Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-07-06
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of the firm Il few months since on the
prctense Of ill health. He took nearly
all the ready cash, and not until aftcl
he had got safe in a foreign land did
l learn that the alleged valuable as
sets he had left as my share Of the
business were only waste paper. Worse
than the burden of debt. he left those
forged notes. l hypothecated them
| Now l am accused of uttering them!'
Can YOU not take them up?' inSin
uatcd the lawyer
Impossible! l have vainly tried tt
borrow. NY son. Il dependence usually
has lost all interest in business and
wanders about half-crazcd over the dis
appearance Of heartless jilt. No, ruin
StareS me in the face-WOrSe, the priS
on-dock, dishooor, DEATH"
Il am sorry for YOU
That was I'LL TIE lawyer could say.
There was a drcary lapse of silence
Int during its reign the cleaning, scin
tillant eyes of Beatrice Mercer told that
their owner was not idle.
She was thinking, plotting. preparing
TO act. Her quick mind grasprd the
situation readily. the situation she had
anticipated. and which she had come
prepared to meet. She held the rent
rdy-gOld. To befr;cnd the father OF
the man she loved in his dire cXtrem
ity. to save IN honprcd family name
from rcproach--woull it not win The
gratitude pity. and pity love?
She had other final resources in re.
serve. She had prepared plans calmly
Systematically. This was but the frs,
step. Oh. she could not fail.
SHE arose and stole TO the door: she
pccred i'll. There sat the st"rn-faccd
implacable lawyer. the fatal documents
spread out before him. There. too,
wAn-faced. "rctchcd. lost. Shrank the
father Of Raymond Marshall.
She stepped boldly across the thrcSh.
old Of the room. Not until she bad
reached the table and her shadow fell
across it did lawyer aud victim glance
up. with Il vivid start
Madam. -Why--' began the for.
| mrr.
Il have come to purchase those docu-
mrn1s"
Her hand pointed to the pile Of notes
and securities. almost touching them
In profound Wonderment the lawyer
regarded her. With Il gasp of hope
suspense. dread Col. Marshall stared
1T her yelled face.
You have COME repeated the
lawyer. vaguely
TO buy those documents"
| "Why--l do not understand what
right:'
Are they for sa]e:'
Her voice rang out sharply.
ITO Col Marshall or his authorized
agent. yes. but to a stranger"
Beatrice Mercer turned 70 the Devil.
dercd colonel
Il am no stranger, but friend.
she half-whispercd in his dumfoundcd
| ear. Il came to save you" and then
aloud Col. Marshall, you authorize
me 70 act for yOu:'
The half-stunned colonel could only
nod like an automaton.
Ten thousand dollars is the amount,
I believe went on Beatrice, calmly
There is the money. See that it is
right
She had flashed a heap Of bank
notes Of large denominations before
the lawyers sight. She took up the
papers on the table
This is the forged $1,000 note, I be-
leve" size said. selecting one from
the many papers. Col. Marshall, it
shall never trouble you again.
With two twists Of her dainty but
supple wrists, she severed the fatal
document in twain.
These other papers l shall keep for
Il day or two. The amount is correct -
she demanded Of the lawyer "COl
Marshall. yon are free from debt and
dread alike. | trust we all know how
to keep a secret. I would like to
speak a few words to you alone
The lawyer had witnessed som.
strange scenes in his professional ca
reer. but tie denouement of the pres
ent incxplicable one left him speech
less.
Col Marshall, like one IL dream.
followed the woman who had mystcri-
ously saved him from :ruin and dis
honor from the room.
Then. realizing that he had been
| snatched from tine brink of prcci-
pice, he reeled to table in the outer
office for support, and burst into tears
Woman. angel deliverer.' he fairly
sobl'ed. WHO sent you here: You
have saved TO me all 1 hold dear Oh
earth My tears, my prayers shall be
yours till my last breath. 1 shall teach
my own to reverence you. / shall re.
pay you dollar for dollar What can
say, what can do to acknowledge, To
repay this stupendous obligation tina,
brushes. stuns mystifics meg
One single favor"
| Name it-oh! name IT,"
Ask no questions. feel no obligations
I only ask that tomorrow evening al
dusk you come to the hotel and to the
| apartments Of Miss Leslie. and bring
| your son Raymond with you"
She ;::,s gone like flash with tia
| words. The colonel stood staring afte:
| her as if she were some wrath His
eyes closed and he swayed like on in
Il dream. He fastened after her a min
ute later to demand u more lucid ex
| PLANTATION OF ber strange intercess:on II
his behalf. but when he reached the
street, like the fairy i'll the stery-books
she had disappeared utterly.
| Beatrice Mercer had fastened bach
to the hotel. Her face was flushed
her eyes hopeful, exuftar!, rs she lait
| aside her wraps.
80 far all is wer.'' she murmured
confidently. Now for the most difficult
part of the plot
When DR.. Simms came. she led hin
to sofa. and for over an hour in low
earnest tones she conversed with him
She told him all her Mot ar her IL.