Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-09-10

Nan repaired to the apartment across the
hall and Warren went down to the street.
He paid no attention to the several stran-
gers lounging near the building. but as a
carriage drove up he fastened to it, opened
the door, and bowed to the man who
alighted from the vehicle.
The stranger was clerical looking gen.
tleman, and he gazed in some surprise at
the strange locality to which he had come.
Warren, however, vouchsafed no expla-
nation, but led him up the stairs and into
the room where Leslie was.
The latter at a signal left the apartment
and the clergyman, a vague suspicion in his
| eyes, turned to Warren:
This is rather peculiar place and
strange surroundings for marriage" he
said
when circumstances compel man to
| seclusion, he has no choice, was the mys-
terious reply with which Warren satisfied
his curiosity.
Leslie had proceeded straight to the room
where Nan was. As he opened the door he
found it dark within, and he had not ad-
yanced step into the apartment before he
felt himself suddenly seized from behind.
Before he could realize his situation or
release himself, stout rope had been
passed over his hands and feet, and hand
kerchief tied over his mouth,
1t was the work of Sherwood and Nan,
done SO quickly that the amazed and an
gered mechanic could only lie where they
had placed him, impotent to struggle or
cry out.
He could hear the sound Of conversation
as if carried on in low tone of voice, and
observed that there were several persons in
the room. Then the false beard he had
provided himself with since coming to the
river house was rude1y torn from his face,
his hat was removed, the door was opened,
and he heard footsteps proceed down the
hallwav-
Elmer Warren glanced up eagerly as the
door of the apartment where he was con-
versing with the clergyman opened, and the
familiar yelled form of Wild Nan entered
the room.
He came quickly forward and, as her
hand rested on his arm, he did not notice
how it trembled, and only cast careless
glance at Percy Sherwood, who. disguised
as Leslie, completely deceived the bride
groom elect.
The minister glanced curiously at the
yelled face of the bride, but proceeded at
once to perform the ceremony of marriage.
His solemn voice alone broke the silence
in firm, resolute voice by Warren, in q
low, trembling voice by his yelled COM
panion.
Warren's mind was in an excess of ex-
element and anxiety. He followed the
minister to the table, leaving the side Of
his newly made wife uneeremoniously, and
saw him sign the marriage certificate. Then
he gave him bank note as his fee, accom-
panied him to the door, and returned to
the side of the silent figure, standing
where he had left her.
At that moment the door again opened,
and ut the same instant the disguised Sher-
wood tore the false beard. from his face.
The new conner, Wild Nan, and the vic
tim of Elmer Warren's assistant at the old
works. Percy Sherwood. confronted the
amazed villain, who fell back with a loud
cry Of alarm and dismay.
His terrified glance rested first on the
yelled figure he had supposed to be that of
4 Wild Nan, and then upon the face OF the
wanderer. His blanched lips framed only
the words:
@In heavens name, what does this all
meln2"
The woman he had married took a step
forward and lifted her veil.
The face which confronted Elmer War
rem seemed to overwhelm him as would o
mighty shock.
Crushed, dazed, frenzied, ne fairly
crouched before the indignant glance of
! the eyes of the woman he had welded in
that room few minutes before.
And ringing in his ears, fateful and dire,
announcing the death Of his fondest hopes,
the voice Of Wild Nan cried in triumphant
tones:
1T means that yourself and your evil ac-
complice are outwitted by poor, witless
Wild Nan-it means that her fathers muir
last you have been compelled to atone for
a cruel wrong in wedding the victim of
your base plot of Fl years since, the
woman BY your side. Beatrice AYenal.
[To BE CONTINUED