Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-07-02
WILD nan
Or
The OltCaSts Secret!
-o--o
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
BY WELDON ,. COBB,
Author Of "At Her Mercy" THE Love oI
Her Life The Manacled Hand, "The
Telegraph Detective" The Stolen
Bridegroom" Etc, Etc.
-o-o-
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
CHAPTER II.
MURDER MOST FOUL.


slightly impressed by the quiet, steady
gaze Of his visitor. AS the latter glanced
| suspiciously at his coarse, hard features
and then at the rudely furnished apartment,
however, he found time to regain his
ordinary brusqueness Of manner, and he
tossed his cap on the floor, drew chair to
the table and sat down.
The other threw back his cloak, revealing
as he did so the spotless shirt bosom, the
neatly trimmed beard, and well-fttine
under suit of O man Of taste and fashion,
| His penetrating eyes, resolute face and
silent hands told that he was stranger to
fear. and that suspicion of possible peril
affected him less than the thought that the
man before him might not be the person be
had represented himself to be.
His first words, as he drew his chair near
the table, bore upon this subject
You are Robert Trescott?" he said, in
terrogatiyely.
@Yes."
The writer of this note sent to me al
the Palmer House, and appointing meet
here; also of this forwarded to me at Phila-
delphia. !"
He had taken package of papers from
his pocketbook as he spoke, deftly running
over the compartments. and had selected
two bits of paper. Leslies eyes glistened
as he noted several packages of bills, but
his gaze wandered to the notes spread open
to his inspection by the stranger.
They are my letters" was the reply.
Verify them
The tone was curt and business like. but
Leslie looked perplexed.
Il don't know what you mean," he said,
! ignorantly.
The other drew pencil from his pocket
and threw it and the notes upon the table.
Write your name on the back" he said,
in explanation.
Leslie took up the pencil, wrote name
his own-and then, with little exclama-
ton of annoyance, scratched it out.
He completed the writing and returned
the notes to the stranger.
The latter inspected the signature with q
searching eye.
The handwriting is the same" he said:
abut this obliterated signature Reuben
Les. What does that mean?"
The mechanic frowned
See here, Mr.. Armitage, as you call
yourself, he said, roughly, I'm impa-
patient to get to business. If Trescott
amt my name at present. I'm him to all in
tents and purposes. If I've chosen to 90
under different one here, it's for the same
reason that have led you to suppose that
lived in Philadelphia"
And that was insinuated the other
placidly.
To protect my interests. I've carried
Orrin Perciyals secret for nineteen years.
and it's cost me money and time. did not
choose to have you know all about me, and
let you take the girl when you pleased, leav-
| fng me to whistle for my reward. I"
he had grown quite angry. A slight
sneer curled the strangers lips as he said
calmly:
4Of course understand that your part
of the affair was upon pecuniary basis
purely. have no thought Of defraudina
| you, but am acting upon instructions
which shall carry out to the letter."
A crafty gleam came into Leslies eyes.
/ The matter is plain enough, he said
! roughly, aand may be plainly stated. Nine
@en years ago accepted charge from
9rrin Percival It is true that during that
ime I have received O beggar's pittance for
my care in his behalf. If had known
what know now he would have paid me
better.
@Orrin Percival is dead, interrupted the
man calling himself Armitage. @The long
dream of bis life can only be accomplished
when he is not on earth to witness its frui-
ton. AS you say, it was nineteen years ago
when he, fellow miner in California,
heard that in England his early home, a
fortune had been left him. He had Just,
child, Edith, was only year old To you
md YOUR wife he left the care of his child
until he could return wealthy man to
claim her. DO you care to listen to the
Btory?"
aYes.p
Very WELL Percival returned to England
He found that an uncle had left large for
tune to him, but conditionally: he was to
marry his cousin, Elinor Floyd. Tired Of
poverty, he accepted the conditions The
revenue of the estates he was to enjoy
| jointly with his wife After their death
the fortune was to be inherited by the next
of kin. Their marriage was an unhappy
one childless. too. and the Jealous. unrea-
sonable vixen he welded ruled him with a
| rod Of iron. She became an invalid He
did not dare to tell her the story of his
first marriage, aud at last he began to cher
ish the wicked hope that she might die and
allow Of his bringing his child to his home.
The years went on, however; he sent you
money to care for the child, and waited for
| the hour when he could welcome her to his
heart. Six months since Elinor Percival
| died. month later her husband followed
her to the grave. I as his confidential
! agent was intrusted with the task Of re-
claiming the child. wrote to you as
Robert Trescott, at Philadelphia, where
received your letter from this city. have
come to take to England Edith Percival,
the helress, and to pay you for the care of
the daughter Of your early friend.
Leslie had listened attentively, but his
4 fare Wac oTvi07c nc fho I'll, a., x,ovTcod