Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-30
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LAST STROKE.

NLdlUE llldE5 uaQ gone bGEal&gnG 70 MS
library, shutting himself in, and begun
pacing restlessly up and down the floor.
A crisis had come in his affairs, where
desperate remedies must be employed.
''Dulcie viii demand half the fortune
Bertrand Lynton left in my charge, now
she knows ali; and Philip Raynor viii
see that her rights are enforced. - he mutt
tered, scowling and biting his lips Glow
can give up such sum? The income
is barely sufficient now to maintain Guy
and myself in the luxurious style of liv-
ing that has become SO necessary to our
happiness"
Presently, as he walked up and down,
gnawing like a wild beast at his lips, a
dark smile broke over his evil face. A
plan to rid himself at once and forever
of Dulcie had been suggested to his
scheming brain.
81 believe it could be done without
even the shadow of suspicion falling upon
me, he muttered.
It was now nearly nine o'clock. Mand-
ers had been dismissed from his post;
the house was still. Major ViIlars opened
the library door, and after listening a
moment. stole with feet, nOisless steps
to the bOudOir above and entered Uncere-
moniOusly.
Toinette sat near the open window, her
face in her hands. She looked up with
a startled air at the sound Of that cautious
ble-like pallor of her face, the strange
expression in her dark blue eyes. These
were easily accounted for after the ex-
citing scenes through which she had
passed. He never doubted but it was
Dulcie upon whom he gazed.
Il have a message for you, he said,
sinking his voice to a whisper. MIR.
RaynOr has sent for his wife He inn
plOres you to come to him at once. BE
wants Du1cie, the peerless woman he
married, not the impOstOr who tried to
steal her rights. He begs you to put aside
every thought or fear that has alienated
you, and trust in his love. Will you do
it?"
Toinette sprang up. She had been re-
volving other plans, but they could wait
a little. How thankful she felt now for
the impulse that had led her to change
places with Dulcie only few minutes
before!
eyes, yes" she answered, quivering
with excitement. Where is Philip? Let
me go to him instantly"
Hush, the Major breathed, lifting his
finger warningly. "Toinette must not
know until you are so far from here there
is no hope of Overtaking you. She loves
Philip so desperately she would hesitate
at no act of madness that promised to
separate you two. Ask your husband to
take you abroad at once. When you are
l.
ness of her passion she will become rec
onciled to the inevitable. Remain in the
old world a year or more. Take my word
for it, when you come back your sister
Will be ready to receive you with open
arms"
At any other time TOinette's suspicious
might have been aroused. But now she
only thought the villain meant to make
the best of the situation by getting Dull
al oxyoyr from tba hOnEa T7ndaT her hTFg-
bands protection, and compelling her
(Toinette) to marry Guy as soon as the
coast was clear.
''Where is Philip" she cried again, in
hoarse, excited tones.
"Hush! Be patient. I will take you
to him. But we must be cautious. If
HOinette hears us there viii be a scene.
There is a little door leading down from
the end of the balcony. Here is the key.
Lock the door behind me as L go out,
and leave the house that way. In five
minutes you will find me waiting at the
foot of the balcony stairs. You under
stand?"
eyes, yes"
again implore you to be cautious. "
Major Villars had laid his plans with
delicate care. The locked door, with the
key inside, would make it appear that the
girl had stolen away by herself. No one
/ had seen him go to the bOudOir OF leave
it. Even the most rigid inquiry must fail
to connect him with the crime he had
planned.
Toinette was waiting in the garden
when he crept cautiously out at side
door Her beautiful face looked like
marble in the pale starlight.
"Quick!" he said, with more nervous
excitement than he had yet shown. ''Mr
Raynor is waiting on the bluff by the
river. I persuaded him to 90 tnere He
to a. h0G
promised to restore Dulcie to him."
He heard a deep-draWn breath as Of
| exultation, but even then his suspicious
| were not aroused. He was laboring un.
! der an intense excitement, only equaleC
| by TOinette's own depressed emotion.
They walked rapidly side by side fol
| some distance, and finally reached the
blutf-a bleak, dreary spot, covered witt
| low bushes. There was a sheer descent
/ of many feet on the river side-a narrow
! stretch of shingly rock, then the star-lir
| water itself.
Toinette glanced eagerly all round
| She was surprised that Philip had no
! come to meet her. No one was in sight
! Then she looked at Major ViIlars. Hi
! face was livid. For the first time thrill
| Of fear shot through her heart.
''Why-what does it mean
The sentence trailed of in an agOniz
/ ing cry. The villain suddenly spran3
upon her with mad eyes, making a hiss
! ing sound between his teeth, and fun
her over the dizzy edge of the precipice
CHAPTER XXXLL.
AFTER THE TEMPEST,
Ten O'Clock had struck before TOinett
was missed from Highlands. On return
| ing from his canter over the hills, Phili
RaynOr had spent the evening pacing a
and down the terrace, putting moOdily a
his cigar.
The promise to accept the impOstor a
his wife was costing HIM dear.
Every instinct Of his nature prOmpte