Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-09-26


on, slightly disconnected by his GOODNESS.
They appear ladies Of position, yet
seem to have no servants with them. l
have made mp my mind there is some
mystery connected with them"
4 can give no information whatever
he answered coldly.
But, in spite of all the seH-control he
evidently could exercise, thought de-
tected evasion in his words.
You will probably be called in to at
tend the INVALID" said half jealously.
He arose and pushed back his chair.
MY dear fellow, he exclaimed, what
. mere boy you are! Have not told you
| hundred times I can read you like q
book? You have taken into your head
| that know something Of those people,
and are trying to get it out Of me. Pray
spare yourself the trouble. I assure you
never saw the ladies IN my life until last
evening. should not even have known
you referred to them as Mrs. and Miss
Hargreave had not, like yourself, looked
in the visitors book and read their names
there"
As he spoke he stood erect, his finely
shaped head thrown back, his eyes un-
| finchingly fixed on mine.
1t was impossible to doubt his words.
I felt shame even to have called forth
| such assurances.
Taking no heed of NV hurried apology,
he looked at his watch.
Its time for me to go and see some
sick people in town." he said. viii you
walk with me?"
/ acquiesced readily, and We set off.
When We had passed through the grounds
and into the road, why do you stick to
that wretched bank, Dudley?" he asked.
I've been thinking over your case seri-
ously. You are not constituted for the
work, either physically or mentally"
If you can put me in the way OF earn
ing my living honestly otherwise, Doctor,
I shall only be too thankful, answered
warmly. -Beggars may not be choosers.
I'll tell you how I'm placed. My grand
father made a fortune; my father lost it
ON the turf-snd died five years ago.
When could fully realize the fact that
was penniless, I left the Southern
county where was known and came to
the North, a stranger. l had lived as a
country gentleman lives, hitherto; but I
knew now that l must work. 1t was no
easy task to find employment. At last 1
took this clerkship in - Bank, where I
must remain till fortune turns her
wheel. She's slow enough about it in nv
easel" And laughed little bitterly.
You should marry an heiress, my dear
boy. You are good-looking, and, what's
more, you know it.
Aye! To my cost.
"How's that?h
Because if had been plain fellow,
or even ugly, I'd have stood better
chance of doing what you suggest. My
employers perhaps might have invited
me to their houses; as it is--having mar
| riageable daughters, they are afraid Of
me. The apple of her fathers eye
might think Jack Dudley q hadsome
fellow, and he might have worldly wis
dom sufficient to follow up his advan-
tages. Well! he's never had the chance
yet, that's ALL"
Fate is not always cruel. Something
may turn up, and shortly, too.
Il don't expect it.
1t is the unexpected that always hap
pens, quoted my companion, and
scarcely had he spoken than he took
leave of me at the house of one of his
patients.
In this manner our talk abruptly ended,
and l, turning, retraced my steps. 1T is
the unlocked for that always happens!"
Somehow these last words of Dr. Gas
coigne's haunted me.
As entered Glendale House l saw the
visitors book lying on the hall table. By
no means absently, but quite conscious
of what I was doing, / opened it and
read again the names Of the new arrivals;
then walked upstairs, turning deliber-
stely in the direction l believed the
rooms q, Is, and 29 to be situated.
Ifound myself in a short corridor. 1t
led to these rooms only, and gave one the
idea of being private, if not somewhat
isolated, part of the building.
1 had never penetrated there before,
nor N mint of fact coulA 7 hayo fro a1
any legitimate excuse for being there
now. At the end was a window. / sat
down on the window-seat.
Scarcely had / done SO than some one
turned the handle of a door, rafting it
Mostly and impatiently. 1t was the han
die of No. 20.
Presently there was smart rapping,
as Of the knuckles against the wood
work. This was repeated more and more
loudly. / approached the door.
Il am locked in. Bring a key-in-
stantly," an excited and imperious voice
demanded.
YES" responded, in an eager whis-
per- And in less time than it takes to
tell, had gone to the service-room,
snatched the key Of No. 20 from its hook,
was upstairs again, and had turned it in
the lock!
ROBBED from head to feet in some costly
floating Oriental stuff-her dark hair
hanging like cloud about her. her red
lips quivering, and gypsy-like eyes fash
ing with what seemed to be electric
sparks-breathless, painting, stood the
girl whom had seen the evening before,
the most beautiful being 1 had ever be-
held-nay, it seemed impossible that in
the wide world there could be such an
other. She drew back when she saw me.
cd II hoY ,hov
passing" she began, apologetically, evil
IDENTIFY striving to regain her composure.
This, however, appeared impossible. Her
will was powerless to curb her excited pas
sion.
L cannot help it! 1 am driven to it
whatever you may think of mel" she
went on, recklessly. Il must place conf
dence in some one. But, first, who are
you? Do you belong to this placer"
MY name is Dudley. am q visitor
like yourself" said 1, in hopes my reply
would reassure her.
rs this" - and she bent eagerly for
ward and whispered, with wild, scared
look in her magnificent eyes-.is this
lunstic asylum"
mo; nothing of the kind. 1t is the
Glendale Hydropathic Establishment in
Northshire.
A kind Of hotel, them"
Yes"
DO they lock people up here as a rule,
and mufhe the bells?"
why, no" I answered smiling; who
locked you in?"
My mother. Possibly she tempered
with the bells also," she added quickly,
with a little mock laugh.
Il suppose a mother considers she has
. right to lock up q child if SO disposed
-" Would not any man, placed in like
circumstances, have talked nonsense to
prolong the interview?
She is only my stepmother, and am
nc child. am of age" broke in Miss
Hargreave, drawing herself up proudly,
and as she did so-she was above the
ordinary height Of woman-she looked
superb.
Suddenly q distrustful, suspicious ex-
preston came into her eyes, You are
not-a doctor2' she inquired, quickly.
mo, indeed.