The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-11-27

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an enemy-a hidden foe-a fend in human
form-wlD 10 working out against you fear
full hatred! And you have not the slightest
suspicion as to whom he isl"
''Not tie slightest" declared the banker.
"Not the slightest" echoed Mrs. Preble.
/" my husband had . step-brother who might
have been capable of this infamy-but he is
dead n
1.-THE handwriting is not familiar !"
"NO. It is merely rude scrawl, a. you
see, said the banker. at suggests nothing
except that it is evidently disguisedP
Again there was profound silence.
"Our child is seventeen years old now" at
length murmured Mrs. Preble. her voice trem-
bling. "She is on the Threshold OF woman
hood. No doubt, during all these years, she
has yearned for us, wherever she may be, as
We have yearned for herr
"But where is she T. asked the physician
and now his voice was broken by his deep
sympath! with the agonized parents. "Where
can she bel
"Heaven only knows" answered the moth
er. "Perhaps in San Francisco perhaps in
some rude hut in the interior, with some OBJ
scure farmer, and under name that Is not
hers Think her abductor would have car
ried her to some lonely region of the interior,
among the valleys and mountains. Yet
never see young girl in the street without
turning to look at her. never heara girlish
voice without listening eagerly, half fancy
ing that it may prove the voice of my lost
JessieIn
"Oh, plying heaven !" sighed Dr. Hutton,
dashing flood of tears from his eyes. "Wiu
this long agony never be over y
ave hope so, and even believe so" answer
ed Mrs. Preble, with the firmness Of an un-
faltering trust in Gods mercy. 1.-THE last
message we received from our enemy seems to
point to some kind of change"
''True," assented DR.. Hutton, looking at the
message in question. ut is unlike the others.
It says that his reward is at hand" He means
either that he intends to marry your daughter,
or that he intends to demand money Of you
sor bringing her back-or both"
eve shall soon know" said Mrs. Preble,
with forced calmness. "To-day we shall have
another message, no doubt. What will it be 7"
The banker turned restlessly on his sofa,
and his face grew even paler.
"Whatever it is, let it come !" he murmured.
Anything can be borne better than this aw-
full suspense. Let it Gomez
As if his impatient words had prscipitated
q crisis, step was heard on the walk at this
moment, and a ring at the front door fol-
lowed.
Another mcssager breathed the banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing q letter,
which he extended to Mr.. Preble, saying:
The bearer is in the hall
With On eager gaze, the banker glanced at
the superscription of the missive,
1T is from Aim r he faltered.
He tore the envelope open.
1t contained slip of paper, of we'll known
shape and appearance, upon which was
scrawled single line, in an equally well
known handwriting, which the banker ex-
hibited to his wife and the physician
This lire was as follows:
AUGUST 8, 1868. Atsix IwiU calr
A shock of wonder and horror shook the
three simultaneously.
will call = cried Mr.. Preble, starting to
his feet, and glaring wildly around
is coming here 2 cried Mrs. Preble, also
arising.
1T seems so,' said DR.. Hutton his eyes
again reverting to the message He will be
here at six o'clock, and see it is six already =
Even as he spoke, the clock on the mantel- |
piece commenced striking the appointed hour,
md At that instant heavy footsteps resounded |
~ CuC Hull, lHC lli)IuN. i
1T IS he p cried the doctor, also arising.
AS the last stroke of the hour resounded, |
The door leading from the hall again opened. |
One long and horritied glance cast the I
banker and his wife in that direction, and |
hen she fell heavily to the floor. lr-.r .,sa(
Her senses had left her.
The above we publish as specimen chap.
er but the continuation of this story will be |
ound only in the New York Ledger. Ask for
Inc number dated December 4th which can
% had at any news office or bookstore. If |
you are not within reach of q news office, you
IAN have the Ledger mailed to you for one
year by sending three dollars to Robert Bon
Ter, publisher, 1872 William street, New York.
The Ledger pays more for original contribu-
ions than any other periodical in the world
t will publish none but the very, very best.
is moral tone is the purest, and its circulation
he lagest. Everybody who takes it is hap
bier for having it. Leon Lewis, Mrs. Harriet
lewis, Mrs Southworth, Mr.. Cobb, Professor
Peck, Mary Kyle Dallas, Fanny Fern and
Mss Dupuy will write only for the Ledger
hereafter 49,
Mr. Bonner, like other leading publishers,
night issue three or five papers and maya
ines; but he prefers to concentrate all his
ncrgies upon one, and in that way to make it
he best One Dexter is worth more than
hree or five ordinary horses
One science only can one genius fit,
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
'NARDS. ---