Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-07-30
From the chicago Ledssrl
WILD nan
1hG OltCaStS Secret!
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
BIZ WELDON j. COBB,
Author Of Eat Her Mercy" The Love sl
Her Life, The Manacled Hand, /" The
Telegraph Detective, /" The Stolen
Bridegroom" Etc, Etc.
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE WANDERERS MISSION.
Il am Reuben Leslie; what do you
want?
He had waited so long ere be replied to
the question of his visitor that the latter
had stared wonderingly, almost suspicious
Ly, at him. There was nothing courteous
or encouraging in the voice, for Leslie had
recovered his calmness, and had deter
mined to meet this man, if real issues were
involved from the interview, apparently
unavoidable, on the ground of sullen
ignorance of his real identity and the cir
cumstances attending his visit.
wish to see Miss Leslie, was the re-
ply Of the other.
g She is not at home
looked disappointed. but he did not re-
treat
"You are her father2" he asked.
.sYes."
am an old friend of your daughter, p
he continued. | met her at the opening
exercises Of the school when she graduated,
and desire to see her with message from
an old schoolmate.
He spoke truly. but the message was q
trihing and incidental one.
My daughter is not in the CITY,"
Sherwood was startled at the gruff, harsh
voice.
:. Not in the oityl' herepeated. with some
surprise.
NO; she has gone to relative OF Phila-
delphia.
Leslie lied boldly. It was evident that
the other did not believe him, but he
bowed courteously, retreating down the
steps, and said:
8 She will return soon2p
In October perhaps.
He watched the figure Of the stranger as
it disappeared down the street.
"Curse him, he muttered angrily, IF he
learns the truth it will complicate affairs;
but I have put him off the track, sur
mise
A perplexed, gloomy look haunted the
eyes of Sherwood as heleft the place. Alb
sorbed in his own thoughts, he did not no.
tice, as after an hours walk be reached his
Office i'll large central business block on La
Sale street, that woman's form fitted
across the hallway and turned the knob of
the door as he closed it.
He started quickly and confronted the in
truder. At a first glance the rough attire
and disordered toilet evidenced the visit Of
some impecunious mendicant for aid; but
something in the dark, expressive eyes
checked the quick words on his lips, d
sharp query as to the business of the other.
Are you Mr.. Sherwood"
He bowed assentingly, and asked:
Did you wish to see me?'
aYes.
Come in."
1t was Wild Nan who entered the apart
ment; but she did not take the chair he
offered her. Earnestly she stood regarding
him with troubled look in her eyes, her
thin, brown hands working nervously.
II want to see You, she began, con-
fusedly, hesitatingly, on business.
Sherwood waited expectantly for further
developments from his strange client. She
was silent SO long and SO painfully abashed
at the searching scrutiny of his eyes that
he encouraged her with words kindly
spoken.
4On business, you said; for yourself?v
No; for another. / must tell you, even
if I can't begin the best way, she con-
tinued rapidly desperately. IF you are
Mr.. Sherwood, you are lawyer, and YOU
married Edith Leslie three years ago.
AT this sudden and unexpected revelation
of q cherished secret the lawyer started as
violently as though struck BY an invisible
hand, and stared wonderingly at the un-
couth creature, whose eyes were now in
tently fixed upon his face.
In heavens name, who are you-how
have you learned this?"
From the lips Of the woman I have
named-the woman from whom came to
you.
My wifelD cried Sherwood. eagerly.
Then she is here in the city. Her father
deceived me-
Will Mars fooa f,,rar., Gov: <>,,e,
Your wife, she replied; is she your
wife?s
He did not pause to resent her words, in
solent and uncalled for at any other time.
He overwhelmed her with questions. His
wife--vhere was she2 Why had she sent
her to him2 What was the mystery which
he felt assured Wild Mans strange visit
announced2
The wanderer did not reply directly to
his questions. Her cleaning eyes seemed
to read his very soul.
= cannot tell you, 7 she cried. Il have
come to question you not TO reveal the Sc
crets of my friend Edith Leslie.
Your friend2n
There was no scorn in the tones, only
incredulity, as he gazed at the tattered gar
ments Of his visitor.
Yes, her friend. / have asked you if
Edith Leslie is your wife. She believed it
until yesterday but now2
A white alarm manifested itself in Eber-
woods face.
Girl, he spoke in trembling voice, syou
mus explain yourself Your words fill me
with apprehensions. Where is my wife?
What do you mean by intimating that she
doubts me now?g
Because she has reason. When I say
that have come to you from Edith Leslie
1 do not claim that she has sanctioned nv
coming. No, her heart is too crushed, her
fears too deep to believe that any appeal to
you can explain what she saw last night.
The beaded drops on the mans white
brow indicated the slow agony of perplexity
and suspense he was suffering
Edith suffering Edith mistrusts me!s
be cried, in voice Of poignant grief. It
is false Why you have come here know
not, unless her enemies have sent you
hither to fill my ears with falsehoods.
# you believe that, replied the girl,
with returning flash of anger in her face,
explain, if you can to your wife. through
me, who is this woman Beatrice, whom the
records say you married five years ago, in
whose company and fond careEses Edith
Leslie saw YOU last night2H
The mans hand went up to his brow as
# to ward off a sudden blow He staggered
back as though overcome by an electric
shock
Great heavensls he cried. has ahe ais
covered that?p
His words were confirmation to the
suspicion Of his visitor Wild Nan, the
wanderer and imbecile no longer, stood j
stern Judge, and hard hatred came into
her fAce-
You do not deny il, she cried, Edith
Leslie was not wrong in her belief.
She beliered me false, cried Sherwood.
@She has Seen me with that woman x some
foul co1spirator has been operfinp to con-
siIlee her that am not 'Iii-,,. Girl
Rizl. ia heaFens nan| Il k NJ f |'.i