The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-12-18

ner than when we last saw him, and the
rowing tendency of his eyes is, perhaps. a
trife more remarkable, but otherwise he
has not changed. He steps along in man.
ner indicating that he knows his business,
and is well acquainted with his surround
ings. Handing his little yalise to hack
man. he springs lightly into the carriage,
and is driven to the Monongahela House,
where, in a bold, free hand he registers
Andrew j. Sharp, Hillsboro, Pa; then,
casting himself down in q chair, he sits
with head bent forward, as if intent on
solving some great problem. The clock
ticks the seconds and minutes until an hour
has passed, and yet he scarcely stirs.
Suddenly, and apparently with an effort, he
rouses himself and asks TO be conducted to
a room, at the same time desiring that
paper and ink be furnished him.
In the privacy CT his apartment he PAGES
backward and forward several times in a
rather nervous manner. Then from
his inside coat pocket he takes several
letters, and carefully unfolds stained
and weather beaten sheet of paper most of
the writing indistingushable, but enough
remains to give the name of the writer, and
the one addressed. Carefully he studies it
over, muttering to himself, Your loving
wife, Lena Hargrave."
If mistake not the girl, when she sees
this and reads the letter | shall send her,
it will be impossible for Mr.. Eargrave to
gain an audience with her. Twas lucky /
found it the day lie left the mill. Curse
him, What right has he to come between
Inc and my long cherished plans. If she
should show this letter to him all would be
lost, but l will take the chances of her re-
fuslng to see him. And now for the letter"
Seating himself at a small table he dips
his pen in the ink, and for few minutes
the silence is unbroken except by the
scratching sound the pen makes as it goes
rapidly over the paper. In the absence of
blotter he catches up newspaper lying
near, and presses it firmly over the writing,
but as he does so he starts and chances
keenly at a notice under the head of mar
riages, which runs thus:
HARGRAVE-EvANs-O the 4th of March, at
the residence of the bride, by Rev. A n Burt,
Mr. Richard Hargrave Sr, and Miss Lena
Evans both of Pittsburg
He leans back in his chair moment, his
brows contracted, then light breaks over
his face, and he exclaims: Eureka. |
can do it. and l will do it. Fortune seems
playing into my hands, and this will make
the evidence more strongly plausible" He
adds n few words to the letter, then seals
and addresses it, and placing it, together
with the newspaper, in his pocket, grasps
his hat and descends to the street Enter
ing the first drug store on his way, he
writes out a formula upon slip of paper,
and hands it to the clerk, with the remark:
Have you the ingredients to fill that"
The clerk glances at it a moment.
Yes, sir, L think We have. 1t is a queer
preparation, sir"
Never mind that, but fill it at once!"
Sharp answers tartly And you may wrap
mp camels hair brush with the mixture"
In few minutes the preparation is ready,
and paid for; then returning to the hotel
he ascends to his room again. and spread
ing the newspaper out before him, he dips
the brush into the colorless mixture, and
allows a drop to fall on the letters ST.,
after the name Richard Hargrave Close
ly he watches it, his breath coming and 60
ing quickly. Slowly the little drop changes
color, it becomes darker and darker, until
finally it looks like small drop of ink.
Then carefully, with one corner of his
handkerchief, he removes every particle
from the paper, and the result is. the ST."
has entirely disapp ared. His face fushes.
Il thought that would do the work" he
mutters, between his clinched teeth. How
Will she know twas intended to mean his
father?" And he smiles q sort of devilish
smile.
He dare not trust these missives to an
others hands, so again he sallies forth, this
time to the postoffice, and when he drops
them into the box it is with q sigh of relief
Now we'll see, now we'll see, Mr.. Har-
grave. If that don't settle your love-mak-
ing then my name is not Sharp"
Poor, misguided wretch, to think that by
separating two loving hearts you will be the
gamer. To think that by such means your
prospects are enhanced. This little over
seer imagined that be loved Claudio, and
for year or two had labored under the de-
fusion that some day she would be his wife:
and many a night, after having completed a
hard days work, had he lain awake or
strolled about in the moonlight building
castles in the air. planning his future and
hers; and then to see another step III and
apparently carry off the prize he had striven
so hard to win, and to see her interest sud-
denly awakened in stranger, was more
than the heart of this little man was capa-
bic of withstanding. Naturally of cold,
cynical disposition, it took but little to de-
velop his meaner nature and when he had
picked up the letter Dick had lost he at
once made up his mind to appropriate it to
his own selfish interests. And now, for the
present, We will leave Mr.. Sharp, allowing
him to go on with the business pursuits
which brought him to Pittsburg for the day.
fro BE CONTINUED