Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-02-23

''Tll take them to the stables" he
said.
He siezed the brides and led the tired
steeds into the court yard. just unloos-
ening the gates, he looked up as his
name was called in tones of inquiry, and
a form doomed up in the near distance.
SIS that you, Mr.. Dacre?"
eyes, who is it? Oh! the Sheriff.
What is it?"
''You are needed"
The schemer looked annoyed.
"Needed?" he repeated vaguely.
What for? No more bother about the
bank, hope?''
ooh, no; but I think you had better
see your old clerk.
"Wharton?"
"Yes."
"What's the matter with him?''
AS if he did not know Consummate
actor AS if he had not anticipated the
very information about to be awarded
to him!
"Well, he's acting mighty queer"
"How?"
"Cranky-peculiar. The people say
he's gone clear daft over this trouble.
He's got positively unmanageable."
Arnold Dacre chuckled to himself. To
himself, too. he muttered complacently.
"Good! Wharton is carrying out the
scheme nobly."
"Will you come. He's at his room and
cutting up badly"
YES" replied Dacre, cpl be there
in fifteen minutes.
every WE'LL"
The Sheriff departed down the street
in the direction of Wharton's lodgings
Arnold Dacre looked after him with
glowing eyes of mingled contempt and
triumph.
1.-The unsuspecting dolts!" he ejacu-
lated. ''They little dream the plot we're
playing. Wharton adiudged insane, and
irresponsible, and unable to answer GER
tain ugly questions about the bank &C
counts which might be difficult to eX-
plain, Merwyn dead, the papers all fixed
to suit my claims, my course is plain
sailing-only the girl and her unknown
protector" he muttered darkly, as he
led the horses into the carriage house.
eff I was sure of her silence and his
identity, if 1 could only trace them, 1
would feel the victor complete"
He CROPPED about until he fount a lam
tern on a hook.
This he lighted. By it's aid he I'M
hitched and stalled the tired horses.
Then, taking up the light, he held it
close to the vehicle.
1t showed rough usage, evidences of
hard driving. A peculiar sandy loan at
tached to the wheels, and he noted It,
Hello! that's clue. They have gone
west beyond the swamp lands. l will
prosecute my search in that locality to-
morrow.
He flashed the lantern through the
door Of the carriage next, striving in the
appearance of the seats, the floor, the
robes to trace the possible movements of
the two persons in whom he was so en-
grossedly interested.
mo mud or loan here" he reflected,
$50 the drive was made without stop.
All! what is this?"
What, indeed! with the eagerness of
gold miner cropping in the glittering dust
for nugget, Arnold Dacre snatched up
a card lying just under the drivers seat.
1t was yellow-omnous hue, suggest
i've of the tawny flag of quarantine, the
lottery card, the convict ticket of leave.
1t was worn, its edges frayed and had
been trodden into the mire of carless
feet
He held it nearer the lantern. He
glanced at it, stared, recoiled, and. gasp
ing Tor DreaJn, Tell pack against the SCa-
Bile door as if struck there by powerful
blow.
The lantern went jangling to the floor.
Into his eyes came a weird, SuperStitiOuS
dread, a nameless horror.
The truth was revealed now. No need
to seek further for the identity of perse
cuted Flora Merwyn's mysterious friend.
For, that omnous yellow card dropped
accidentally by the driver OF the car
riage. was revelation complete-it told
all.
His brain Keeling, his senses dis
traught, all the past lowering over
him like a dark, threatening cloud,
all the future menacing him like fam
ing sword, he seemed to see duplicated
in the air everywhere, swaying in SER
pentine flashes of fire, the words that
little card bore:
&...