Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-04-14

1nterrOgated. He was too happy; she
saw too much of brave, earnest Paul
Walton those days to get even the off,
cious Ralph into trouble by betraying
his rudeness.
Once only she met the surly Ralph
face to face
I'm watching and TIM thinking" he
told her in tragic accents Of mysterious
import. you won't keep up your flirta-
ton very long,
Poor Ralph!" she replied banteringly.
Don't think! The effort might bring on
brain feyer!"
Don't fret!" flashed out Ralph fiercely.
You'll see what kind of man this new
lover Of yours is soon. You're mine, by
rights; it was always so understood, and
-I'll have revenge"
Happy Ruth laughed at the dark
threats and blushed at the idea Of q
lover
Ralph evaded Paul Dalton, anathema-
tized him at distance, refused to break
bread at the same table with him, and
tho third night after the alteration
stole cautiously into the house at dusk,
stole guiltily out again, and made for
the distant village much with the excite
ment and haste Of midnight assassin.
"Ive done it, he chuckled, gleefully.
"Old Elliott has been suspicious for q
week. He'll miss it, sure, and the way
I've fixed it"
Crafty Ralph seemed to feel very san
guine and very joyful over some plot
that bid fair to materialize ere the even
ing had passed away.
He reached the village and proceeded
straight to it's tavern.
Arrived, it seemed necessary for him
to prop up his courage, for he drained
several glasses at the bar, and then, re-
firing to an inner room, sat at table
lost in reflection.
"Ill give it time to come to a focus, I"
he soliloquized. in about an hour I'll
go home and witness the explosion.
Paul Walton, you crossed bad man s
track when you crossed mlne!"
More meditation, the crafty face ex-
pressing varied and feeting emotions,
and then Ralph drew two photographs
from his pocket.
At one he gazed fondly; it was that Of
Ruth.
At the other he glared venomously-
hatred and jealousy held in thrall in one
concentrated look
Il stole it from her room. He gave 1t
to her." Kissed tho self -confessed thief.
How hate him"
Paul Walton's placid eyes gazed up
from the picture. Their earnest glance
maddened his Infatuated rival.
He spread it out upon the table; he
struck it; he spat upon it.
Then, taking out his pocket-knife, he
began to jab at 1t.
How hate him!" He burrowed out
one eye. Il wish it was his real throat.
And the envenomed plotter described a
skillful swoop across the cardboard.
There's his miserable hearth" Jab, jab,
jab!-the blade quivered in the innocent
picture, until it was perforated like q
bullet-riddlcd battle flag.
Hello! Queer amusement, says"
Ralph Prescott started violently.
Tnrning quickly, he observed o tramp
ish-looking fellow at his elbow.
"Who are your" he demanded, angrily;
what business"
The stranger leered craftily at the
picture, unmoved by Ralph's clustering
manner.
Queer amusement, says" he re-
peated, insolently.
rs it any Of your business?" de-
manded Ralph, hotly, securing and hid
ing the photograph.
"Oh, no., retorted the other, coolly;
"only / can guess the truth-you hate
that man."
Ralph gritted his teeth vengefully.
"And you haven't got pluck enough to
deal with the real fellow as you do with
his picture"
See here" began Ralph, furiously.
No, you see here. I'm q keen one,
am. Mebbe can help you. That man
is rival, chr"
Suppose he is?"
and you want to get even with him?"
What If I dor"
well, / know something. It's curious
how I know it, but happen to, all the
same. You want revenge. Tell me
your story, all about that man, and I'll
tell you something in return that will
make your eyes snap. I'll show you q
way Of revenge that will make you just
get up and howl with delight"
DO you mean it?" muttered Ralph,
obviously.
Treat me right, promise me enough
to pay nights lodging and keep, and
see If I'm Boosting"
Over their glasses Ralph Prescott re-
luctantly awarded the confidence de-
handed.
Now, them" he cried expectantly,
glaring in eagerness at his companion.
Now then it is. When I saw that
picture was sort Of startled"
"Why?"
Il know that man"
"You know him?"
yes"
what Of it?"
His name begins with W, first
name Paul. Is that clever guess2
and how's Dalton for the rest Of it,
II don't see anything wonderful In
that. Everybody about here knows
that.
yes, but I don't live about here.
Never was here before, and didn't know
that Paul Dalton was within thousand
miles Of here"
well, knowing now that he is, what
of it2"
What Of It'll" repeated the other ex-
citedly. This Of it. If I can tell you
something about that man that will
sweep him from your path like hurri-
cane IL can prove certain facts that