The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-03-08

IN the CITY, ana was looked upon Win
exceeding favor by the town.
Two days later received an invita-
tion to attend grand party at the
residence of one of the silver kings.
The invitation came through friend,
and 1 accepted it, hoping to again
meet my charmer of the mountain
wagon.trail.
was not disappointed.
l met Prisciila again, in an attire
that gave her the look of an angel;
one thing only was lacking-wings!
She was glad to see me, and l SEEM
ed the favored one in the room until d
late arrival appeared in the person of
my friend of the mines, Luke Storms.
was not a little surprised at seeing
the mine-owner, and what surprised
me still more was the fact that he
seemed on friendly terms with Priscil-
la Mcdonald, and at once usurped the
place had occupied.
This was q revelation to me.
Luke Storms was so, a widower,
and had family of grown children
in the east. What right had he to bask
in the smiles of this young girl? Fur
thermore, what right had she so
young, to accept an old mans atten-
tions?
Money!
That was the key so the mystery,
and Miss Mcdonald was as mercenary
as the rest OF her sex. Disguised with
myself and other people in general, l
walked outside among the vines and
trees. Finding a rustic seat l sat
down, leaned my aching head against
a tree and fell into a doze.
From this state Twas reused by the
murmer of voices. sat upright sud
denly and cautiously. Asweet, scarce
ly perceptible perfume filled the atmos-
phere, and l caught the futter of q
white dress.
II have the old fool completely in
the tolls. Nick"
"Hist, woman! Not that name here.
You know that the people of Up
grade would not rest easy did they
know whom they had entertained SO
royalty during the past month-call
me Frank, STILL"
The voices were attuned to a low
key, almost whisper, and could not
be heard dozen feet away. 1t was
lucky accident that placed me with
in six feet of the two. The only thing
/ feared was discovery.
Frank it is. The old chap is ripe
for plucking; it is all arranged, and
tomorrow night the hour"
"Good. At what placer"
''That remains to be arranged.
"How much swag?"
''Twenty thousand"
"Good again. Your beauty is valu-
able, my pert Priscilla"
Then they moved away, and | sat
rooted to the spot in unspeakable sur
prise.
When the woman was 80 uncere-
moniously shut off at the word Nick /
started. knew one Nick Wilder, an
escaped convict and forger, for whom
large reward had been two years
standing-the very case that had
brought me to the silver hills when
Storms induced me to turn aside to
look after his robber.
Irealized with no little satisfaction
that might kill two birds with one
stone. My wits were about me now,
and resolved not to be caught nap
ping.
Early the next day met Storms.
He questioned me as to my progress
on the case in hand.
II am on the trail" Isaid, and that
was all the confidence he received from
me. did not question him regarding
Miss Mcdonald. knowing full we'll that
he would be angry, but watched his
every movement as a cat would watch
a mouse.
During the day a boy delivered a
note to the mine owner, which after
reading and smiling over, he thrust
carelessly into q side pocket of his
coat.
While taking friendly cigar with
him, little later, I dexterously ap-
propriated the note for my own bene-
fit, knowing that if he missed it he
would never know that I had filched
it.
Ten minutes later 1 was alone and
had the note under my eye.
"YoU DEAR OLD DUCK: All is arranged.
At the little slab house under the bluff, 10
sharp remember. "PRIssY."
/ could not forbear smile at the
wording, and yet when remembered
how badly had been hit by the siren
I could not wholly blame the mine
owner for his infatuation.
49," muttered, "'the little slab
house under the bluff Twill see about
that"
l resolved now to secure the services
ofseveral friends and keep LukeStorms
company to the trysting place OF his
inamorata. but, of course, we were to
remain in the back ground.
/ will now give what took place in
the mine owners case as l afterward
learned it from his own lips:
He had partially bargained with
pretty Miss Mcdonald to marry her
secretly on the following evening, but
the hour and place had not been des-
ignated until he received the note so
soon filched from his pocket.
Brother Frank would be terribly
put out did he imagine that I was to
marry man twice my years." ex-
planned Priscilla, 'and so we must be
married in secret"
Blinded by his infatuation the
mine-owner agreed to meet her at some
out-of-the-way place, and there con-
summate their happiness, she agree
ing to lind a suitable person to per-
form the ceremony.
The most suspicious circumstance
was that Storms was induced to draw
all his available funds from the bank,
and as soon as the marriage was con-
summated it was agreed to take the |
midnight train for the east. 1t was
a neatly arranged little scheme. Old |
Storms fell into the trap. He knew |
where the slab house was, under the
bluff half a mile out OF Upgrade.
Drawing his money about the mid
die of the afternoon, Storms passed |
the remainder of the day, up to near |
10, in a nervous manner.
He hurried on foot to the scene of |
the contemplated marriage. A light |
was burning in the slab house, and |
Storms was quickly admitted by Pris-
ella herself.
"You dear, darling old duck YOU"
She kissed and Rugged him, and then |
led him to seat. OF course after this |
Cf arms WI a G yopo HohoI,,,t Tho Y,nr