaslblo hts preconceived notions to him directly, you know, nnd alio
of Mlaa Challonor's humble llttlo pro- i novor aont htm messngoa, but ho know
tege. Her brown hair, of a rich chest
nut hue, waa In ltsolf a wondor.
Swootwator watchod hor with admi
ration na unu suponniouacu tuo un
loading of tho wngon nnd tho disposal
bf tho various boxoB on tho floor with
in; but ns nothing Bho Bald during
tho process wna calculated to afford
tho least onHghtonmont In regard to
tholr contonts, ho prosontly woarlod
of hla Inaction nnd turned buck tow
nrds tho highway, comforting himsulf
with tho tolloctlou thai In a fow short
, hours ho wouJU hate her to himself
when nothing but a blunder on hla
part should hinder him from sounding
her young mind and getting such an
swers to his questions as tho affair
In which ho was simply Interested, do-mandod.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Sweetwater Return.
"You seo mo again, Miss Scott 1
hope that yesterday's Intrusion has
not prejudiced you against inc."
"I havo no prejudices," was her
Blmple but firm reply. "I am only
hurried nnd very anxious. Tho doc
tor Is with Mr. DrotherBon Just now;
but ho has several other equally sick
patients to Visit and I dare not keep
him hero too long."
"Then you will welcome my abrupt
ness. Miaa Scott, hero Is a lottor
from Mr, Challoner. It will oxplain
my position. As you will see, his only
deslro Is to establish tho fact that his
daughter did not commit Bulcldo. You
havo seen Miss Challoner, I bellevo.
Do you think sho waB tho woman to
plunge a dagger In hor heart In a
place ns public as a hotel reception
room?" '
"No, Mr. Sweetwater. I saw her
onco and It mado mo want to bo
quiet and kind and beautiful llko her.
I never shall think sho did anything
so horrible. Nor will Mr. Drothoraon
over believe It. Ho could not and live.
You sec, I am talking to you aa If you
knew him tho kind of man he Is and
Just how ho feels towards Miss Chal
loner. Ho Is" Her volco trailed
off and a look, uncommon and almost
olevated, Illumined hor face. "I will
not toll you what ho la; you will
know, If you over 8eo htm."
Sweetwater watched her for a mo
ment, and then remarked: "I'm going
to tako ono thing for granted; that
you uro aa anxious ns wo are to clear
Miss Challonor's memory."
"O yes.O yes."
"Moro than that, that you are ready
and eager to help us. Your very looks
show that."
"You aro right; I would do anything
to help you. Uut what can a girl
llko mo do1? Nothing; nothing. 1
know too little. Mr. Challoner must
see thnt when you toll him I'm only
tho daughter of a foreman."
"And n friend of Mr. DrotherBon."
supplemented Swootwator.
' "Yes," sho smiled, "ho would wnnt
me to any so. But that's hla good
neaa. I don't deserve the honor."
"His friend nnd thoroforo his cojifi
danto," Sweetwater contlnuod. "He
has talked to you about Miss Chal
loner?"
"Ho had to. Thero was nobody else
to whom ho could talk; and then, I
had seen hor and could understand."
"Where did you seo her?"
"In Now York. I was there once
with father, who took mo to aeo her.
I think alio had asked Mr. Drotherson
to send his llttlo friend to her hotel
If over we camo to Now York."
"That waB somo time ago?"
"Wo wore thero in Juno."
"And you havo correaponded ever
since with Miss Challoner?"
"Sho haa been good enough to write,
and I have ventured at times to an
swer her."
Smiling a little, but in a very ear
neat fashion, ho pointed to tho letter
aho 8tlll.held nnd quietly aald:
"Remember that I'm not apea,klng
for myself, Miss Scott, whon I seem
a little too persistent and Inquiring.
You have corresponded with Miss
Clmlloner; you havo boon told tho
fact of hor secret engngoniont to Mr.
Drotherson and you havo been wit
ness to his conduct and manner for
tho wholo tlmo ho has boon separated
from her. Do you. whon you think of
it carefully, recall anything in tho
wholo atory of thla romnnco which
would throw light upon tho cruol trag
edy which has bo unexpectedly ended
It? Anythjng, Mlaa Scott? Straws
show which way tho stream flowa."
Sho was vohoniont, Instantly vehe
ment, In hor disclaimer.
