The National tribune., 1890-04-17
CHAPTER TX.

The care Of helpless sister woman thus
suddenly thrown upon the garrulous chamber
niaiG ol tHo American HoHse, sniiiced TO brush
from her brain the cabWCbs woven by the foul
spider, Drink. With strong but tender arms
she conveyed her new ACQUAINTANCE 10 the
sec.Hsion OF her own small room al the Top ol
the house, where, by the aid of a cup Of strong
caliec aud bottle pf powerful aromatic salts,
she soDn brought her r0nud.
A few direct questions revealed the position
Of aiTaiS. 50 lar as Bridget knew IT, Clara had
brought the letter. had had supper with Chap
EIan. who introduced her as his sister; they
had gone of together IN the midnight bus 60
Stockton.
Abigail's nature, after the first shock Of this
discovery. -eeHgd 10 harticns No longer was
she minded % make tender or Leariu! cand-
aeGees to fiIe ElBd hearted Bridget Sine cpt her
secret cleseiF aud Tie s. h0ic fYrce Of her mind
was directed toward one point: the unrayei-
ling Of the tangled skein 81 these seemingly
simple cycats-
Essentially truthful, under ordinary cireum-
stances, Abigail believed that the present siiua-
tIon warranted cgrsIin amount OF preyarica-
lon. harmless ia is ELECTS. aud possiby leading
10 good. he end Iustles the means. is a
proEcrn which * IS NOT always safe OF humane
y put ia practice; but Abigail believed IL to be
both iE the ease IN p0iut
a. aEy rate. right or wrong she devised n
fiction concerning herself which she communi.
Gated 10 lie l.r4Wny Irish wolEun. For reasons
which SHE did not like 90 mention she said, she
Ls1t lcft her home. resolved 20 seek work among
strangers. She was acquainted with Mr. Chap.
man and had come 10 ask him TO help her get
situation, either ia Stockton or some ot her
town near by; or, IL not in them, possibly he
might know OF an opening for her in New
York, where be lived aud had many friends.
And how strangely matters DO turn out in
this complex world Of oursi Here was Bridget
now thai just knew Of q situation handy. which
her new friend might have aud keep tiIl she
got something better. The Stockton House
was in need Of a ehambefmad, and Bridget
bad promised 10 send her cousin, Mary Maloney,
by tAis nights bus 10 Stockton but Mary was
sick and couldn't go-so there!
Miss Morton smiled family at this curious
proposition.
. ! never thought the day would come when
] should be- chaEibcfmaid ia a hotel" said
She Yet somehow the idea struck her favor
ably. IL was in accord with the plans Of an
amateur detective.
"Ay, but beRgars mustn't be chogsers," re-
turned the practical Bridget.
Very true" replied Abigail. sadly: she
hardly saw any unGtHcss in the epithet. Al
though rich in money, she was beggar-she
feared-iu loge.
We'll, Bridget" she resumed, al thank Won
condition, ] accept your suggestion TO take
Mary Maloncy's place."
AN WhHts that1"
THAT you will consent 10 my passing rnyself
of as Mary Maloney herseifl Yon zee. my
pride is not altogether Lulnbled yet. / don't
like TO tell my real name. But, If you will
help me out IN this. promise You that when |
return 70 my rclatives-iis certainly shall do
before iOng-l will reward you both for the as.
sisfAnce YOU have given me -
Bridget was willing 10 do ANYTHING 10 fur.
tber the project.
"TheB riR me ont In some clothing that
looks more like Mary Naloncy than like -
She was going 10 say Abigail Morton" bat
eanpht herself Ia time 10 keep her sccrat
They were compelled 10 make haste. The
! bus WAS timed 10 leave in 10 minutes. and the
/ greatest dispatch wac necessary Digesting
| herself, hurficdly, Of her black silk dress her
lace collar and cuffs. her rich satin neck ribbon
| Abigail left them in charge Of the faithful
/ Bridget, together with the knitted Tam
! O'shanteF and the waterproof ulster; all " "a
/ be kept till called for"
/ IN exchange Bridget gave her a brown
/ alpaca dress. an old Paisley shawl, and A pre-
p0sterOps affair in the shape of black bonnet
! with dangling feathers and roses; under
/ which-with her hair c0mbed differently
\ Abigail scarcely recognized herself and thought
4 II Was not impossible she might, by some curious
| nIetamoFpb0sis, have been changed, in fact as
in fiction. Into the said Mary Maloney.
she bad but time 10 whisper her thanks
| when the bus driver called out "All aboard u
aud as the wheels rcy0lved she jumped into
the interior Of the rickety stage
ITO be cOuffaueda