Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-23

But your own father told me SO
He said that this was an alliance
: which your affection and his interes
made desirable, and he asked ME moi
to be a marplot. Can you wonder thai
the man that you love doubted?'
: NO, dear. Yet you might have
trusted. Poor papa, Despite his won
deTful executive abilities he is as
simple as 4 child in his weaknesses
This man has studied his weaknesses
and for some reason takes advantage
Of them
Il believe he is an imposter, and I
shall make it my business to prove him
one"
Why do you still doubt"
Because I believe it is my right
and duty to shield you from annoy
ance and persecution
Frank MaXon found many suspicious
on inquiry His city friends smiled
and shrugged their shoulders when
Auckland's name was mentioned.
Perhaps he was all right He was
plausible and gentlemanly, but-well,
after all, it was none of their affairs.
Frank Maxon persisted, and his pa
| tience was rewarded. He learned that
Auckland had no connection with the
English house which he claimed TO
represent He learned that he had OBJ
+ tanned money through this representa-
! ton. Warily he laid his plans. He was
ready to strike.
! When to their trysting place came
Emma in a whirl of excitement.
ooh, Frank she cried, "such a mis-
! fortune! Poor papa is fairly beside
| himself
ooh. he has discovered, has he? I
was just about to inform YOU
'Why, how could you know? It's
! less than a half hour since we found
it,
Didn't promise you that I would
! expose his imposture?'
Frank, dear, I don't know what
you are talking about I think it's a
shame when I'm so anxious to tell
you. What has he and his impos-
ture,' what ever they may mean, to do
with our pear?"
What pearl?"
why, the great black pearl
/ why, has he stolen it?'
ooh. dear! There you are again.
Now, listen stupid. That famous pearl.
of which father has been so proud,
! is ruined, destroyed, little heap of
: dust"
''Why, who smashed it?'
mo one; it exploded! Don't inter
rupt me, sir. You see papa had prom
Used to exhibit it at the loan exhibition.
SO this noon he took the case from
the desk and opened it. And there
in place of that lovely cleaning, as I
tell you, was a little heap of dust,
Of feathery ash. All. if it only had
I been stolen, we might recover it"
! 1T seems to me that I have read of
such Il casualty but it's happening is
SO rare as to be almost impossible.
You say your father took the pearl
from the desk? Didn't he keep such a
valuable article in his safe?''
'He used to until Mr.. Auckland
warned him. Oh, it's such a coinci-
dence! The very same catastrophe
happened to an heirloom in his family
over 100 years ago. That poor Lady
Catherine! Her fate was so tragic!'
| My dear, 7 don't believe in CO.
medicines. They are an excuse for a
/ lack of reasoning. The only heirloOms
this Auckland ever had in his precious
! family are a moose and a pair of hand
cuffs. If he predicted such a probabili-
ty as this it was because he was pre-
pared to make it a certainty. l have
Of hi
cality''
''Then he is the he whose impos-
ture you would eXposeT'
Yes, dear. Don't you remember|'
He hasn't troubled me lately, and
I've been so happy that l had forgot
| ten"
'Iet me think This great black
pearl may prove the talisman of our
happiness. Hasten Emma, to the
house and bring ne some of that dust.
Il will, oh I will! You think it
isn't destroyed-that he may have
stolen it?'
II am sure"
! ooh, joy! Papa would do anything
for us. And it is to be mine some day
you know when. Wait, wait, 1 will
be back instantly"
Tt was late the following evening
that Mr.. Chauncey Auckland entered
his hotel and sauntered to the desk.
You sail tomorrow, sir?" said the
clerk as he handed him his key. 'WeL
, good-by, a pleasant voyage to you
Despite his habitual languor Mr.
Auckland started as he opened the
!, door of his room, for the gas was
burning brightly, the wardrobes an(
trunks were in a state of confusion
and loaling in the easy chair smakins
!, was Frank MaXOn.
What are you doing here?" asked
Auckland fierceiy.
Maxon raised his hat from thu
center table Underneath lay re
volver which he leisurely pointed a
: the Enghshman.
{ "Sit down." he said, and the mai
! sullenly obeyed. He sat for momen
in silence until he had recovered hi
sAf-control. and then again asked, bu
more affably, What are you doin
', here?"
Il have been looking for Mr.. Black
pearl, but haven't found it. Doubles
Il you will kindly assist me-"
. What prepoSterous nonsense! why
u he told me this very morning thai
. had exploded"
II Pardon me. That was a Sigh
mistake. The pearl is all right 1t
= only your ridiculous story and you