The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-02-07
THE WRONG PARTY.
BY NJ. C. T.

through the rainy december DUSK, with
its eyes of scarlet fire, and its whizz OF
escaping steam, and there was only one
passenger for Peterbank-a tall, aristo
cratic-looking old gentleman, with a
fur-trimmed overcoat, gold eyeglasses
and a fringe of snowy whiskers under
his chin.
Rolf Otherbrae the young Scotch
ticket agent, looked at him with that
half-curious, Acknowledgement expression
wherewlth ticket agents grow in time to
regard the whole world
You are in charge here, suppose?"
said the tall, furry stranger. Perhaps,
then, You can tell me at what time the
train from Carrowdaie is due?"
cat 80, sir"
The old gentleman then sat down by
the fire as if resigning himself TO wait
ing. And Rolf 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 Carrowdale train came IN about
six minutes or SO behind time, for the
snow was falling fast and the rails were
slippery-the hurrying passengers dis
persed themselves - various directions
except one young girl, dressed in
plnklsh gray, with black boa around
her throat, aud single long willowy
plume dropping over her pale face. who
entered the waiting room slightly shiv-
ering with the cold.
Mr.. Otherbrae advanced towards her.
Can | get you carriage?" 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 at the farther end of the
room-and Mr.. Otherbrae, who was tel
egraph operator as well as station agent,
hurried to bis post.
h. Otherbrae, Peterbank Station"
the tongue of the telegraph whispered,
with its wiry, clinking sound: From
police headquarters. Stop an old man
and a young girl-weu dressed and
plausible. Forgery. Fl. G. Deko,
general office, New York"
Roli stared at the quivering wires as
if expecting to CLEAN further intell-
e-1oe .ilol7 nIe...ll.u ,.4 AZ,
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, well dressed and
plausible" The description tailed
well enough-but then she was alone
And as for her being connected with
a forger's gang pshaw! Rolf Other
brae knew better!
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 yet?"
Two hours ago." Mr.. Otherbrae an
swered wondering if it were possible
that so 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 overcoat in the other room,
might possibly be the friend" she had
spoken of, and the ''old man" alluded
to the dispatch.
At the same instant, advancing a pace
or two farther, she caught sight of the
tail, erect figure by the fire in the other
room-the figure wrapped in the furs,
with the silvery, aristocratic hair, and
the chm dropping on the breast as if in
slumber.
Papa" broke involuntarily from her
lips. He has been waiting for me and
never knew itw
She hurried past the ticket agent
into the other room. Rolf Otherbrae
looked after her in dismay.
I'm to stop her, am II" thought
Rolf. And how the deuce am to do
it, 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 kneehng beside the
old gentleman. And IN an 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 him?" she gasped.
Can't you do something? Oh, don't
you see he has tainted? Tell me where
to go for doctor Where can l find
one? / have a smelling bottle, but
1t is of no use," Rolf answered gent.
~, entirely forgetting the dispatch, or
rather resolved to ignore it. INV
mothers cottage is close by. Let me
take you there"
And papa? who has come all the
way from India to meet me and take me
home to England!'
I will send some one to him at once, y
said Rolf, swallowing a large lump in
his throat, as he felt how utterly useless
was all human aid, and added TO him
self. i don't care if she has committed
nifty forgerles, aye, and murder be-
SIDES. won't make a brute of myself
by laying so much as an additional
straw on the burden of her troubles,
Its the sweetest face | ever saves.
and the best"
And so old Mrs. Otherbrae was
stricken dumb as she sat by her COW
hearthstone at 10 o'clock at night by
the sudden apparition of a beautiful
young lady drowned in tears.
Don't ask any questions, mother.
darling, Rolf whispered, "but be good
to her. And he hurried back TO the
depot, where the dead man still SAT
keeping silent vigil.
Half an hour attecward Ethel Dew
grove knew that she was an orphan in
strange land.
Where shall 1 go?' she faltered,
looking wildly around. What shall I
do? Papa Oh, poor, poor papal'
MY dear, nv dearl' said Mrs. Other
brae, kindly patung her hand, "be calm |
You need go nowhere; you need do
nothing, Roll will arrange it all. Rolf
is the best fellow IN the world. Just