Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-06-02
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"Well?" muttered his auditor vaguely.
If we can arrive at a harmonious con-
cluslon, can make an equitable arrange
ment, might be tempted to allow you
to go on with your imposition. At the
| END Of week, unless I interfere, you
will receive the legacy from Lawyer
| Drew.
You forget-that woman may speak "
Ruth Elliott? She may not know Of
| your plans in that direction"
She could denounce me-she suspects
that have imprisoned her husband"
But she is ill; the delirium may re-
turn, and-see here, my friend. Agree
to pay me one-half the fortune when
you get it, and will guarantee to keep
Ruth Elliott silent until the week has
passed away"
"a bargain!" cried the other with
frightening eyes.
very we'll But there must be no de-
ception, no double-dealing
Am not completely in your power?"
Perhaps. Still, I shall watch you
closely, and must be made confidant
of all your past history and present
plots. Now, then, go to your hotel. I
will join you there and report progress
in an hour"
"And you?"
Il shall return to Ruth. I shall re-
move her to some safe place. where she
will be kept secure prisoner until your
plans materialize."
"All right"
Relievedly, hopefully, the impostor
sped towards the hotel He gained his
room and lit lamp.
"a close shave!" he muttered, as he
| removed his hat; but better half the
fortune than none, and if I ever get my
| fingers on the money I'll find some way
to delude this meddler. The girl is the
| main cause O. fear, but with her pris-
oner, | can consummate my plots with
out fear Of hindrance or detection. All.
what is that?"
He paused, and glanced down at a
white object lying Oh the carpet at his
feet. It looked like a folded note,
slipped under the door of the room
He took it up and opened it. He
started wildly as he scanned the single
line it bore.
Then a groan burst from his lips
Wretchedly pale, wretchedly heartsick,
he read the simple words that conveyed
a terrible warning, a mystic revelation
to his guilty soul
Leave Ridgeton, abandon your wick
ed plans, or l swear to unmask all your
past" it ran.
And the signature the horrid scrawl
bore was:
Your deserted wife, ISABEL"
CHAPTER XVII.
PRECIOUS PREY.
Ridgeton had something new to talk
about next day.
The woman who had been called by
Ralph Prescott to attend upon Ruth
had told her story with dawn, and the
villagers were consequently treated to
a new bit of gossip.
Her story was remarkable one. She
had been summoned by Prescott to the
house of the recluse, to find the pre-
tended nurse, the real Ruth, in dead
faint, she said.
She extolled Prescott for his kindness
to the sufferer, as did the attendant
physician.
Later, Paul Dalton had appeared,
and had left hurriedly. She returned
to the sick-room to find the patient in d
worse swoon than before. She left her
few minutes to go to her own home.
When she returned Ruth Elliott had
mysteriously disappeared.
Ralph Prescott fitted about town the
next day, apparently terribly anxious as
to the whereabouts of the missing girl.
He craftily circulated the story that
Paul Dalton had welded Ruth only to
gain her grandfather's fortune, and,
securing that, would disappear; that he
had undoubtedly secretly removed her
to some friends home, away from the
village.
Farmer John Elliott heard all this
gossip in silence, but with lowering
brow.
What was Ruth to him now? What
Paul Dalton? What cared he for their
doings and intentions? They were
strangers to him henceforth and for
ever more!
SO several days passed by. The false
Paul Dalton either kept closely to his
room at the hotel, or did not appear in
town at all.
He visited Lawyer Drew several times,
and tried to hurry up the settlement Of
the estate. He urged that he needed
money to purchase some land to be had
at bargain.
Ralph Prescott kept pretty clear track
of his movements. The impostor sat
awaiting his arrival early one evening.
Affairs were about to materialiZe, the
schemers felt sanguine. The impostor
was anxious to secure the money and
escape, ere some new complication
baked his projects. Ralph Prescott was
determined to lie on hand at the finish,
and insist on a fair division OF the ILL
gotten booty Of crime.
The false Paul Dalton had grown
terribly nervous Of late. That there
was mystery about his past history;
that he might, if he would, explain many
dark passage in the life Of the man he
personatel; that his own career had
been closely linked with that of the i'm
prisoned man, Ralph Prescott was posi-
| tive, but his new colleague in craftlness
refused to diyulge his secrets.
| The latter had been a changed man
| since he received that warning missive.
| that menacing note that was signed
! Isabel"
| He started at his own shadow; he
rarely went out on the streets until after
| dark, and then his movements were I'M