Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-16

ollecting that he must not be seen speak
ing to her in the street, she urged him to
say good bye and leave her at once.
He went. and as he did so a shabbily
dressed man who had been Longing at
the opposite corner crossed over and fol-
lowed him Ruth Foster had barely
reached home when Croft came in. It
was the first time she had seen him that
day. but he did not offer to shake hands;
he stood looking at her with peculiar ex-
preston on his face.
"Well, any discovery to.day?" he asked,
! carelessly,
"No, she answered, and bent down to
stroke the dog, so that he could see moth
ing but the back Of her head.
''Are you sure?" he said slowly and
significantly, in tone that made her sick
with dread.
What do you mean?'
He caught her fercely by the ann, and
made her look at him.
You know very well what | mean!
You met Godfrey Lennox to-day. No.
it's no use denying it, | saw you. fol-
lowed you, as l We been doing for the last
two days, ever since you dropped this,
and | found it" He drew piece Of pa
per from his pocket. It was note ad-
dressed TO her by Godfrey Lennox at the
time she was goVernes5 at Rylands, 81
always suspected you cared for some other
man, though never suspected that this
jail bird was your lover.
She gave a little gasping cry.
Thank God, you can't arrest him!
You don t know where he ISL
Don't II" he smiled Did you think
| was such fool as to let him give me the
slip when he was once found? I've set a
watch on him; he can be arrested any
minute choose; the warrant is herein
my pocket book"
''Oh. but you won't do it-you won't be
so cruel? 1t would kill me, Think She
clasped her hands IN an agony of appeal.
you said only few days ago that you
cared for me; | ask you now for my sake
for my sake let him go free, and I'll
bless you. I'll -
He fixed his burning eye on her.
''What would you do? Would you mar
nv me, Ruth? Listen to me, he went on
deliberately eff you care for him as you
pretend, to do, surely you won t hesitate at
any sacrifice with a sneer-''to save
him from a convict's doom. If you'll
promise to marry Immediately, he shall
leave New York and go anywhere-to the
devil-for my part; if not, swear so help
me God, within half an hour he shall be
arrested! It's for you to chose. You
have FIVE minutes to do it In. "
You villain!" she painted, then wrung
her hands. ooh, what shall / do; what
shall do?"
Time is passing" he observed, lacon-
icaIly.
He held up the pocket-book mockingly,
and said
''You shall have it if you pay the price.
All, would You'-fOr with a swift move
ment she had snatched it away.
He had grasped her by the arm, intend
ing to take it from her again, when sud-
denly there was fierce grOwl and a shrek
from Ruth, as the boar hound-a hitherto
forgotten spectator of the scene-sprang
upon his old enemy, AMI IN the space OF a
fash of lightning Walter Croft was
fangs were at his throat Only for an
had time to hurry in the girl had got him
off, but the detective never stirred; he lay
quite still on the floor with his face livid
and CHASTITY, affixed look of horror in his
EYES.
OHt Vi luG lOuScIS "dS ii uCCLOl, otul
happening to be in the house at the time
had FASTENED III with the rest. He bent
down to examine him while others ran
for brandy.
You needn't get anything" he said,
quietly. 'All remedies are useless; the
man is dead. But it wasn't the dogs
teeth that killed hint was the fright.
He must have had beart disease
Directly the body had been removed and
Ruth was alone, she opened the pocket
book, the attempt to regain which had cost
its owner so dear. As she distracted the
warrant folded paper caught her eye, and
some impulse moved her to examine it. 1t
was telegram from London. dated that
morning and signed Braggit & Sholt, that
as she read it killed all her pity for Walter
Croft's tragic end, while it made her heart
throb wildly and the blood course tingling
through her veins.
Sir Edward Lennox died of apoplexy
last night; his old will undestroyed; the
son inherits. Proceedings stopped, of
curse. Advertise in New York papers.
Return Godfrey Lennox was a million
aire Croft lad kept the news back to
serve his own end, knowing very well tat
she would have given in at the last mo-
ment rather than let him go away with
the avowed intention of arresting her lover.
New York Evening World.