Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-06-02
CHAPTER XVI.
THE COMPACT.

emotion than did the man whom Ralph
Prescott had accepted as Paul Dalton,
at the soul thrilling words of the excited
Ruth Elliott.
Strange words they were-wild words,
bordering seemingly on incoherency.
Were they the result Of hallucination,
delirium? No! AS the rapt lurker
studied the face Of the beautiful girl, he
knew that the penetrating gaze of rea-
son, the great throbbing instinct Of love,
had aided her to see beyond the super
fetal, and had unmasked villainy.
In plain words, she accused this man
with being an impostor. In awful ar
raignment before the bar of her womanly
conviction, she charged him with the
crime of robbing her OF her husband.
Then he was not Paul Dalton, not her
husband, not the ex-Superintendent Of
Maple Leaf Farm! He was an impostor,
a fraud, and, as the truth flashed upon
Ralph Prescott's excited mind, he now
comprehended many vague and perplex-
ing utterances that he had overheard
him use during the evenful evening just
past.
Furthermore, as he gazed, he mar
veled how he could ever have taken this
man for Paul Dalton. There was mar
velous resemblance, but Of features
alone, for the dissimilarity in soul, in
expression, was utterly lacking.
What had aided to deceive Prescott
was the shaving off of the beard. This
prepared him for a change in looks. AS
to the voice, q slight cold might account
for the huskiness that made this Paul
Dalton talk so differently from the
other, the real Paul Dalton.
Yes, there could be no doubt OF it, the
truth was out, the plotter unmasked, a
fraud revealed that completely outvied
all Ralph Prescott's puerile villainy.
This man, relative Of Paul Dalton,
a man at least exactly resembling him,
had heard of his legacy. He had i'm
prisoned the real heir; the bearded man,
his accomplice, was his jailer; he had
boldly assumed Paul Dalton's Identity;
he was scheming to secure the Forsythe
fortune and fly with it, leaving the real
legatee beggar.
The bewildering complications that
were thus put in play made Ralph Pres
colts brain fairly reel with surmise and
uncertainty.
The false Paul Dalton covered like a
craven before the flashing glance Of
Ruth Elliott. A woman's shrewdness
the identity of the man he resembled SO
extraordinarily.
He had deluded Prescott and the law
yer. but now he was unmasked, and one
word publicly spoken by the woman be-
fore him would not only cost him for
tune but might send him to penal
institution.
That word, however, was never
spoken. OF sudden, the nerves OF the
agitated Ruth gave way, the strain Of
the hour becoming too intense for her
already weakened nature. With moan
she sank senseless to the floor. The
impostor glanced at her affrightedly for
moment or two, and then with white,
scared face, hurried from the room.
Ralph Prescott was after him in a
flash. He directed hurried injunction
to the woman who was attending Ruth
to look to her charge, then he was dash
ing from the house in pursuit OF figure
flying down the deserted street, as il
pursued by pestilence.
"Stop!"
AS the impostor dashed across
vacant fir-lined lot the mandate rang out
clear, sharp, imperious.
He was trembling all over, his face
was the color Of ashes, his eyes haunted
with fearful dread, his manner cowed,
crushed; little like that of the naughty,
insolent tyro or the early evening, as he
turned and faced Ralph Prescott.
The latter, realizing his advantage.
pressed it promptly.
What do you want?"
you"
"Oh," peering closer, cit is Prescott.
Give me time to catch my breath, mani"
He leaned against a tree and painted
furiously. Ralph Prescott watched him,
as might eat mouse. He had COR
nered his man. He knew what to do
now, fast enough.
" ou've made a mess of it," he said,
b!untly, at last.
Have II" And the other laughed I'M
easily. what do you mean?"
L have followed you all the evening. "
The impostor started.
Il overheard your conversation with
your accomplice at the hotel, the
bearded man.
"Newcombe!" calculated the impostor.
"Ah! is that his name? Thank you.
Yes. Newcombe, the jailer of the real
Paul Dalton at Black Rock.
The shot told. Ralph Prescott had
RucSSSu thC "a o|iA'
shivered at his words.
you know ALL am lost" he NUT
tered. AT least, the game is.
Il furthermore, pursued Prescott,
coolly, witnessed your interview with
Ruth Elliott.
The impostor was silent. He was
overwhelmed at the fast-occurring dis
asters of the night.
ayes know all this" continued
Prescott. Il know your plans, and I
hold the whip-hand now. No need of
subterfuge now. You and had better
come to an understanding.
what kind Of an understandings
stammered the abashed impostor.
well, our interests are identical, in
one respect.
sAnd what may that be?"
aOld Godfrey Forsythe's fortune, left
to the real Paul Dalton, coveted by you,
ndxightfully my own. see no means