Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-02-04
THE WRONG PARTY.
BY n. O. 7.

and fringe of snowy whiskers under
his chin.
Rolf Otherbrae, the young Scotch
ticket agent, looked at him with that
half-ourious, half-indi6erent expression
wherewith ticket agents grow in time to
regard the whole world.
You are in charge here, I suppose"
said the tall, furry stranger. Perhaps,
then, you can tell me ct what time the
train from Carrowdale is due?"
AT 6 80, sir."
The old gentleman then sat down by
the fire as if resigning himself TO wait.
ing. And Roll went out into the twi-
Light to make sure that the switch
tender, 100 yards or so up the Snow.
covered track had not been asleep, and
that the signal lights burned clear and
steady for the Southern train.
The Oarrowdale train came IN about
six minutes or 30 behind time, for the
snow was falling fast and the rails were
sippery-the hurrying passengers dis.
persed themselves in various directions
except one young girl dressed in
pinkish gray, with black boa around
her throat, and . single long willowy
plume dropping over her pale face. who
entered the waiting-room slightly shiv-
ering with the cold.
Mr.. Otherbras advanced towards her.
Can I get you oarrisge?" he asked !;
"or be of any service to your"
"Thanks," she answered, shyly, IL
expect friend to meet me here.
Click! The sharp sudden summons
OF the little telegraph behind the rallied
compartment ct the farther end of the
room-and Mr.. Otherbrae, Who was tel-
egraph operator as we'll e. station agent,
hurried to his post.
the tongue Of the telegraph whispered,
with its wiry, blinking sound: "From
police headquarters. Stop an old man
and : young girl-well dressed and
plausible. Forgery. II. @. Deko,
general Office, New York."
Rolf stared at the quivering wires ~
II expecting to CLEAN further intelli-
genoe from their metallic surfaces;
then he looked across the room to
where the slender, dark-eyed young
lady sat, her hands clasped on her
knee, and her eyes fixed intently on the
fire.
"A young lady, we'll dressed and
plausible!" The description tailed
we'll enough-but then she was alone
And ss for her being connected with
. forger's gang-pshawl Roll Other
brae knew betteri
At the same instant she rose and came
hesitatingly half across the floor. II
beg your pardon, sir-but has the ex-
press train come in YETI"
"Two hours ago." Mr.. Otherbrae an
swered, wondering il it were possible
that 80 fair an outward exterior could
conceal the hideous inner life of crime |
And then, all of sudden, it occurred
to him that the tall gentleman in the
fur-trimmed overooat in the other room.
might possibly be the "friend" ahe had
spoken OF, and the ''old man" alluded
to the dispatch.
At the same instant, advancing pace
OF two farther, she caught sight of the
tall, erect figure by the fire in the other
room-the figure wrapped in tho furs,
with the silvery, aristocratio hair, and
the ohm dropping on the breast ~ if in
slumber.
Papa" broke Involuntary from her
lips. he has been waiting for me and I
never knew i'll"
She hurried past the ticket agent
into tho other room. Rolf Otherbrse
looked after her in dismay.
I'm to stop her, am II" thought
Rolf. And how the deuce am I to do
il, I'd like to know"
As these disjointed reflections passed
through his mind sudden shrek
rose up in the silence, and Mr.. 9th
erbrae, hurrying into the waiting room,
saw the young girl kneeling beside the
old gentleman. And in IN instant he
perceived the secret of her cry. The
stately old man, with fur-trimmed gar
ments and the snowy beard, was quite
dead. As Rolf advanced she looked
wildly up into his face.
Cant you help him2" she gasped.
Cant you do something's Oh, don't
you sec he has fainted2 Tell me where
TO 60 for doctor. Where can I lind
one1 I have smelling bottle, but"
1T il Of no use" Rolf answered gent-
", entirely forgetting the dispatch, or
rather resolved 20 ignore it. my
mothers cottage il close by. Let me
take You there"
And pepe1 who has como al tho
way from India 70 meet me and take me
homo to Englandl"
II will send some ono to him at once,
said Roll, swallowing . large lump in
hin throat - he felt how utterly useless
WAS Ill human aid, and added to him
self. II don't care If she has committed
fifty forgeries, aye, and . murder b.
ides. I won't make . brute Of myself
BY laying 20 much - an additional
straw on the burden of her troublee.
It's the sweetest face ever sav-vea
and the best"
And 90 old Mrs. Otherbrae Wa
stricken dumb - she at BY her COW
hearthstone at 10 O'Clock at night by
the sudden appazition Of 4 beautiful
young lady drowned in tears.
Don't ask any question:, mother,
darling, Rolf whispered, "but be rood
to her.. And he hurried back to tho
depot. where tho dead man still sat
keeping silent vigil.
Half IN hour aftexwaxd Ethel Dew
grove knew that abe Wa An orphan in .
strange land.
where shall I go?" she filtered.
looking wildly around. what shall /
dol Papa! Oh. poor, poor papal'
MY dear, my DEAR" said Ms. Othsr-
brae, kindly patting her hand. ~be calm
You need 60 nowhere; you need do
nothing, Rolf win arrange it al. Roll
II the best fel1ov in the world. Just