Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-05-12
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missed, the dates OF the distractions,
and much concerning The habits and ac-
tions OF Ralph Prescott for q month
past.
Putting together what he knew and
what she revealed, old Godfrey Forsythe
amazed Ruth BY denouncing Ralph Pres
colt as the real thief
He said that of late he had heard con-
siderable about the schemers gambling
procliVties. He had employed man
to watch him. He knew of almost ev-
cry money sal Of the young man. He
now knew that certain amounts he had
paid correspondent exactly with the
sums John Elliott had lost; in fact, he
proved Ralph Prescott to be the thief,
beyond dispute.
i had begun to suspect that he was
| a hypocritical timc-server, he had told
Ruth. My eyes were just beginning to
open to the sacrifice l was demanding of
you in wedding a man who has no claim
upon me, except for a sentimental re-
gard on my part for his dead mother.
Ruth, you will stay here. Disguised,
you will be my nurse until can explore
still more deeply into this knave's de-
ception. Your happiness is everything
in life to me. A woman's heart cannot
usually bo wrong in estimating the char
acter Of the man she loves. I have
faith in Paul Dalton, in man who
stood ready to be adjudged q criminal,
rather than anger your father against
you with n revelation of your mutual
love. We will await his return, and if
he disprovcs the charge that he is a
| convict, your father shall be made to
do you both Justice, and Ralph Prescott
shall be unmasked in his true colors."
But sickness came sooner than old
Godfrey thought. His hours were num-
bcred, and he knew it.
Afraid of the willy cunning of Elliott,
if he left Ruth his fortune, he divided it
as known to the reader, and left the bulk
Of it to her husband at her suggestion.
All this Ruth wrote to Paul Dalton;
all this, sick at heart, the enraged,
baillcd, INSCRIPTIONS Ralph read.
Now she babe her husband return
be was wealthy now, and what might
not money do TO untangle the knotted
skcin Of his mysterious life.
Ralph Prescott stole from that room
with Il pale, pcrturbed face
He rcclosed the window as he found
it-he left no trace of his felonious visit
He knew all now, and that informal
ton was weighty, vital.
To Ruth his true character was fully
revealed, and if he dared openly to per-
sccute her she possessed the means Of
proving him to be the thief Of Maple
Leaf Farm. Furthermore, for love Of
the man she had welded, she would use
that knowledge if he tried to annoy her
again.
Paul Dalton had captured the double
pri2c-bride and fortune
What should he do? His natural inn
| pulse was to seize on all the ready cash
he could get his hands on, and like tho
craven be was, sneak out Of the lives
and memories of those he had wrongcd
A thought of revenge, however, q
subtle suggestion Of thought, q hopeful
belief that there was yet ono weak point
in the armor of his foes, awote q last
desperate combativcness in Ralph Pres
colts wicked heart.
IF Paul Dalton should die, he glow
cred in a sinister hiss of hate, then all
| the fortune would revert to Ruth. Who
knows what may happen? The tramp
told me much. Paul Dalton is a con-
Wet, let him say what he likes. / will
anticipate Ruth. l will go at once to
Ferndale. | will dig up this mans past,
that | may effectuolly blight his future.
I Oh, there is some way out OF this laby-
! rinth OF mystery, there must be some
compensation for all he has made mo
! losc!"
7 And, hiding the fact that his own evil
! plottings had been the cause Ct his mis-
fortunes alone, Ralph Prescott, at early
dawn, started on horseback on the trail
of the man who had so mystcriously
disappeared.