Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-10-08


the very image of her mother-my sister
Mary-at The same age
Turning to Mrs. RAnkle, he demanded,
indicating Perry with an index finger:
@WhO is this man?"
The newcomer repeated the query
with mingled terror and wonder.
She was a motherly looking woman of
about forty-five years, with a pleasant,
chubby face, and wholly wlnsOme and
sympathetic manners.
-YOu-yOu Of course know who you
are dealing with?" she answered, with a
wondering air, when Daisy had angrily
repeated her fathers question.
-Well, we thought we did," avowed
Jerry, livid with hate and CONSERVATION,
~but it seems we were mistaken. I no
ticed that detective would have pro-
nounced the name of Wynans If he
hadn't been interrupted Who is this
man, Mrs. Rankle, If that's your name?]
The newcomer looked inquiringly at
Perry who gave her a smiling nod,
whereupOn she answered:
~He's Perry Wynans."
Despite all his fears had toretold him,
Jerry Skidder was visiDly COMPOUNDED by
this announcement 1t was several sec
Onds before he could recover his self
control sufficiently 70 ask:
~And this girl?S
shes Ellie Tower"
"Of Ingleheim?"
~She left there this morning.
Daughter of the late Charles and
Mary Tower?"
THE samein
~And she is no wise related to this
man?"
@No more than ami"
well, thought there was no family
| likeness between them. The couple are
not named Dolliger?"
SNO moro than you arei" declared
Mrs Rankle, rather enjoying the cOnfu-
sion of the stranger, and seeing readily
/ by the smiling content of her friends
that they were in no wise the dupes or
/ victims of the evident mystifcation in
which they were figuring.
What idyuts we've beenl" grOaned
| Jerry. ave ought 10 have keepers!"
The words. with the air accompanying
/ them, produced hearty burst of laugh
/ ter from Perry and Ellie, and even from
| staid Mrs. Rankle.
! at seems l have unWillingly broken
up little masquerade in which you and
-Elfie were figuring, Mr.. Wynans," said
] the latter.
ayes, but no harm IS done" replied
| Perry. Il received your telegram in due
course, and intended to forestall this
accident but the truth would have come
out at the best few minutes later. You
have come prepared to go with US,
l hoDe?"
Perry quietly turned his back upon
4 the couple, seating himself opposite Mrs
4 Rankle-
81 have, sir. AS you suggested, left
my trunk at the station.
4 "Giye me your check, please"
4 Mrs. Rankle complied.
i Il will see TO checking your baggage
to its destination, or as far 1 CAM he
49, nnFr. sn1 10. oh =. l.
\ pocket ave are ready to start, and
shall be of in a few minutes Have
1 you had dinner?H
Il "a bite simply"
HThen sit down here and make yourself
I at home" invited Perry, leading to the
/ table. We've been having a sort of
Il BelshaZzar feast, and there's enough
i left to dine dozen hearty men"
| Mrs Rankle smilingly complied with
! the invitation, as entirely at her ease as
If the Skidders had been a thousand
miles distant, and Ellie sat down near
her, losing herself readily in the many
! pleasant queries and anticipations crowd
ing upon her
@And so-you avOw yourself to be Mr..
Wynans?" growled SHidder. turning his
| bloOdshot eyes anew upon Perry; "the
| owner of the Musselshell mine?"
A smiling nod answered him.
@HoW very singular il all isl"
@Very.3 said Wynans.
Al never heard OF a Oreextraordinary
encounter" pursued Jerry.
~Nor did /.
sand you knew all the while who ]
WASP"
Certainly. Your daughter had men
toned your name and identity before
your arrival
what a PITY And-and you've SAT
/ there with my niece and listened to every
word Daisy and were saying?S
I'VE couldn't do less, sir. We were
/ simply charmed by the very extraordi-
/ nary views, facts and intentions YOU
were so rash as to thrust upon US.
ITO think of our being such fools, paiH
exclaimed Daisy, with an aspect and
voice suggestive Of Mysteries. THE
mean thingsl5
do You suppose we know enough. pa,
10 get back to MOntany?" pursued Dali
/ sy, in tone Of deep Vexation. ~If so.
/ let's order carriage and start for the
| station
-Not without my moneyl1 calculated
| Jerry, deep pallOr suddenly replacing
/ the lividity Of his features. SYOu seem
70 have forgotten that little point. Mr..
| Wynans.
what little point. please?S asked
Perry, facing about in his chair.
my money. You put my money in
5ouI pOCAeLt gOu II EelueuDeEl
your mOney?S emphasized Wynans
Exactly. My two hundred and
/ twenty thousand dollars"
Nonsense, Mr.. SlIidderi Didn't you
avow TO Detective Grimshaw that you
had taken this money from my mines
and that It really belongs 10 me?"
Jerry glared in silence, fairly Wrlthing
within himself at the recollection Of the
trap into which he so unWittingly
/ walked
~Instead Of having any of your money.
Mr.. Skidder," pursued Wynans, quietly,
with smile, lit looks to me as II had
merely recovered a portion OF the sum
you have stolen from mel
SStolen?" clustered Jerry.
AAs you have yourself affirmed In your
conversation with your daughter.
~Whati you don't intend to give that
money back to me?H cried Slzidder.
springing to his feet. as the full extent
Of his disaster suddenly flashed upon
/ him.
aNot cent OF it
@Then IL take Il. threatened Jerry,
advancing naaeeiRRiH