The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-01-27

ssNo apology is needed, my dear young
lady," interrupted the doctor good
pray don't distress your
self on that account. hope you did
not think it necessary to call about such
a trifing matter"
ssI certainly considered that / owed |
you an apology, DR.. Lame, returned |
Miss Overton, avoiding his gaze. "How |
ever, that is not the chief object of my |
visit, called because I wish to ask your
friendly assistance about q very unpleas- |
ant circumstance.
81 am at your service, Miss Overton."
said DIR. Lane, considerably surprised.
"I am aware that our slight acquaint-
ance hardly iustiies me in asking favor
of you," said the young lady hurriedly.
'But 1t happens that you can do me
great service, and am sure that you are
too good -natured to refuse. Would you
mind reading this, please?'
The young lady then handed him
letter written on dirty crumpled piece
of paper DR.. Lane, more surprised
than ever, took the document. and with
some difficulty deciphered the grabbed
and illiterate handwriting as follows:
ssTHE RED Cow" FERRY WALK, Liver
POOL, RESPECTED MIss:-I am sur
prised you did not answer my last. I
am desperit man owing to severe mis-
fortunes and illness and unless receive
addressed as above) the twenty
pound (e20j mentioned in my last L
shall tell your father everything.
So you should not make any mistake
about what / know, I may remind you
am aware you came to Liverpool on the
10Th of April and stayed the night at Mrs.
Banton's and the next morning you saw
| Mr.. M. off on board the steamer un-
| known to your father. A pretty story
to get about of young lady, which you
know is quite true. Yours respectfully,
JOHN Downs.
To Miss Overton.
''Bless my soulr' calculated the doc
| tor; s'what is the meaning of this? Who
! is the man who writes this letter."
s'He is butler MY father discharged
! for drunkenness-at least, I suppose
that is the man. I know nobody else of
the name. But, DIR. Lane. please OBJ
serve the dates he mentions, said Miss
| Overton eagerly. He says I went to
Liverpool on the 18th of April. and was
there on the morning of the 10Th. Now
| you will remember that it was on the
morning of the 10th of April that you
| paid me visit in my room.
''No doubt you are right" said the
| doctor, turning over the leaves of his
diary. eyes, here is the entry, Thurs
day, the 10Th of April, at II A. NJ. This
fact alone, of course, proves the accusa-
ton to be groundless. It is evident the
man was mistaken"
ST ignored his first letter altogether, y
resumed Miss Overton, apparently re.
lieved by DIR. Lanes ready testimony
However, as he has written again,
wish to take precautions to prevent him
worrying papa. would send the man
the money directly, to secure papa from
annoyance, only know that would be q
weak thing to do"
"It would be fatal-it is not to be
thought of" said DR.. Lane, decidedly
81 know, but must do something.
said Miss Overton, with an air of des
peration. "Papa has SO much to worry
him that must save him this annoy
ance at all hazards. Thought, perhaps
you would not mind writing to the man
to say you saw me in London on the
18th and thus put an end to the whole
matter"
81 am afraid I must decline doing
that" said DR.. Lane. after a pause
''Not, "he fastened to add, from any un
Willingness to oblige you, Miss Overton
but because this man mua& not be let OF
: so easily. This is an impudent attempt
to extort money, and my advice to YOU
is to hand the letter to your father and
leave him to deal with the man"
"Oh, that is out of the question:" ex'
claimed Miss Overton, with sudden en-
ergy. "You don't know, DR.. Lane, how
my father lets things worry him. Such
an unpleasant matter would make hin
seriously i'll"
Nonsense, my dear young lady. II
fact" said the doctor, rising from his
seat and speaking with decision, ''unles'
you promise me to hand your father the
letter Immediately, I shalt feel it my
duty to speak to him.
Miss Overton looked disconnected, an6
seemed to mediate making an attempt
to dissuade him from his purpose. But
apparently, upon second thoughts, she
changed her intentions, for, after q mo
: ment's reflection, she said, rather coldly
"You need not trouble to do that. DIR
Lane. II feel your advice is right ,ant
unwilling as / am to cause my father an
HOyuuC0, Will Ahuu bu0 l6ttGT over u
) him. In that case you need not mention
to him that I consulted you about tn
J matter first
+ Certainly not; but mind, you prom
! ise?" said DIR. Lane, playfully, as th
! young lady took leave of him.
3 The fact was that the doctors chival
3 rous feelings were thorougly aroused b
the discovery that an unscrupulou
: scoundrel was seeking to impose upo
J and intimidate young and innocer
2 girl. The intelligence filled him wit
: honest indignation, the more especial
as Miss Overton seemed disposed
: yield to the mans demand. Her eager
ness to conceal the matter from he
: father evidently arose from mingle
: sensitiveness and reluctance to make
scene, coupled with flial solicitude
? But DIR. Lane was strongly of the opinio
r that Mr.. Overton ought not to be kept
t ignorance of the attempted extortion AN
y he resolved to take an early opportunit
of calling upon him to ascertain if til
+ young lady had faithfully kepther prom
Use.
: A week passed before he could fin
time to carry out his intention, whe
a one evening he received pressing moi
+ from MIR. Overton, asking him as pa
O ticular favor to step around to his HON
L Immediately. He did SO, and was col
J. ducted by the footman across the hall |
g the library. Just as he reached til
O library door maid servant came out {
e the room looking so white and scare