"I can answer at once," antd sho,
"because I hnvo thought of nothing
elso for all thoso weeks. Hero all
was well. Mr. Drothorson wns hope
ful ond Uappy and bolloved In hor hap
piness nnd willingness to wait for his
that a letter to mo waa also a letter
to him and I can seo that ho Is
troubled by this long sljonco, though
ho says 1 waa qulfo right not to lot
her know of IiIb Illness nnd that I
must continue to keep her in tgno
rnnco of It till ho la qulto woll ngaln
and can wrtto to hor himself. It Is
hard to hoar him talk llko this and not
look sad or frightened."
Swootwator romombered Mlsa Chal
lonor's last lottor, and wished ho had
It hero to glvo her. In default of this,
ho said:
"Perhaps this not hearing may net
In the way of a preparation for tho
shock which must como to him sooner
or later. Lot us hope so, Mlsa Scott."
Her oyea filled.
"Nothing can prepare him," aald
she. Then ndded, with a yearning ac
cent, "I wish I woro older or had more
experience. 1 should not feel so help
less. Dut tho gratltudo I owo him will
glvo mo strength when I need It most.
Only I wish tho Buffering might be
mine rather than his." )
Unconscious of any self-betrayal,
sho lifted her oyes, startling Sweet
water by tho beauty of her look.
"I don't think I'm bo sorry for Os
wald Drotherson," ho murmured to
hlmsolf na ho loft her. "He's a more
fortunate man than he knows, how
over deeply ho may feel tho loss of
hla first sweetheart."
That ovenlng the disappointed
Sweetwater took the train for Now
York. Ho had failed to advance tho
caso In hand ono whit, yet the counte
nance he showed Mr. Qryco at their
first Interview was not a wholly
gloomy one.
"Fifty dollars to tho bad!" waa his
first laconic greeting. "All I hnvo
learned Is comprised In these two
stntements. The second O. B. Is a fine
fellow; and not Intentionally the
cause of our tragedy. Ho does not
oven know about It. Hg'b down with
tho fever at present and they haven't
told him. When he's better we may
hear something; but I doubt even
that"
"Tell mo about It"
Sweetwater complied; and such Is
the unconsclousnesa with which wo
often encounter tho pivotal circum
stance upon which our future or tho
future of our most chorl8hed under
taking hangs, ho omitted from his
story tho solo discovery which was of
any real importance In the unraveling
of tho mystery In which they wero so
deeply concerned. Ho said nothing
of his walk In the woods or of whaf
he saw there.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Image of Dread.
In the comfortable llttlo sitting
room of tho Scott cottage Doris stood,
looking eagerly from tho window
which gave upon the road. Behind
hor, on the other side of the room,
could bo seen through a partly opened
door, a neatly spread bed, with a hand
lying quietly on tho patched coverlid.
Severnl weeks had passed since tho
departure of Sweetwater and the in
valid was fast gaining strength. To
morrow, ho would bo up.
Wns Doris thinking of htm? Un
doubtedly, for her eyes often flashed
his way; but her main attention w.ib
Axed upon the road, though no one
waa In sight at tho moment. Some
ono had passed for whoso return she
looked; some ono whom, If sho had
boon asked to describe, she would
have called a tall, fine-looking man
of mlddlo ago, of a cultivated uppear
ance seldom seen in this small manu
facturing town; seldom seen, posslby,
In nny town. Ho had glanced up at
tho window ns ho went by, In n man-
"Who la That, Johnny?"
nor too marked not to oxclto her curi
osity. Would ho look up again when
ho enmo back? Sho was watting there
to seo. Why, sho did not know. Sho
was not uaod to Indulging In petty
suppositions of this kind; her life was
too busy, her anxieties too keen. Tho
groat drond looming over before her
tho dread of that hour when aho
must apeak left her very llttlo heart
for anything dissociated with thla
coming event
But her Interest had been caught
today, caught by thla stranger, nnd
when during hor eager watch tho
small messenger from tho Works
camo to tho door with tho usual daily
supply of books and magazlnos for
tho patient, she stopped out on tho
porch to spenk to him nnd to point
out tho giyitloman who wnB now rnp
Idly roturnlng from his stroll up tho
road.
"Who Is that, Johnny?" sho nskod.
