Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-08-27
GFrom the Chicago. LedgerA
WILD NAN !,
4hG OltCast's Secret!
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
BY WELDON y. COBB,
Author Of "At Her Mercy" "The Love Of
Her Life, /" The Manacled Hand" !" The
Telegraph Detective, I" The Stolen
Bridegroom" Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER XVI.
wARREN'S RISE.

CHAPTER XVI.
wARREN's RUsE.
1t was broad daylight when Edith Leslie
| again opened her weary eyes, with an aching
| head and dizzy, confused brain.
She was lying on rude pallet of straw in
a room coarsely furnished and having but
one window, the first glance at which caused
her to start wildly.
Across it we're several iron bars and its
height from the floor was such that she
could not reach it to look out without step
| ping on a chair. AS her eye wandered over
the bare walls of the apartment and then to
| the heavy door she recalled the events of
the previous night, recognizing the fact that
she was again captive, and murmured, de-
| spairingly:
"I am in Elmer Warren's power again"
The most exaggerated picture of the per-
secuted maiden could scarcely equal the
persistercy with which from the first hef
enemies had pursued her, and this last ac-
ton of theirs had seemingly arrested all in.
vestigation on her part at stage where il
would reveal all she so longed to learn.
But the stricken distressed girl-wife of the
old works was not the determined woman
of the present
No moan Of anguish escaped her lips
| now. and the solemn grief on her face rs
she thought of Percy Sher GOOD but en-
hanced its resolute expression, an expires.
sion betokening mind bent upon task
she had determined to perform.
| For the plots of her enemies were fairly
clear to her thoughts at last. Her husband
had not deceived her, but they, taking adj
vantage of mysterious complication, had
endeavored to prove, and had almost suc-
| ceeded in proving, him to be the husband
of another.
The last doubt had left her mind at Mrs
Wards words. She felt a return of the
old trust in Percy Sherwood's honor, and
the darkest shadows of the singular chain
| of circumstances which had made him
| appear deceiver failed to impress hel
mind with any thought of his unfaithful-
ness.
ale ecu d explain all, she murmured;
she has been shielding another, and Elmer
Warren has taken advantage of that fact.
Believing this, life had new purpose fol
her-to avenge that husbands death and
bring to justice his murderer-to clear his
name and her own from the reproach Elmer
Warren would cast upon it.
More than this, to learn the secret of hel
birth, and to solve the mystery surround
ing the beautiful and unfortunate Beatrice
Avenal.
purpose as she thought of all that had
passed The men who held her in theil
power would not hesitate at new crimes.
She must defy, outwit them for her Own
sake, for the sake of others.
| She was friendless, helpless, alone; yet
amid her desolate position came the convic-
| ton that she would yet unravel every mys-
| terry, would yet bring justice and right TO
the front. and battle the desperate schemes
| of her relentless foes.
| 1t was late in the morning when she heard
the sound of advancing footsteps in the hall
without, and a minute later key grated in
the lock of the door,
She looked up anxiously. curiously. She
had expected one or the other of her per.
secutors, and was not disappointed when
Reuben Leslie entered the apartment with
flushed, sullen face, and nodded roughly ia
| her.
We'll. Edith, he said, coming to stand
before her.
She regarded him with glance of min
gled indignation and surprise. His cool
efrontery almost repressed the words on
her lips.
You welcome me as familiarly as if our
relations had not changed, Reuben Leslie,
J as if were a favored occupant of YOU
| house, instead of a captive"
| He WINGED slightly at her words.
Relations changed" he muttered, hall
angrily. what do you mean?"
| you know well enough, replied Edith,
spiritedly.
IF you refer to your insane declaration al
the old works, he began.
1t was but bait to draw her on to learn
what she really knew The quick flash in
her eye told him that indignation had
aroused her to award him the desired infor-
nation.
Insane declarationl" she repeated. thrill
ingly. read those papers, Reuben Les
lie, and learned, beyond your power tc
dispel, that l am not your child.
Indeed! You will find some difficulty
in proving that to be the fact"
st is enough to know that am not the
daughter of murderer.
The man started with rage, his hands
clenched conyulsively, the veins stood oui
like knotted cords on his dark scowlina
! brow.
sBeware!" he hissed hoarsely.
| "Of what?" demanded Edith, coldly.
of my desperation. If you are not my
child you hold too great secret to trust
away from me-"
Reuben Leslie" cried Edith, meeting
his murderous eyes calmly. II have but Q
few words to say to you. That you are moi
my father, I know-why that fact should
have led you to surround me with deep,
dark plots, do not know, but l will learr
In time. If l am kept in this place 0
prisoner one hour longer, when do regain
my liberty, | will dencunce you and youl
guilty accomplice to the law"
low growl broke from the mans lips.
You will, will your" he Kissed between
| L. L
cost you your life You shall never live te
regain your liberty or tell your story"
She paled slightly at his energy of man.
ner, his apparent sincerity, but she laughed
lightly.
xiii mel" she cried, derisively; you
dare not. All, Reuben Leslie, the papers
! were torn from me ere l had read them all
through, but 1 am no idiot that / cannot
discern your plot. A fortune is the stake
you are playing for. A fortune you cannot
secure except through me. defy you now.
defy your every scheme. If, as l sup
pose, only through me can that fortune be
obtained, swear solemnly that its bene.
hts shall never reach you nor your red.
handed accomplice, by any act of mine.
She had presumed too far on her partial
knowledge of the state of affairs. The man s
coarse laugh startled her,
You think you have solved what you
Gained an inklino Of" he answered
Il know you are not my father" replieo
Edith, with pale face.
And believe yourself invaluable to us2'
She did not reply.
You are not. Allowed that you are moi
my daughter, what does that knowledge
avail you? As to the fortune, if it really
exists, you will never be able to trace it
to learn your real parentape
you cannot deceive me- said Edith