Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-11-05

supposed that ! had entered the
wrong room. "a
"sUh, come in she said, With 3 lit
tie laugh, and shut the door
please S''77.;s'5s 81 &;
II obeyed, and the big brown ewes.
full OF mischief, again met mine.
sat down, half dazed, the trans-
formation was so great. Diamond
earrings sparkled in her ears: her
dress fitted her to perfection; her att
tltude was one of gracefulness; there
was red glow in the brown cheeks,
and her lips were tantalizing in their
ripe fnlness.s1 was impressed that /
had met her somewhere-butt that, I
thought, was owing to the photograph
and my having seen her in male at
tire.
''You will perceive that you have
made mistake she quietly said.
"'.This isn't settled yet, l replied,
not knowing just what to say.
"You have not been playing detec-
tive long, ! INFER she said, with q tan
talizlng little laugh. You should have
noticed that my ears were pierced for
rings. Come, now; acknowledge that
yOu NOAC way O1, AT.-.
HShe pronounced my name in full,
and twas like exploding bomb at
my feet: -,
who are your
"Again that ripping, provokinglit-
tie laugh
"'You are excessively dull she said.
Il always thought you liked me, and
! am piqued to think that you have
forgotten me so soon. You used to
call my monogram, big A, little A,
bouncing B. I am Alice A. Brinton.'
"sYes, am excessively dull con-
fessed, after l had found my voice.
But, Miss Brinton, in heavens name
what does all this mean?"
"'I'll tell you,' she said. Il could
not get along with my stepmother.
Father sided with her, and mademat-
tiers still more aggravating. I left
home. drlfted here. could notget
q sch Dol; nobody wanted governess:
l put on mems clothes and found en-
ployment.'
"'Does your father know the strait
you are imp I asked. He is rich. Why
don't you go homer"
"'I guess I will since this thing has
happened she thoughtfully said. 1
beg Of you to keep my secret from Mr..
Clayton
II promised faithfully to do so, and
then Dick Clayton walked into the
room. He was in his own house-the
door wasn't bolted-he was curious
over the detention. He stared at his
Farmland in amazement.
'Mr.-will EXPLAIN she stammer-
ed, looking atme, her face burning with
bushes.
Eyes, Dick, said, motioning to him
to follow me out OF the room; but, as
we left, said to her: I'il return in a
few minutes
"When l told Dick her story he was
entirely satisfied. More than that, he
seemed delighted, and noticed that
he was doing some rapid thinking"
'"1hat story rounds up in the usual
way" said; "the ranchman married
her."
"No he didn't either" replied the
detective. "When I returned to the
room said: alice, you must 60 East
with me-
".Oh, I CAN'T objected she.
"'Yes, you can. III be your escort.
This is no place for YOU
ri had always liked her, and she
looked so pretty just then, that I fell
madly in love with her.
Get ready at once, ordered. y
"sDon't be silly she retorted.
"Still saw that she regarded me
with favor.
"tI insist" I said.
"'Oh, indeed!' she cried, angrily.
"'As a prisoner, if not otherwise I
quietly said Seer And held up a
package Of letters.
~ had taken them, unobserved by
her, from her trunk, the lid, of which
was up. The letters were directed to
Banjamine Gray and had the imprint
of the St. Louis firm on the envelopes.
They had been sent to her while
travelling for the house.
"When she saw the letters she grew
very pale, and she stared at me half
wildly, half appealingly.
you are a forger," I said. 'You
were in male attire when you were
employed by the firm. Now you can
either 60 back with me as q prisoner,
to be disgraced, or as my wife, your
secret safe with me forever. Well get
married at Austin
"'Oh, it is too sudden she STAN
mered, 'and - and compulsory.
Still
"she yielded, and went back with
me as my wife.
Didn't you take big risks?" I ven
tured to ask.
1'May be2" he replied. "But I have
not regretted it, and never expect to.
No man ever had a better, handsomer,
truer wife; the forgery matter was sat
isfactorily explained"
Just then superb looking woman
came into the room.
Bates" she announced, ''tea is
ready"
"Alice, this is a particular friend Of
mine" her husband said, pronouncing
my name.