The boy looked, searched his mem
ory, not without somo show of mis
giving. '
"A qucor name," ho ndmltted at
last. Shally something. Shally
Shally "
"Challoner?-
"Yes, t.hat's It. How could you
guess? He's from Now York. Don't
aeem to havo no business."
"Well, never mind. Run on, Johnny.
And don't forget to como earlier to
morrow; Mr. Brothorson gets tired
waiting."
"Does he? I'll como quick then;
quick as I can run." And ho apod
off nt a pneo which promised well for
tho morrow.
Challoner! Thero was but ono Chal
loner In the world for Doris Scott
Edith's father. Was this ho? It must
bo, or why this haunting sense of
something half remembered aB she
caught a gllmpso of his faco. Edlth'B
fnthort and ho was approaching, ap
proaching rapidly, on his way back to
town. Sho had not closed tho door;
something within a hope or a dread
had prevented that. Would ho tako
It aB an Invitation to como In? No,
no; sho was not ready for bucIi an
encounter yet. He might speak Edith's
name; Oswald might hear and with
a gasp sho recognized tho cloBoness of
his stop; heard It lag, almost halt
just whore the path to tho houso ran
Into the roadside. But It passed on.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
I Hope Never to Seo That Man.
Mr. Challoner continued to pass tho
house twice a day and tho tlmo finally
camo when he ventured up tho walk.
Doris was In the window and saw
him coming. She slipped softly out
and Intercepted him boforo ho had
stepped upon tho porch.
"Miss Scott?" ho asked.
"Yes, Mr. Challoner."
"You know me?" ho went on, ono
foot on the step and one still on tho
walk.
Before replying sho closed tho door
behind her. Thei) as she noted hla
aurprlse sho carefully explained:
"Mr. Brotherson, our boarder, la
juat recovering from typhoid. Ho Is
still weak and ncutely susceptible to
tho least noise. I was afraid that our
voices might disturb htm. Do you
mtnd walking a llttlo way up the
road? That Is, If your visit waa in
tended for me."
Her fluBh, tho beauty which must
havo struck even him, but moro than
all else her youth, seemed to reconcllo
him to this unconventional request
Bowing, he took his foot from tho
stop, saying, as sho joined him:
"Yes, you nro tho ono I wanted to
Bee; that Is, today. Later, I hopo to
havo the privilege of a conversation
with Mr. Brotherson."
Sho gave him one quick look, trem
bling so that ho offered her hlB arm
with a fatherly air.
"I seo that you understand my er
rand hero," he proceeded, with a
grave amllo, meant aa sho knew for
her encouragement "I am glad, be
causo wo can go at onco to tho point
Miss Scott," ho continued In a volco
from which ho no longer strove to
keep bnck tho evidences of deep feel
ing, "I havo tho strongest interest In
your patient that one man can havo
In another, whero thero Is no personal
acquaintanceship. You who havo ev
ery reason to understand my reasons
for this, will accept the statement, I
hopo, as frankly aa It Is mado."
Sho nodded. Her eyes wero full of
tears, but she did not hesitate to
raise them.
"When I lost my daughter, I lost ev
erything," ho declared, as they walked
slowly up tho road. "Nothing excites
my Interest, save that which onco ex
cited hers. I am told that the deep
est Interest of her life lay hero. I am
also told that It was an Interest qulto
worthy or her I oxpect to find It bo.
I hopo with all my heart to find It bo,
nnd that Is why I havo como to this
town and expect to linger till Mr.
Brotherson haa recovered autllclontly
to seo me. I hopo that this will bo
agreoablo to him. I hopo that I am
not preaumlng too much In cherishing
theso expectations.
Doris turned hor candid oyes upon
him.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Speedy Courtship,
A man recently in New York lnld
a wager that ho would woo, win and
marry within an hour a young lndy
whom, with hla companions, ho had
Just seen nrrivo at tho hotel where ho
was living.
Thero Is nothing In tho American
marriage law to prevent this dispatch.
Ho Introduced himself to tho damsel,
sho smiled upon his suit, a minister
was called In, and tlioy wero married
within an hour.
Tho wager, of no inconsiderable
amount, was handed to tho bride
groom, who left with his brldo tho
following day. It was shortly after
wards discovered that tho couplo had
been mnn nnd wife, and that thoy had
been traveling about playing the sam?
trick at various hotels.
.,!,. '
XK